As each year passes, I find myself getting in the line of New Year’s resolutions. I would have to estimate that 94.5% of those made, the blunt are already broken. This stat as with many others, are made up on the spot. This is where I would like to do away with any resolution, and create an “unfinished business” list that I will follow. Hell, what do I have to lose?

For the game I love best, I will attempt to educate and get someone interested. I know, this is a lot of work. If we are to hear the thundering hooves in the twilight of our years, we better start now with building from the bottom up again. Remember when Dad, Uncle Sal, Grandpa, or Uncle Don took us to the races? Can you recall your first big winner? Your first deep loser? The excitement in your voice as you make the trek to the local track? The losers lament on the ride home? How about the night of the “big one, ” can you remember that?  I can…. And in keeping with my promise, I will bring someone into the game and introduce them to the beauty, pageantry, and life long friendships.

This part of the list is easy. Get to know two other people at the track. Know their past, how they started, what they did for a living, their big winners. Think of this as the new “Facebook” of sorts. It will be the gathering place of people who have something in common. Make plans, go to contests, and most importantly root for them to win, if you have no chance. The worst person in the world you can sit next to is: “If I can’t win, I surely don’t want to see you win.” They will suck the energy right out of you. Never play with anyone who is not glad to see you win…..

Make the effort. You know. The effort that you have thought about where you will keep better records, come up with your own system, chart the races you want to play. The work is worth the effort. It makes you feel like a million dollars to be right at the end of the day. It is like that gold star on your paper as a child.

Take the time. Money is fleeting, winners come and go, but take the time. Go to the track with an old friend, a relative, your neighbor. Spend the time. Really, it is all you have.

Well, there it is folks, the path to making our game special again. If you notice I didn’t blame anyone but myself, and I didn’t ask anything from the track to make me happier. It is all up to me. I once heard a friend tell me something right about this advice. He said: “Wise men don’t need it, and fools won’t heed it.” Now, that is one way to look at it, but I would just like to call it unfinished business. So what are you waiting for? Next post is in ten minutes……