Truth is stranger than fiction

[travelling_vic]

It came be a long night when you have 13 races to photograph and not long enough
in between races to run out to do too many things, so when we are not reading a
good book, Jo Ann (the director) and I often search the TV for something to
watch.

She told me a story yesterday that had such a good outcome that it is worth
sharing.

Jo Ann, during the T-bred meet, is a vets assistant, and a knowledgeable one to
boot. She told me about a very small two year old in Josie Carroll's barn
(trainer of last years dual Oaks and Queen's Plate winner, Inglorious) she was
asked to see a few years back. Never having seen the animal before and not
knowing his registered name, she was told simply "he's over there" and was
pointed to a stall.

On the front of the stall was a notation; Stall One. She said she asked if Stall
One was where the two year old was put, and quizzed looks greeted her comment.

"No, that horse's name is Stallone, you know like from Rocky?"

The little guy did not pan out as a race horse at the level of competition at
Woodbine so he was sold.

Who shows up last night at Penn National of all places, but old Stall One? At
16/1 and with his small stature never having altered too much, we watched to see
how he would fare. "He always had some speed," Jo Ann informed me as they went
to the post.

So old Stallone breaks on top and never looked back at 16/1.

You tell me that truth is not stranger than fiction!

6th race - Penn National - January 20, 2012

Off at: 8:09 Race Type: Claiming
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Purse: $13,000
Distance: Six Furlongs On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:11.08
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
3 Stallone Luis A. Belmonte 34.80 16.20 7.60
9 Sweetcandyman Matthew Rispoli 4.60 3.60
7 Brass Knuckles Manuel Chaves 5.00
Also ran: 2 - Storming Wolf , 6 - Mo's Rivera , 11 - Time Control , 10 - Slow
Nick C , 5 - The A. Train , 12 - Cherokee Romance , 4 - Roan Rooster , 8 - Gator
Champ , 1 - Camillus Drive

Still laughing about this one.

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by travelling_vic

It came be a long night when you have 13 races to photograph and not long enough
in between races to run out to do too many things, so when we are not reading a
good book, Jo Ann (the director) and I often search the TV for something to
watch.

She told me a story yesterday that had such a good outcome that it is worth
sharing.

Jo Ann, during the T-bred meet, is a vets assistant, and a knowledgeable one to
boot. She told me about a very small two year old in Josie Carroll's barn
(trainer of last years dual Oaks and Queen's Plate winner, Inglorious) she was
asked to see a few years back. Never having seen the animal before and not
knowing his registered name, she was told simply "he's over there" and was
pointed to a stall.

On the front of the stall was a notation; Stall One. She said she asked if Stall
One was where the two year old was put, and quizzed looks greeted her comment.

"No, that horse's name is Stallone, you know like from Rocky?"

The little guy did not pan out as a race horse at the level of competition at
Woodbine so he was sold.

Who shows up last night at Penn National of all places, but old Stall One? At
16/1 and with his small stature never having altered too much, we watched to see
how he would fare. "He always had some speed," Jo Ann informed me as they went
to the post.

So old Stallone breaks on top and never looked back at 16/1.

You tell me that truth is not stranger than fiction!

6th race - Penn National - January 20, 2012

Off at: 8:09 Race Type: Claiming
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Purse: $13,000
Distance: Six Furlongs On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:11.08
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
3 Stallone Luis A. Belmonte 34.80 16.20 7.60
9 Sweetcandyman Matthew Rispoli 4.60 3.60
7 Brass Knuckles Manuel Chaves 5.00
Also ran: 2 - Storming Wolf , 6 - Mo's Rivera , 11 - Time Control , 10 - Slow
Nick C , 5 - The A. Train , 12 - Cherokee Romance , 4 - Roan Rooster , 8 - Gator
Champ , 1 - Camillus Drive

Still laughing about this one.

How bout that, terrific story Vic. Congrats on the hit.

[Dahoss]

Yeah, that's a terrific story. Please, keep them coming.

[pointman]

Please tell us tomorrow all about the huge longshot you hit today.

[travelling_vic]

Originally Posted by pointman

Please tell us tomorrow all about the huge longshot you hit today.

There was no bet as we happened upon this randomly.

how many times must one state it that evaluating, talking about, looking at, discussing a race etc. does not mean one wagers on it!

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by travelling_vic

It came be a long night when you have 13 races to photograph and not long enough
in between races to run out to do too many things, so when we are not reading a
good book, Jo Ann (the director) and I often search the TV for something to
watch.

She told me a story yesterday that had such a good outcome that it is worth
sharing.

Jo Ann, during the T-bred meet, is a vets assistant, and a knowledgeable one to
boot. She told me about a very small two year old in Josie Carroll's barn
(trainer of last years dual Oaks and Queen's Plate winner, Inglorious) she was
asked to see a few years back. Never having seen the animal before and not
knowing his registered name, she was told simply "he's over there" and was
pointed to a stall.

On the front of the stall was a notation; Stall One. She said she asked if Stall
One was where the two year old was put, and quizzed looks greeted her comment.

"No, that horse's name is Stallone, you know like from Rocky?"

The little guy did not pan out as a race horse at the level of competition at
Woodbine so he was sold.

Who shows up last night at Penn National of all places, but old Stall One? At
16/1 and with his small stature never having altered too much, we watched to see
how he would fare. "He always had some speed," Jo Ann informed me as they went
to the post.

So old Stallone breaks on top and never looked back at 16/1.

You tell me that truth is not stranger than fiction!

6th race - Penn National - January 20, 2012

Off at: 8:09 Race Type: Claiming
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Purse: $13,000
Distance: Six Furlongs On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:11.08
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
3 Stallone Luis A. Belmonte 34.80 16.20 7.60
9 Sweetcandyman Matthew Rispoli 4.60 3.60
7 Brass Knuckles Manuel Chaves 5.00
Also ran: 2 - Storming Wolf , 6 - Mo's Rivera , 11 - Time Control , 10 - Slow
Nick C , 5 - The A. Train , 12 - Cherokee Romance , 4 - Roan Rooster , 8 - Gator
Champ , 1 - Camillus Drive

Still laughing about this one.

Really good read. I for one appreciate these refreshing posts. Keep them coming, and Ill keep reading them.

A good read. I see a Disney movie in the works.

It's a very limited selection of bu.tthurt tards that have been banned in the past. Still can't figure out which tard he is.

[Calzone Lord]

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Really good read. I for one appreciate these refreshing posts. Keep them coming, and Ill keep reading them.

I've been told by numerous people -- some who don't know each other -- that I look EXACTLY like Rubio from the T-Wolves of the NBA.

I've googled and seen his highlights before and I wasn't really sure -- but I can see where it's close enough ... but EVERYONE is saying this.

Well -- it can be a long night when you have 13 races to handicap early -- but I decided to take a break at about 12AM and I turned on the TV and decided to see what was on ESPN.

It was an NBA basketball and the score was 98-94 in favor of the Clippers over the T-Wolves with under a minute to go. That half-and-half guy from the Oklahoma Sooners, who does the KIA commericals, and I think won rookie of the year last year ... he was on the foul line for the Clippers with a chance to ice the game.

He bricked the 1st free-throw!!

He bricked the 2nd free-throw!!

No biggie -- still a 4 point lead with under a minute to go.

I change the station -- I think boxing was on ESPN Classic or something. NBA, like all basketball, is like watching paint dry... so even the closing minute of a nail-biter doesn't really interest me that much.

So... I get bored after maybe a minute or two -- and I flip the remote back to ESPN.

RUBIO -- FOR 3 -- SWISH!!!!! And, oh my F'ing God. He looks JUST like me. Like, I swear, I've never seen another man in my life who looks so much like we when I don't shave for a few weeks.

I jumped out of my chair -- and I screamed "That's me!! Oh my God, That's ME!!"

And -- Rubio sets a screen -- another bearded White dude Love is wide open for a game winning 3 pointer. SWISHHHHHHHH!!! T-Wolves, win at the buzzer.

You tell me that truth is not stranger than fiction!

I didn't bet this basketball game...but

still laughing about this one!

[Dahoss]

Now THAT is a good story.

[Calzone Lord]

[Dahoss]

I can see the resemblance, but you're prettier.

[Calzone Lord]

A 5-year-old son of Smart Strike wins a 5k N3L at Penn at 16/1 odds.

Can't you see that it is not a redboard? rather it is a "good outcome worth sharing story" ...because had said Smart Strike 5yo finished a perfect trip 7th at 16/1 odds against those fellow slugs ... he probably would have ended up having a hot date with this lady...

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Yeah, that's a terrific story. Please, keep them coming.

Did you hear the one about a fair maiden who gets porked by 7 creepy dwarfs passes out from the horror of being defiled by flithy horny little people and is left for dead. A prince finds her in an alley pulls the apple out of her A...s...s that was stuck there to stop the bleeding brings her to the hospital for treatment where she is refused medical services because she didnt have health Insurance. After a lengthy recovery from both physical and psycological trama she meets the prince. Upon meeting his maiden they fall in love after he shows her the apple that he has been keeping preserved in mason jar. I think Disney re did it for an after school special. Oh she was paid 150 for half and half for an hour to be with the prince.

[cakes44]

Another heartwarming story:

One thing kids like is to be tricked. For instance, I was going to take my little nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old burned-out warehouse. “Oh, no,” I said, “Disneyland burned down.” He cried and cried, but I think that deep down he thought it was a pretty good joke. I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was getting pretty late.

[Dahoss]

Jack Handey?

[Kasept]

When I was doing a lot of sales and marketing work, I had to do a presentation for a tech product. It was in front of a group and I had to get them excited about how to sell a boring slide projector. Here's what I said:

"Technology is a glittering lure. But, there is the rare occasion when the public can be engaged on a level beyond flash, if they have a sentimental bond with the product. My first job, I was in-house at a fur company, with this old-pro copywriter, a Greek named Teddy. Teddy told me the most important idea in advertising is new. Creates an itch. You simply put your product in there as a kind of calamine lotion."

At this point, they seemed intrigued, so I began including slides of sweet and oddly sad scenes of my life in the presentation...

"Teddy talked about a deeper bond with the product. Nostalgia. It’s delicate, but potent. Teddy told me that in Greek, “nostalgia” literally means “the pain from an old wound”. It’s a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone. This device isn’t a spaceship, it’s a time machine. It goes backwards, forwards, takes us to a place where we ache to go again. It’s not called the wheel. It’s called the carousel. It lets us travel the way a child travels. Round and around, and back home again. To a place where we know we are loved."

I got the sale.

[Calzone Lord]

Riveting.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Kasept

When I was doing a lot of sales and marketing work, I had to do a presentation for a tech product. It was in front of a group and I had to get them excited about how to sell a boring slide projector. Here's what I said:

"Technology is a glittering lure. But, there is the rare occasion when the public can be engaged on a level beyond flash, if they have a sentimental bond with the product. My first job, I was in-house at a fur company, with this old-pro copywriter, a Greek named Teddy. Teddy told me the most important idea in advertising is new. Creates an itch. You simply put your product in there as a kind of calamine lotion."

At this point, they seemed intrigued, so I began including slides of sweet and oddly sad scenes of my life in the presentation...

"Teddy talked about a deeper bond with the product. Nostalgia. It’s delicate, but potent. Teddy told me that in Greek, “nostalgia” literally means “the pain from an old wound”. It’s a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone. This device isn’t a spaceship, it’s a time machine. It goes backwards, forwards, takes us to a place where we ache to go again. It’s not called the wheel. It’s called the carousel. It lets us travel the way a child travels. Round and around, and back home again. To a place where we know we are loved."

I got the sale.

This may be your finest work to date.