Aug. 5, 2004 12:00 AM

His name appears in Associated Press news reports listing results out of Sunland Park racetrack in New Mexico in 1999. On a Saturday in March of that year, Vital Galaxy was among a field of quarter horses running a 400-yard sprint in the fourth race of the day.

Brazos Blush took first place in 19.84 seconds, paying $9.60, $5.20 and $4.40. Second was Such Magic. Batirs Ryon was third. In the next paragraph, under "also ran," there is Lightning Cash, Moonlit Magic Dasher, then Vital Galaxy.

"He was a beautiful boy who didn't deserve what happened to him lately," says Holly Marino of Horse Rescue of North Scottsdale. Marino says that a few weeks back she was contacted by Vital Galaxy's owner and asked if she could help put the horse to sleep. The owner is not yet being identified by sheriff's deputies investigating the case.

"We've rescued thousands of horses and have seen some pretty disgusting stuff," Marino says. "But this horse. A fever of 104. Dehydrated. 500 pounds underweight. Abscesses. Infections. A liver count that showed he hadn't been fed in quite a while. Sometimes it makes you wonder if the Wild Wild West has no-no brains and no-no compassion. We decided to treat him. We wanted him to get better and live a life with love in it."

Sheriff's deputies say that they could charge the owner with a felony if an investigation determines that there was criminal abuse to the horse. Because of his condition, those who first examined Vital Galaxy weren't even sure about his breed. They thought he might be a Thoroughbred like Smarty Jones, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner who recently retired to a life of carnal luxury on a stud farm.

But Vital Galaxy was a quarter horse, the swiftest of its kind over a short distance. The breed was named from the speed it displays in the quarter mile.

Vital Galaxy was not the swiftest of the swift, however. Records from Sunland Park show him racing at 400 yards, 870 yards and 1,000 yards, almost always finishing among those listed under "also ran."

Still, his lack of success on the track and recent hard times didn't diminish his zest for life or his cheerful disposition.

"He got to the point where his ears would perk up and his eyes (would) gleam when people came to visit him," Marino says. "He loved the peppermint we'd give him with carrots. He liked the attention. He was feeling good about himself."

Perhaps Vital Galaxy realized, as so few of us do, that victory is not as glorious as simply being in the race. He may not have achieved greatness, but he knew the giddy anticipation of the starting gate. He'd felt the explosive rush of the start. He knew the joy of running full out with the great arching sky overhead, the wind in his mane and a cheering crowd in the grandstands.

Last week, in spite of the best efforts of Marino, a veterinarian and a host of volunteers, Vital Galaxy died in his sleep.

"I'm hoping that his death will cause people to be aware of other animals who may be abused, and to get them to notify authorities," Marino says. "I only wish that we'd had a little more time with him and that he could have gone to the 10-acre ranch of the folks who were planning to adopt him."

Authorities believe that Vital Galaxy was 8 years old when he died. His last race was in 2000. He lost. During the intervening years, he suffered. But he also endured. He held on long enough to enjoy the pleasure of good company and fresh peppermint. He had fans. He had benefactors. And he had the sustaining memory that, once upon a time, he also ran.


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