Now this probably sounds a bit odd but this is the honest to goodness truth. I would be willing to wager my entire weekend bankroll for any takers. They could be found every Saturday in preferred parking, and our tip would be a large pepperoni and sausage pizza. Father McDoolin was about 75-years-old. A very […]
Since I was a little guy trailing my dad to the races I always looked up high to the “perch” where the track announcer held court. To me this was the greatest job in the world, and it was hard to believe that they actually paid these folks. But after further review they all deserve a […]
One of the curious pleasures of life is doing something you’ve never done before… I Checked the weather forecast, grabbed a road map, and headed out to a weekend adventure through winding roads, peppered with working farms and fields of freshly grown tobacco yellow tipped and ready for harvest. Though a destination was in mind, […]
When my grandmother was old she would talk about things she saw during her life. At this time I was a young lad and didn’t appreciate the encyclopedia of history that was sitting before me. Her life was a living history book and only years later would I truly come to understand what a treasure she was. […]
Every Labor Day was the last chance of the summer to battle with River Downs. Mostly they were claiming races, but you could always expect some excellent turf races and the day would be capped off with the Miller Lite Cradle Stakes. These were simpler times and the days when 9 live races was all […]
What is in a name? I guess if you were a gambler, you would love to have this moniker. Or, it could be just the opposite as they call the hefty guy ” Tiny.” But, in this case the name had meaning, and it fit just right. Bill is an older gent who had traveled the world, and […]
I was looking over my emails, racing stories, and everything to prepare for the upcoming weekend. You know, all of the important stuff to keep us in the loop. It was at this time that I received an email from a friend. I thought it was some tales about what happened, and how he got […]
The sun was shining through the windows. The students had checked out for summer break once again. With nothing but time, and the love of a sport, a man who dedicated his life to doing for others was going to do a little something for himself. His parents had long passed away, and his friends […]
I know some agents of riders. They set up mounts and get the jockey out there in the morning. They hustle, and talk rings around you, but the good ones offer a little more than the others. An agent can usually have NO more than two riders, this keeps the monopoly of power out of one persons […]
Every track has players that call themselves professionals. For me, it has had many meanings over the years. But now, it just means someone that can quietly turn a profit without turning a head. David was a star basketball player, and a real alpha dog. He always had to win, and was addicted to exercise, […]
