Westchester's Bronze Horse Screams "Capitalism Above All!" Even Taste

Westchester is known for having the highest percentage of Cuban-Americans in the country, which is impressive, since it even surpasses the mighty Hialeah, albeit by a measly three percent. A tourist destination it is not, Westchester has long been an outpost for souped up Accords and old country ways, where...

By Miami New Times staff

September 21, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Westchester is known for having the highest percentage of Cuban-Americans in the country, which is impressive, since it even surpasses the mighty Hialeah, albeit by a measly three percent. A tourist destination it is not, Westchester has long been an outpost for souped up Accords and old country ways, where FIU students and aging grandparents watch the latest installment of Sabado Gigante. You've surely driven through this lower to middle class enclave before, exiting it as you entered it, totally oblivious. You are not to blame, for there was nothing to see in Westchester -- until now.

The Bronze Horse of Westchester, located in the heart of the unincorporated district, epitomizes what this city is about--absurdity minus the irony.

The beautiful beast, frozen in its exalted state, seems to be attempting

to gallop away from Westchester, only to be surrounded and imprisoned

by lackluster suburban shrubbery. The question, of course, is: WHY?!

We can only speculate, but conspicuous consumption seems to be to blame.

Fidel took our horses! But we spent $30,000 on a bronze

replica of McGee, our beloved thoroughbred, and stuck it in our front

yard. Capitalism above all! Even taste!

Recently, we sat down in a park -- live animals all around -- with a

Westchester native and neighbor of the horse, who has chosen to remain

anonymous.

New Times: Does the horse add to the aesthetic value of the neighborhood? Westchester as a whole?

Anonymous Westchester Dweller: Sometimes birds shit on it, giving it an

artistic polka-dot look. Quite surreal the juxtaposition between actual

nature and the artifice of nature.

Spotlights are turned on at night, illuminating the beast. Can you

describe the image for those us afraid of venturing into Westchester

after dark?

It's haunting, really, how it almost comes to life. You half expect

Robert E. Lee to materialize out of thin air and ride off on it onto the

Palmetto.

You seem inspired by the horse, in awe of its grandeur. Will we see

artificial livestock grazing on your lawn in the near future?

My wife and I have commissioned Romero Britto, who we hope will sculpt an entire family of Art Deco Florida Panthers.

-- A. Perez

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.