If I ever bet on a dog race I will always cheered for "Rusty" regardless of the names of the dogs. He was my pet when when I was a kid and it will make me feel good and better still confuse the people around me.

I never bet on a dog races though so as kent says, that's not my point.

They don't ask me the horses name when I place the bet. In fact they frown on it. So it isn't like I'm encouraged to memorize the name of the 16,000 claimer I think is the least worst in the field.

I think people that cheer at an OTB are showing signs of desperation anyway. Why are they so excited that their 3/5 shot is on the lead in the backstretch? My theory is that winners are quiet.

I'll quietly whisper to my friend's "what's that jackass think he's doing moving so soon?" but otherwise I'm like a teenage couple with the parents in the next room. So far as everyone around knows I'm still doing homework.