Mithra-Grandchamp is a racehorse who symbolizes the idea of missed opportunity and fateful chances. The horse was, according to a racetrack contact of Bauby and his fellow newsman Vincent, slated to win an upcoming race despite being the underdog—at odds of twenty-to-one. Eager to take advantage of the tip and earn a great payout, Bauby and Vincent collected a pot of cash from their coworkers and headed down to the racetrack, only to get sidetracked by a long, luxurious lunch and miss the chance to place their bets. Bauby and Vincent were forced to watch the race unfold—and to see Mithra-Grandchamp, as predicted, finish first by a five-length lead. In the years since the race, Mithra-Grandchamp has come to symbolize, to Bauby and Vincent, all the “lost opportunities” in their lives. Mithra-Grandchamp is a bittersweet symbol of “those small near misses” that one day amount to the shape a life takes.
Mithra-Grandchamp Symbol Timeline in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
