“We’d drive out with great expectations. There were races to play and a fortune to be made. Or, that’s what a young man would think on his way to the track. Looking at my Dad, and listening to stories of the big winner. It not only made the ride a little quicker but grew a […]
The game of racing fades in 20-minute increments. – That’s the time in between post times. Where we made friends, talked horses, and handicapped for the big win. – Over the years, we see friends get older and make fewer trips to the races. Then, they disappear. You hear the story of how they passed […]
Coffee is steaming on the kitchen table. Birds are fighting over the seeds on the post outside, and the sun is starting to burn off the morning fog. The prefect way to start your morning. I look at results, stories and promising runners. The usual goings on of the morning turns into a Zen-like moment […]
The roses are blooming in the hot house buildings at Churchill Downs. For the throngs of fans, we see them in our hearts year long. I remember doing a radio show years ago for Turfway Park. Our producer secured us a spot in the old press box area, and I had never attended a Kentucky Derby. […]
My grandpa used to tell me stories about the old days. He was a plumber by trade and loved to play the ponies. There couldn’t have been a better example of a small-time guy who gambled. He was taught by father to plumb, play the races, and his love of eating. Just a small town fella’ […]
Over the years, I have been extremely lucky. Not to say that I’ve cashed a million dollar powerball winner, or knocked out the pick-six. I came up like many players. I was introduced to the sport by family, and the love has been growing ever since. There were different stages along my journey, and see […]
Once upon a time, race tracks could be found in every state that allowed betting. If you wanted to bet, you had to make your way to the track and watch the ponies. Vegas was yet to be born, and the lottery and casinos were something you read about. Oh, there were plenty of bookies […]
I have lived in the Northern Kentucky area all of my life. During my lifetime I have lived 100 miles away from seven race tracks over the years. Not to mention the countless bookies who I have run into during this time. This may seem to be a footnote, but there was once more action […]
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. […]
There is a good friend of mine that has given up on the races. Yep… He has just folded his cards, and put away his binoculars. He claims that it has lost the charm, and is no longer exciting. I asked him to give it a break for awhile, and come back and take another look. For […]