Geraldine Marie “Gerry” Balduf, 95, of Oak Harbor, passed away Jan. 7 at ProMedica Memorial Hospital in Fremont. She was born on June 14, 1928, in Toledo to
Céleste Mogador as a countess (wikimedia commons)
My horse carried me like the wind. I couldn’t breathe; I hugged his neck, like jockeys do; I called out to him; he leapt forward again … I was going to overhaul my companions, maybe win the race! This idea transported me. I threw my horse against the ropes at the turn … I blocked the woman who was pressing closest to me and I passed her! I was so happy that, for fear of seeing the other woman beat me, I closed my eyes, left everything to my horse and spurred his left flank. I heard them say: She has won!