COVER N. 493 - HUNGARY

Postmark: Balatonalmádi N 30.07.2024

Posted on the 30th July; Received in (?) August 2024

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Great athletic feats are usually remembered for quite a long time, or at least untill another super athlete supersedes the previous record in whatever discipline they are competing. Those who achieve them will forever be remebered and many times honoured in several different ways, their image on a stamp being one of them.

But athletic feats are not exclusive to Man, for even if usually animals are coached into performing according to the rules Man sets for them to compete against their peers, sometimes the star is the animal itself, not the man or woman behind it. And I can't remember a more clear example of this than  horseracing. 

Famous Horses have their legions of fans and many a winner on the racetrack have had its figure crystallised forever in a honouring statue.

Being a total stranger to the world of horseracing I can speculate that the fact that races are intrinsically linked to betting has a lot to do with this. In fact, it is probably the income generating potential of a horse that gives it fame more than its athletic ability to perform, for I don't think that the bleachers on the tracks would have had that many spectators if money was not involved. But, as I said, I know nothing of it, so this is pure speculation.

What I do know is that the best are usually and rightfully honoured by their countries. and  just as great human athletes deserve recognition so do our non human counterparts.

Thank you Hóka, for this great cover honouring what I read is a legend racehorse - Kincsem (My Precious), a Hungarian thoroughbred which, in the course of its short life, between 1874 and 1887, ascended to  still unparalleled fame, by winning all the 54 races in which she participated.

It seems that Kincsem ancestry, like that of all thoroughbreds, can be traced back to England, where the breed was created by crossing native mares with Arabian, Barb and Turkoman stallions.  Kincsem itself was sired by another famous horse who was originally owned by Queen Victoria's - Cambuscan - before being sold to Magyar owners. 

I find the 845 forint, issued on 03MAY2024, illustrated with a painting of  Kincsem and its rider, overlooking the track in the company of a cat, which also seems to be captivated by the horse's elegance, very beautiful. There is a certain element of classicism in this painting which takes me to an imaginary gallery with other paintings of famous racehorses that I find most appealing. In the background of the upper third of the painting, the names of famous racetracks where the thoroughbred won, highlight her racing pedigree, all done in class and good taste. 

The cover uses the official first day envelope, which bears an image of Kincsem and her Jockey leading a race to one of her multiple wins, I presume.

Also on the front of the cover is a stamp issued on 06MAY1999 as part of a set dedicated to fauna of Asia. The 79 forint stamp showcases a Bornean  orangutang (Pongo Pygmaeus) a species endemic to Borneo, that in spite of being one of the closest relatives of Man, is critically endangered, due to loss of habitat generated by deforestation brought about by the installation of palm oil plantations.

Postage on the cover was completed with two definitive stamps from a series issued on two occasions in 2000, dedicated to "Antique furniture", chairs in particular.

The 2 forint stamp is part of the first issue, dated of 30JUN2000, while the 4 forint stamp began to circulate on  09OCT2000.

The Postmark hails from Balatonalmádi, a resort town on the northern shore of lake Balaton, with a population of  8,500.