Oh, how I miss Aqueduct!
I can understand why folks think it would be good for New York racing to take a few months off in the winter, though the economic ramifications would, I think, be pretty significant at both the individual and municipal levels.
But from a strictly personal standpoint: I have the rare weekend afternoon at home…and no local racing programming? No Illman and Rotondo? No Serling/Blewitt/Donovan/Rushton? I tried, I really did, to pay attention to the racing from the Fair Grounds and Tampa Bay Downs and Hollywood—but it’s just not the same. And I’m not the only one who feels this way.
Fortunately, entries for racing later this week will be taken this morning, so we can at least peruse them in anticipation of the return of local racing later this week. Unfortunately (well, not really), I won’t be around to catch that first day of post-holiday racing, as I’ll be southwesterly bound, first to Lexington and thence to New Orleans, for a little post-Christmas trip with a Saratoga friend. New Year’s Day at the Fair Grounds!
I did manage to keep myself busy this weekend, even without local racing, with a few racing enterprises. Caught this order of finish on Saturday, in the second at Laurel
Win: Macho’s Gold
Place: Shyisha
Show: Mane Macho
4th: Molten Machismo
Oooh, so close to the Macho trifecta! Hunch bettors must have agonized…
And to prove that I practice what I preach: I spent a little time on Saturday morning with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation auction. I’d never bid on anything online before, and I was surprised at how energizing an endeavor it is…I didn’t think that I really cared whether I got the item, but as I went back and forth with another bidder, those competitive juices got flowing, and I think I even crowed aloud triumphantly, “Ha!” when I was notified that I was the winner.
It felt more than a little self-indulgent to be buying something for myself in the week before Christmas…but I quickly rationalized that I’d not yet made my end of year donation to the TRF, and thus my bidding budget could match my anticipated donation…and that, fortunately, turned out to be more than enough, and I am now the proud of this…now, to get it framed!
Sponsor a retired Thoroughbred through the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
Got snowed in this weekend, Its not like I can get out but its just the idea of it. I tried Tampa-Got jealous of the weather- Sunday I figured the short Hollywood fields would fulfill—I put a wager on the NE Pats- Found out at 4 pm it never made it in–Then lost about 50 something in Cali–
I MISS NY RACING !!
Hi there! I saw that Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is listed on your related charities and I thought you may want to know that the Foundation is honoring the owners and trainer of Afleet Alex at their annual gala in January. You should come! If you want to check it out, http://www.TheLemonBall.com, or http://www.AlexsLemonade.org
Very cool poster!
Hope you have a great holiday and enjoy your trip!
Anon 11:53: glad that I’m not the only crazy one out there.
Anon 4:41: I’m on the mailing list for Alex’s Lemonade Stand and am contemplating coming down for that event…trying to get a few friends up here to join me. Sounds like a terrific evening.
Linda: Right back at you! Merry Christmas!