Dennis Dahle

The last week has been very hard for me personally and especially for my wife and our children as my wife's brother Dennis was killed while working out his races horses when the horse he was riding was startled and reared over backwards on him.

Last Saturday all Dennis' horse friends took his two horses that he had been training up to Pocatello, Idaho for the featured race. My wife and her family asked me if I could come and take photos of the race to include in a DVD of images that would be played at his viewing. I have known Dennis for over 26 years and I was honored that they would ask me.

Thanks to Keith Johnson who volunteered to work my photo edit shift on Saturday night I was able to drive up to Pocatello and cover the race.

I have photographed a lot of horse races in my day, but this race was like none other. Dennis had two horses entered in the last race of the day, a ten-horse field. One horse Royal Rumbo was a 25-1 long shot and the other Corona Light was an 8-1 listing.

The jockey on the favorite horse fell off coming out of the gate.

In a stunning upset, Dennis horses ended the race in a photo-finish 1st and 2nd place, with Royal Rumba just edging out Corona Light for the win. Prior to the start of the race, as he was a long time regular at the track, the stadium announcer acknowledged Dennis and told of his death just a few days before.

After the race all the jockey's and family gathered in the winners circle at the finish line hugging and crying at the amazing results. Dirk Crane, the winning jockey said, "I have won a lot of races in my career but I don't think I will ever have another race like this," "The feeling during the race and how the horse ran was something I will never forget".

For me personally all I will say is it is really hard to take photographs with tears streaming down your face.

To my wife, her family and my children and all those who knew and loved Dennis, may we all find peace and comfort in all the good memories and times we shared together.

Dennis was taken by horse drawn carriage to the Lewiston, Utah cemetery where he was laid to rest on Tuesday June 1, 2010.

Rest in peace Dennis.

Corona Light, far left. Royal Rumbo second from right.

Dennis Dahle December 31, 1953 to May 26, 2010.

For all the jockey's who have asked for photos here is my email address: august@augustmillerphoto.com

Also for a nice article on the race in the Idaho State Journal click here.