Port Huron’s Jim Gosger ready to root on horse namesake in Preakness: ‘It’s pure heaven’

Most of all, Jim Gosger wishes his wife Kathy was here right now sharing in all the fun, attention, the countless interviews, the photographers snapping pictures.

Its all so exciting, and Kathy loved riding horses.

They both treasure animals, and to encounter this week, along with her beloved Jim, that would have been so special for both.You see, Gosger is running Saturday in the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

Not Jim, though given his elation with this entire story, hed probably sprint past every thoroughbred running, with ease.

Its Gosger, the horse, owned by Donna Clarke and Clarke Racing Stable LLC.Related ArticlesMHSBCA statewide baseball rankings for the week of May 14, 2025Meet me in St.

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So, she would name a horse sired, incidentally by 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, named after former Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist Gosger, after Clarkes favorite ballplayer.Jim Gosger, 82, is tickled beyond belief with all of this the attention around Port Huron for Saturdays race, from friends and people wanting to talk about and explain the connection with the horse.Gosger simply wants to see Gosger, a beautiful 3-year-old gray, roan colt, run.It kind of lifts you when he runs, said Gosger, who spent 10 seasons in the majors from 1963-74, including parts of three seasons with the Mets.

Its beautiful to watch.

He runs like the wind.

And you know whats funny?When the announcer yells, And there goes Gosger! on the broadcast I get so excited when I hear that.But it would be so much better with Kathy here, too.

They were married for 34 years before she passed at 8:40 p.m.

on Jan.

1, 2024, with Jim and their daughter Kellie at her side.

Kathy had been complaining about stomach pain for about a week.

By the time she got medical attention, it was too late.They loved their animals.

They so enjoyed being together.

To this day, you can sense the sadness of not having Kathy around their house, the house Gosger grew up in as a child in Port Huron.Oh God, I pray every night that she is watching all this, said Gosger, tears flowing, wishing they could watch Saturdays race together.

It just breaks my heart she cant be here.

My mom and dad, and my sister, I pray every single day, all day long.

I hope theyre all watching.And I hope one day to get there and see Kathy again.The nicest guy in baseballClarke wasnt going to name the horse Gosger.

Had no intention of doing so.

A lifelong Mets fan, she was going to name him Boswell, after Ken Boswell, her favorite player.I had a big crush on Ken Boswell growing up, Clarke said.But the name Boswell was linked to another horse, so they needed to change.

Former pitcher Bob Knepper was a possibility; he was an acquaintance of Clarkes.

But that didnt stick, and that was about when Clarke had an idea.Clarkes late husband Harvey was the main horse guy, the impetus behind the Clarke stable.

Donnas main task was naming the horses and just going along to the races with him and our son, while noticing a color of a horse or the jockeys silks, or a characteristic.I had no idea who Nyquist was, Clarke said of Gosgers sire, named after the former Red Wing.

He was the owners favorite hockey player.Clarke remembered being Facebook friends with Jim Gosger, a former Mets player who played 10 regular-season games for the 1969 world champions before a second stint with the team from 1973-74.

She only knew Gosger through the social media site, but was stunned by the graciousness of the man in his posts.I friended him one day and he right away friended me back, Clarke said.

I just noticed what a nice guy he is.

His posts, they were so pleasant, and he was a big animal lover.

I remembered the 1973 Mets, and he seemed a friendly guy back then.

Then I posted something about a stray animal one day and he messaged me saying if you can get the dog to him in Michigan, that hell take him.I kind of said to myself, Oh my God, what a nice, nice man.So, Clarke decided to name the horse Gosger.

A bit of a tribute to a favorite ballplayer, an amiable man, someone who cares deeply about animals, also her passion.I contacted him and told him about Gosger (the horse), and he was so appreciative, Clarke said.

I thought he might be appreciative of it; but he got so choked up about it.

He said he just wanted to kiss the horse and give him a hug.I told him, and still tell Jim, make sure to tell everyone who talks to you about (the race), tell everyone, Youre the nicest guy in baseball.

And he truly is.Went through hellGosger has lost 26 pounds since Kathy died, now to about 170 pounds and he doubts hell ever regain the weight.

The pain and sadness linger.

He misses his wife.I went through hell for the first month, Gosger said.

I wouldnt wish that on anyone.

I saw her take her last breath, held her hand.

It was devasting, seeing someone youve been married to for 34 years like that.

We always had talked about me passing before her.She was the light of my life.Along with the mental pain, Gosger had to endure two hip surgeries right around that same time.

And theres the sadness of Gosgers first marriage; they were together for 28 years and had four children from that relationship before splitting apart.

That still hurts.Jim always has had his animals, though.

Theres always been cats and dogs in the house.

A pet cemetery in his backyard houses some of the familys pets from years gone by.

A few current pets slept in his bed after Kathy passed, which helped ease the pain.But few things in life were going right until he got the call from Clarke about the horse.

About the horse being named after him, Gosger.

Clarke sent photos and video of Gosger she still does regularly and Gosger devours it all with a large smile.Everything in my life changed, Gosger said of Clarkes naming decision.

I couldnt have become happier.

Everything in life was kind of down.

Then Donna called and it just brought my spirits up.Gosger had no idea of who the Clarkes were, nor their involvement in horse racing, but quickly learned they were passionate Mets fans.

That was the hook, them having seen Gosger play.

And there was something about having his name attached to the horse, having the name Gosger attached to it, that just brought a smile to the former ballplayers face.A smile that had long been missing.To this day, I cant thank Donna enough for that (naming the horse), said Gosger, voice cracking.

Im just so, so excited with all of this.Race dayClarke and Jim Gosger have never physically met.

Theres been countless phone calls over the last several years, texts, Facebook messages.

Clarke invited Gosger to the Preakness, but theres nobody to watch the animals.Who knows? Maybe another race, like the Belmont potentially coming up?Its fine, Gosger said.

At my age, with my hips, its not like I can jump up and down.You can imagine the excitement and anticipation for Saturdays Preakness.

Both in Baltimore, on Clarkes end, and in the comfortable house in Port Huron, where Gosger will host maybe five or six friends, and hope and cheer like crazy that a certain gray horse wins.The strange thing is, both have a level of confidence something magical might happen.

Like theres a bigger calling working its magic, and both are in the middle of it.I tell you what, my husband and I, we actually got married on a Preakness day, Clarke said.

Know what, Im just thinking thats a big sign from him.

That would be so special.

But it would all be for him.

This whole thing, it was his life, his baby.Gosger will start the day saying the 12, minimum, rosaries he does every day for Kathy, his children, many of his friends, and of course Gosger the horse, which has won his last two starts, though it did not run in the Kentucky Derby.Gosger has told Clarke to put $50 on the horse to win.

Gosger is a 20-1 shot, starting from Post 9.She said its on the house, its her treat, said Gosger, who once bet on a gray longshot in Sarnia and won hundreds of dollars in the 1960s, another possible omen.

Id love to hug that horse.

Im so damn excited.

I have a good feeling about it.Ill have chills before the start.

Probably do a little screaming during the race.

Its just something that you never think will happen to you.

I love to sit and watch the horse races.

Ive always loved the sport and go across the bridge to Sarnia and the track that used to be there.

I watch the (Kentucky) Derby and Belmont.

To see me involved in it this way, in the Preakness, its pure heaven.Clarke promises to call Gosger soon after Saturdays race is over.I know hell be watching; he has people coming over, Clarke said.

Are you kidding, of course Im going to call him.

Hes so excited about this.

People are interviewing him and asking him about it.

Its adorable.Thing is, if I named the horse Tom Seaver (after the Hall-of-Fame pitcher), you know, people wouldnt care.

It just wouldnt mean (the same thing).

But Jim, he is so thankful and elated and he cares about the horse so much.Theres one other person Gosger believes will be watching.

That would be Kathy.

If only she could be with him right now, experiencing all this frenzy.

That would be great.Kathy was alive when Gosger, the horse, was named after Clarkes favorite ballplayer, some two years ago.

Kathy was thrilled, dreaming about what the future might hold.I remember clearly how excited she was, the fact it was a racehorse, Gosger said.

I remember her saying, We might have a horse that runs in the Kentucky Derby.

She was so happy.

This would have been so incredible for her.

She loved riding horses when she was a youngster.The tears begin trickling again, but theres solace in knowing what Gosger feels will be happening somewhere.Its heartwarming to think, to know, shell be watching, Gosger said.

I know shes proud of what is going on.150th Preakness StakesWhen: Saturday, May 17Where: Pimlico Race Course, BaltimoreTV: NBC/Peacock, from 4-7:30 p.m., with post time set for 7:01 p.m.Local connection: Gosger, named after Port Hurons Jim Gosger, is a 20-1 shot from Post 9..

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