My experience today
Today was by far one of my favorite days of my LIFETIME. I say this because I had a dream come true. Now some on here will talk about how miniscul this dream was but I'll detail it in a "vegas like" outline
Tuesday 9pm: Tried to go to sleep, too pumped about Sumwon, turn TV on and watch 'ATL'
Wednesday 8am: Get up and check Steve/Chuck/Willie flight status, everything a-ok. Get on DT and see that Sightseek/Sniper got screwed over. SOOO BOOTLEG.
Wednesday 9:20am: Get to Midway and see Chuck standing there. Bags in the car
Wednesday 9:30am: Get lost on the southside and take long way to Byk's favorite cap store, through not so pleasant areas. Willie starts talking about favorite restaurants in area and big wins at Hawthorne :)
Wednesday 10:00am: Get to cap store after I was totally out of my element. Chuck and Willie trying on caps. Willie gets this black pimp hat, looks like a player. Start talking about baseball and Michael Jordan
Wednesday 10:30am: Go to Manny's Deli, OUTSTANDING FOOD. Sit down and tell war stories.
Wednesday 11:00am: ONWARD toward the track, get a little nuts on the Envoy and cruising 85mph, CHERRIES on back, but they weren't for me
Wednesday Noon: Get to Arlington, drop Willie off at Jocks area and Byk gets licensed. I get to see what it takes to get licensed and TC is in the HOUSE.
Wednesday 12:30: GET TO GO SEE SUMWON. A dream of mine was to go to the backside and be around a horse that was going to run that day. Get out of the car and I am nervous for some reason, didn't really know what to do. I was taught as a kid that with any friendly animal to put my hand down to let them smell you, get comfortable. I do that, "NO BRO, don't do that" TC scoulds :). (You can't do it on race day becuase of the possibility that you might slip them something) Say hi and try and take out camera. ****ING A. DAMN BATTERIES won't ****ING work on the camera, just my recent luck. Pull out the camera phone and Byk blazes one up. Sumwon SMELLS the peppermints in my lower pocket, tries to get them and starts stamping the ground. Got to see lasix given to her, took the needle like a PRO
Wednesday 1pm: Get to the track and start meeting everyone. I can't tell you how cool everyone is. I will be surprised if I live after this Toga meet coming up. I might as well get on the liver donation list.
Wednesday 2pm: Day is not going well at the windows, just getting smoked, but that means nothing because I just have a permanent smile on my face from earlier
Wednesday 3pm: I start getting real excited about Sum, almost too much. I talk to Liane Davis and ask her if she would like to interview Kasept, didn't know my friend Mac has already asked Zoe.
Wednesday 4pm: Get into the paddock and my newspaper friend comes up to me and says "Look at the tote". 1/2....DTers abound start asking me if I got stupid. :) Kasept gives ZOE a hat and she puts it right on and ROCKS it proud. I see Willie standing there and walk over "What up Tommy, we gonna get this my friend".....Willie talks some **** to Rene Douglas
Wednesday 4:25pm: I feel like my gut is ripped out. Willie rode a great race, GREAT race, outside has been playing well at Arlington and Bid is right about Mojica getting stupid. He pushed the button perfectly. I TRIED to will her home, PROGRAM in right hand destroying my right leg, only to see this 6 horse get the perfect trip right behind her. Sumwon was in front of her on the gallop out about 3 jumps later.
Watching the replay with Steve/Chuck/Willie just shaking out heads. Willie "I'm sorry guys, almost got that one". It was almost like he had tears in his eye. Thanks Steve/Chuck for the ride
All in all, I am as happy as a person could be. I met and chilled out with great people all day, told some stories and almost got the win. Sumwon is an absolutley amazing animal, matter of fact THOROUGHBREDS in general are absolutely amazing. I have never had that close of contact with one of them before. Just rubbing her neck you could feel the raw power that she has, it was an amazing feeling. A dream come true.
I have never had the opportunity to chill with a jockey before. Willie is absolutely awesome and looking forward to seeing him win the Whitney with Brass Hat. I just BSed with him like I would a normal friend and he was completely cool with me. Talked about baseball, Michael Jordan, guy stuff and racing. It was such a treat to met and get to know him. His passion for not only Sumwon but racing is something I wish alot of other people had.
Chuck is awesome. Good ole country boy that would fit into any crowd. I could picture the fights we would get into about sports. Starting busting my balls for getting lost in my own city :) Another great human being that has alot of love for Sumwon and the game of horse racing. If I ever get rich, he will be my trainer, no ifs ands or buts.
And for Steve. I know this has been said a million times on here before but I am going to reiterate it again. He is an amazing human being. I have never met him before today but we have been friends for 3 years. The guy just has so much passion for racing and an outpouring of emotion towards making people happy that he could solve any problems. I see and realize why he is successful and moving forward instead of staying stagnant like so many people do in their lives. He sensed my giddyness and seemed excited about it, like he took pride in making a dream come true for someone, and that, to me, is the best quality that any person could have. Steve my friend, KEEP THAT HEAD UP, IT WILL HAPPEN. COME ON MY SON!!!
I thank all for today as it has been etched into my brain as one of the greatest days of my life, only standing in the winner circle could have made it complete.
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