It’s never a good feeling when there is no rush to leave your hotel room on a Sunday morning to get to the barn.

Today that was us.

Unfortunately, Manny picked up an injury, and Sara had to withdraw him from the competition last night. In every sport there are winners and losers, and, sadly, Manolo Blahnik did not get to experience the roar of the crowd in stadium that he truly deserved.

As a good friend once said, “Be nice to people on your way up as you meet them all again on your way back down.”

It’s a cruel and heartbreaking sport at times, but that’s what eventing is: a sport. The welfare of the horse comes first with Sara and always will.

So today stadium was difficult to watch. There was a feeling of “what if” and “if only” at our table.

But as everyone involved with horses understands, “if” is the longest two-letter word in the dictionary.

A great ride from Will Coleman today got the loudest cheer from the Overlook table. William Fox-Pitt showed nerves of steel after having an early rail, and congratulations to Allison on only having one rail on the infamous Arthur.

So farewell to Rolex 2012. Until next year when I hope the TV coverage is better, and hopefully there won’t be a need to play the English anthem.

So my blog is complete. It’s been fun, and, like Sinatra, I DID IT MY WAY.

Brian Murphy is heading into his first Rolex Kentucky as the groom/show jumping coach/boyfriend of Sara Kozumplik. He’s generously agreed to blog about the experience, and Sara promised not to read a word he wrote until after the event is over.