Well, when I ditched AOL--like all sane people have done--that pretty much cut off those boards (although you can get to them now) and I just didn't hook up elsewhere. Also, I just play the horses less than I used to--I've been busy with other bad habits.

Steve/Rog told me about this place.

Saratoga is unlikely this year (although I've been there 2 of the last 3 years)--I'm heading up to the Belmont. That will be the first TC race I've ever been to (although I've been to an even dozen BCs). The Derby is too much of a zoo (I hate CD anyway), and Pimilico is a total dump from all I've heard. But Belmont I like--so I have to root for SS in the Preakness to have a possible TC on the line.

This is my advice about Saratoga--I know how you are about crowds: avoid the weekends, ESPECIALLY the Travers weekend. It is just too much of a zoo.
Weekdays are the ticket.

It's a cool place. Keeneland is my favorite, but Saratoga is up there.

From DRF.....

Bone chip sidelines Spring at Last
By STEVE ANDERSEN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Spring at Last, winner of the $1 million Godolphin Mile in Dubai on March 31, will miss the $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on May 28 because of a bone chip in an ankle, trainer Doug O'Neill said.

Spring at Last, 4, is scheduled to undergo surgery to have the chip removed Monday. An assessment on how long he will be sidelined will be made following the operation, O'Neill said.

A lengthy layoff could eliminate long-range plans to start Spring at Last in the newly created $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Monmouth Park on Oct. 26.

"A lot of it depends on what the vet says," O'Neill said.

Owned by Paul Reddam and WinStar Farm, Spring at Last has won 3 of 10 starts and $795,650. He was second in the Malibu Stakes and Strub Stakes last winter.

Update, DRF.....

http://www.drf.com/news/article/85148.html

No Chatain?! %$#@!!!!!!!!

Sun King, Silver Wagon, Latent Heat, Lawyer Ron, Corinthian, Half Ours, Political Force, and Silent Name.

Now that would be a pretty good field. Too bad Discreet Cat couldnt make this race.

He's home, by the way.