The last word

Before I take off for New York, I thought I'd leave you with a parting message intended to make you aware of just how much this trip actually means to me. This is the shirt I've created for tomorrow (so if you see someone wearing it, that's me!):
I've never known a triple crown winner, except what you can glean from grainy black and white photos and thoroughbred biographies. Sometimes I believe it's my curse to never see true greatness in my lifetime (well, that and to have something horrible happen in America every time I go overseas...long story). And I doubt even if Mr. Big was to win tomorrow, that I could really see him in the same way as I do the heroes of my youth. Maybe that's just a prejudice, the way everyone believes things were better "back in the day". People always look at the past through rose colored glasses (or at least, through fuzzy YouTube videos), but that doesn't mean that the past really was any better. If Big Brown takes it all tomorrow, few will say that he could have kept up with the likes of Secretartiat, Seattle Slew or Citation (and they're probably right), but it's entirely possible he could have given horses like Assault, Whirlaway and Sir Barton a run for their money. So he'll belong. Perhaps not in the highest choir of horse racing angels, but certainly up there.

So, if he does win, I'll probably cry. I can be an emotional little sucker like that sometimes. And if he doesn't, well I got a cool shirt out of it all which would remain relevant until next year...or the year after that. There's always a next year in the promised land of the Bluegrass, and that's why I keep coming back to this sport. That's why I keep watching year after year, although nothing in my 28 (soon to be 29) years of life has ever assured me that there would be a Triple Crown winner in my future. That's why I deal with heartrending breakdowns like Eight Belles, becuase I know that without the racing she would never have been given the chance to become more than 'just a horse' in the first place. We don't morn the loss of the pony down the road unless it's our pony; racing lets these horses to belong to all of us. It lets them live forever in our museums and memories and hearts. It gives them the chance, no matter how minute, to be somebody's hero.

So, I'll leave you with what I'd like to see tomorrow, with what we will probably never see the likes of ever again, with what cannot help but make me bawl every single time I see it (or read it, or think about it...yes I'm a sad, sad person).

Greatness is meant for the past, let us live in the now.

Rick Dutrow says something intelligent

I know, I'm in shock too.

His comments on whether Mr. Big, should he be victorious tomorrow, will not achieve the noteriety of other thoroughbred heroes who have taken the crown:

“I can’t imagine it is important to compare him to horses that have run years ago . . . It might be fun for (the media) to do that. But it just don’t make no sense. He is running with the horses he has been running with and that is all that he can be expected to match up against."

I'm glad he realizes his position. He's sitting on a good horse, a very good horse. But certainly not a great horse. Just a horse who's got some style in a year when very few colts could put up a fight. That doesn't mean he doesn't deserve the crown, heavens no. You race against your generation, and currently he's the best there is in this one. However, in perhaps the most wonderful thing I have ever read him to say, Rick went on to suggest that maybe, just maybe (oh, please), Mr. Big might get pitted against the best of another generation...just to shake things up:

"Hopefully, we get to face Curlin in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. That would be exciting. We are looking forward to that.”

Me too Rick. Me too.

Oh, and incidentally, Suffolk Downs just announced that they will put up a $5 million purse for the Massachusetts Handicap should (1) Big Brown win the Triple Crown, (2) he and Curlin both remain undefeated this year, and (3) they both enter in the race. That's a bit of a tall order, but it's pretty hard to pass up a purse like that should everything else fall into place correctly. This makes me think of the match races of old. You know, despite the lackluster 3-year old season, this very well could end up being a very good year to be a horse racing fan.

Belmont Preview

As if Big Brown (Boundary-Mien, by Nureyev) needed anything else to boost his spirits for Saturday’s coronation, winning the coveted rail position can’t have hurt. The one spot is the most consistent producer of Belmont winners, and it’s sure to allow Mr. Big the room he needs to get to the front fast. By and large, his competition are closers, so they’re likely to leave him alone regardless. (Speaking of which, where has Spark Candle, Casino Drive’s rabbit, got to? I mean, I don’t think any of us expect that Big Brown won’t push the pace unmolested, but do you want to leave that possibility to chance?) He seems to have recovered fine from his quarter crack. That doesn’t mean that it’s healed, as that will take quite a while, but he did work a bullet on Tuesday, going 5 furlongs in 1 minute and change. He reportedly left his workmate far in the dust. And really, do we expect anything less of him come Saturday afternoon?

Not I.

Mr. Big’s neighbor in the starting gate is a horse named Guadalcanal (Graeme Hall-Bassette, by Quest for Fame*GB). Never heard of him? Neither has anyone else. He’s a maiden (meaning he’s never won a race), and he’s certainly never seen anything like the competition being thrown his way this weekend. Puts me in mind of The Lark Twist (kudos to anyone who picks up on that obscure piece of horse racing trivia). Anyways, he seems to be on the improve lately and the longer the distances get, the better he runs. Last out he was a fast closing second in a mile and a half turf race. That gives him his sole distinction in this field- he’s the only horse to have run farther than a mile and a quarter. Mind you, his Beyer in that race was a ho-hum 82. But in this crazy year, when Derby favorites win from the 20th post position in their 4th lifetime start, can we really throw out anyone? At odds of 50-1, I’ll put a $2 show bet on him any day.

Macho Again (Macho Uno-Go Donna Do, by Wild Again) is, hands down, the most accomplished horse in this field. Sure, Mr. Big has won more, but Macho gets the nod for experience. Do I think he can beat Mr. Big? Hell no, but I am confident that, on a good day, he can show his heels to the rest of this field.

Denis of Cork (Harlan’s Holiday-Unbridled Girl, by Unbridled), fresh off of his third place finish in the Kentucky Derby looks to catch up to Mr. Big this weekend. Can I just say, “Ummm….no.” Sure, he looked pretty good rallying from dead last to finish in the money on Derby Day. But he had a very smooth trip to get there, and really, where did he rally to? That’s right, 3.5 lengths behind a filly who would be dead two minutes later and 8.25 lengths behind his chief competition today. There was a time earlier this year when this guy was looking like one of the best in the country. He still does. Isn’t that sad?

If Casino Drive wins it will be a triumph of pedigree over…well…just about everything else. Casino drive is by Mineshaft, a stallion who, though he did not win the Belmont Stakes (he started his career in Europe and was never entered), is the son and grandson of Belmont winners. His dam is Better Than Honor (who for those of you asleep since 2005, has suckled the last two winners of the race). But it’s hard to get too excited. Let’s face it, a horse undefeated in two starts is still a horse with just two lifetimes starts. Granted, he’s crushed his competition in both of those performances….and its not as though Big Brown had won many more races (try one) before taking the Derby…and his Beyer of 101 (91? 102? Seriously, why can the internets not agree on this number?) in the Peter Pan Stakes is nothing to shake a stick at. If anyone has a chance to put some tarnish on Mr. Big’s crown, it’s this monster.

Da’Tara (Tiznow-Torchera, by Pirate’s Bounty) looked sharp finishing second to Roman Emperor in the Barbaro Stakes on Preakness Day. But this front runner will have Mr. Big to contend with the entire mile and a half around the Belmont oval. If he couldn’t hold on for the win in his previous mile and one sixteenth start, how can you expect him to go even farther on Saturday?

Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat-Silence Beauty*JPN, by Sunday Silence) is like a box of chocolates. I’m sure you can finish the quote on your own. On Saturday, will he be the hard closing winner of Wood Memorial? The not to be ignored 4th place finisher of the Kentucky Derby? The abysmal plodder of the Louisiana Derby? Barclay wasn’t too happy with his last workout; and if Barclay ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.

Anak Nakal (Victory Gallop-Misk, by Quiet American). In the words of Cloud Strife “…” No seriously, why do they keep putting this horse in stakes races?

Ready’s Echo (More Than Ready-Menekineko, by Kingmambo) is the favorite of my work buddy’s handicapping friend. Apparently his opinion has something to do with the colt’s breeding, which I can’t knock, though I feel its weighted slightly in favor of sprinting (read: not the Belmont). But he's certainly no Casino Drive, or Anak Nakal for that matter, when it comes to the "Who's your daddy?" factor. And I'll admit, he looked good closing in on Casino Drive in the (considerably shorter) Peter Pan Stakes (after an absolutely awful start, too). And...well actually...the more I try to talk about why my friend is wrong to like him...the more I like him. Darn.

I knew Icabad Crane (Jump Start-Adorahy, by Rahy) would do something in the Preakness Stakes, and he ended up doing even better than I thought. WIth a record of 3-0-2 in 5 lifetime starts, it's hard not to like the guy.

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and make a completely silly prediction. I’m going with the same finish we had in the Preakness. Call it woman’s intuition.

1. Big Brown
2. Macho Again
3. Icabad Crane

Betting wise, I think I’ll stick with my gut choices:

$2 on Mr. Big to win (for posterity)
$2 Trifecta of Mr. Big, Macho Again and Icabad Crane
$2 on Guadalcanal to show (for my great uncle who fought at the battle of the same name...mind you, I only have his word for that...and this is the same guy who was convinced that little green aliens/elves were living in his basement)
$2 on Tale of Ekati to show (for my grandmother, who’s 88, and always bets #7)

And some other completely random/weird specialized bet that I haven’t figured out yet, just for the heck of it.

In other news

- Screw the United Postal Service, Kent Desormeaux is shilling for HOOTERS!

- And now for something considerably more tasteful: It was recently announced that Eight Belles would be interred at the Kentucky Derby Museum, joining the ranks of other four prior Kentucky Derby winners. Additionally, Churchill Downs announced that they will be renaming the La Troienne stakes (a three-year old filly race on the Derby undercard) for Eight Belles. I think that’s a great change. I know I groused about the re-Christening of the Sir Barton, but in this case La Troienne (though a fine racemare in Europe) is really best known as a broodmare in the States. Her legacy has been the excellent sons and daughthers she produced, a feat which Eight Belles never got the chance to equal.

The week to end all weeks

Wow...so this week we have the possibility of:

1. A black man winning the Democratic nomination for presidency

2. The Detroit Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup

3. The first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.

Just...wanted to point that all out. An actual substantive post to come later today (when I'm not so incredibly busy).

Preparations begin

Some of the bloggers at right have Belmont Day easy. It's just a matter of rolling out of bed and heading to the track for them. We have a good 10-11 hour drive (both ways) to plan, which will necessitate 40 gallons of gas and what looks like two separate forays into Canada. Not that going to Canada is a big deal for those of us born and raised in southeastern Michigan (oh, by the way, GO WINGS!). Anyways, it looks to be a busy weekend, but then that's my favorite type.

-Today we got our tickets to the Belmont in the mail. Miracle of miracles, we appear to have done well in the seat lottery. Here is a diagram of the track with an arrow pointing to the section we'll be sitting in. And right down in front of us (and slightly to our left) is the finish line. Woohoo!
(Okay, actually...turns out it's not that cool. But somebody misspoke when they were talking to me about the tickets over the phone. So, ummm...yeah...we're actually at the top of the stretch...which could be a lot worse...right?)



-I've made up the logo for my shirt, now I have to print it on iron on paper and transfer it. Should have done that yesterday, but I was busy being lazy.

-Ferret boarder contacted (Did I mention I have a ferret? I love her, but she can be a pain.)

-Driving maps to and from NY (and two and from our hotel and the track) printed.

-In the process of figuring out how best to utilize the greater NYC area's transpotation system in order to spend a few qulaity hours downtown (DH has never been).

Still need to obtain: snacks, drinks, rain gear, binoculars (I know I have a pair somewhere), 1000 speed color film for good photos, extra APS film for mini point-and-shoot, small denomination money for toll roads (have no idea how much cash to take in general). Oh yeah, and at some point I should actually try and profile the race entrants (and those of the major undercard races...which look to be full of class).

Comments from the peanut gallery

Will somebody please put a muzzle on Rick Dutrow?

Horse Racing for n00bs

Lesson #2- Backstretch Lingo

I’ve had some requests for a brief tutorial in horse racing terminology. I have to admit, the sport does have a language all its own. It’s been around a loooooong time, enough time to develop its own dialect. However, if what you’re looking for is just a basic list of horsey words and their meanings, you can find that elsewhere on the web. Like here. Or here. No, what I’ll provide is a specific subset of terminology that bloggers tend to use, so that readers can better navigate the turbid waters of the internet horse racing community. I’ll start off with a short explanation of the clever names of some of my fellow blogger’s pages (which can be found at right), because they represent an interesting cross section of lingo:

Brooklyn Backstretch- The Backstretch is the term for the stretch of racing surface on the far side of the track (away from the grandstands). It is also used to refer to the barn areas at a track, because these are traditionally located behind the backstretch itself.

Curb My Enthusiasm- A Curb is a type of bit (the metal piece on a bridle that goes in the horse’s mouth). It may also be used as a verb meaning to slow or stop, as basically that is what a bit is used to do to the horse.

Down the Stretch- The Stretch is the piece of track between the two curves which is closest to the grandstand. The finish line is located there. Although they aren’t sloped (usually), horses running the final parts of a horse race are said to be moving ‘down’ the stretch (“And down the stretch they come!”).

Green But Game- A horse who has little training or experience is said to be Green. A horse that tries hard in a race, win or lose, is said to be Game.

Handride- A Handride is a ride performed without the use of a whip. It means that when the horse was racing down the stretch, the jock didn’t feel it was necessary to urge him on to the finish. Basically, an easy win.

Left at the Gate- Horses break from a starting gate in order to maintain some sort of control over the race by having them all theoretically start at the same time. But sometimes the horse just gets caught flat footed when the doors clang open. While the rest of the more precocious field takes off, the sleeper gets Left at the Gate.

Post Parade- This is the name for the walk the horses take from the saddling paddock to the gate. It’s usually done in single file and, for the bigger races, is associated with specific songs (My Old Kentucky Home) and other pageantry. In that way, it is sort of a parade. Basically, though, it’s intended to give bettors (and owners) a last chance to see the horses before the race.

Railbird- The Rail is a term for the fence that runs around the edge of a racetrack. Correspondingly, a Railbird, is someone who’s always sitting at the fence and watching horses…in other words, a horse racing fan.

Superfecta Blog- A Superfecta is a type of exotic bet where, in order to win, you have to pick the first four finishers in a race in order.

Tote Board Brad- The Tote Board is the large screen in the center of a racetrack infield which gives information about wagering, track conditions, and betting pools.

View from the Quarter Pole- This is a reference to one of the many poles situated around the track for measuring purposes. It’s situated a quarter of a mile (2 furlongs) back from the finish line. So when horses hit the Quarter Pole in a race, they have a quarter mile yet to run. There are equally non-inventive names for all the other poles as well (Half Mile Pole,Three Quarters Pole, etc.). Just remember to count backwards from the finish.

And of course…

Blacktype Blog- When a horse becomes a stakes winner his name is forever recorded in breeding charts in BOLD CAPITALS. If a horse places in a stakes race, his name gets written in bold, but without the caps. Collectively, this is phenomenon is referred to as Blacktype. When a horse gets blacktype, or is looking for the same, he’s a stakes quality animal.