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#1
11-25-2007, 04:50 PM
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2007 - The Highs And Lows
Really curious to read what the fellow members on this board consider their highs and lows from this Horse Racing year. It can be from any angle from ownership, gambling, training whatever. I'll start.
The highlight of my year was being able to travel to several tracks with my Granny. She got to see Churchill for the first time. When I pulled that car into Lot 17 and I glanced over the look on her face was great. All day long she just smiled. So did I. I decided on that day that my ashes when I leave this earth will be spread on the hallowed grounds of Churchill Downs. No question another highlight for me was another great experience at The Little Brown Jug. Folks, whether you love, hate or are neutral on Harness Racing you owe yourself at least one visit to this piece of American Pie. An atmosphere second to none - every one of your senses will be in full swing. From hearing the legendary Roger Hustons' voice bellowing thru the speakers, the smell of the fair food bringing you back for more, a quick walk thru the Hall of Fame and the new barns the list just goes on and on. Another high for me personally was the quick realization that my gambling was close to getting out of control. I caught it early in the year and have held steadfast to my word to keep it inline. I now find myself having more fun then ever at the track. Without question my biggest low for the year was seeing how racing in Ohio is on a slow decline. As our neighboring states fuel their purse money with slots we here in the Buckeye State keep plodding along with cheap purses, cheap horses and the future does not look good. Sure I still love those hard working friends I have made thru the years who send out those Maidens in that race at Beulah but times are moving ahead everywhere else and at Beulah and all other tracks in Ohio time is not standing still but rather falling backwards. Why in the world people turn their eye on slots is beyond me when the Ohio State Lottery is present in every Gas Station and Convience store known to man. Not too mention most of those who voted against the slots are the same ones who support Bingo at the local "Firemans Hall" or Church. I don't want slots at the track but I don't want these Horsemen to move their tack elswhere when they have all this right in their backyard and have for decades. Their is something to be said for history is their not? Looking forward to reading your replies and best wishes for the New Year! 
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#4
11-25-2007, 05:45 PM
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high: Midnight Lute winning the BC sprint....and remembering when he could hardly walk without his crooked legs clunking together.
low: Itty Bitty Pretty breaking down....and remembering bottle feeding her for the first week of her life.
__________________
 Seek respect, not attention.
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#6
11-25-2007, 06:07 PM
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High - getting to Saratoga for opening week for the first time, hanging out at the BBQ with the greatest folks on the planet, and getting American Dream'a in the Winners Circle on Toga's opening day.
Absolutely nothing can compare to getting your picture taken on opening day at the Spa. Low - the weather at Monmouth for the BC, and watching the van and tarps come out for George Washington.
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#7
11-25-2007, 08:59 PM
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High: Rags to Riches in the Belmont. I never was a fan of hers before that race, but with the determination she showed and the excitement she created in the stands that day I was turned.
Honorable Mention going to Panty Raid winning the American Oaks. Quote:
Quote:
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please use generalizations and non-truths when arguing your side, thank you
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#10
11-27-2007, 05:34 PM
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Highs: Joining this forum in March. Never been part of anything like this
before. It's been entertaining and educational. Most trips to Saratoga I've ever taken. Had a blast each time. Even had a profitable meet. First time in a while. Lows: The NYRA/State government debacle Had my worst big-5 gambling wise. Took some tough beats at annual "get togethers" for the Derby, Preakness, Belmont, Travers and the Breeder's Cup. I believe it's the first time I didn't cash a single ticket on Breeder's Cup Day. Still had a blast with the guys. Any breakdown of a horse and injury to a jockey.
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#11
11-28-2007, 07:04 PM
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Great idea.
High Point: Illinois Ruling Stops Horse Slaughter in U.S. The only positive thing that has come out of decisions made by our State legislators and Executive Office thius year. Won't bore you with politics here but it's a mess: http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleind...e.asp?id=40918 Best memories: 1) Having the opportunity to attend a Corporate Function in the Million Room at Arlington Park. I get to Arlington Park about 4-6 times a year with my wife and kids (ages 9 & 13) in the grandstand and it is a great place for family fun; but getting to see the races from the Million Room with an incredible view and fabulous food and service was awesome! 2) The winning jockey autographs goggles and gives them away to kids after races on the weekend at Arlington Park. My daughter got goggles from Robbie Albarado this year adding to her collection of signed goggles from Mark Guidy, Rene Douglas and Chris Emigh. Two Hall of Famers and the best two riders on the Chicago circuit! 3) Hitting the Turf Festival Pick 3 at Arlington Park on Arlington Million Day along with a win bet on Grand Couturier and an exacta with Grand Couturier and English Channel in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Million Day. Won over $650 in a span of an hour making my year at the races a profitable one. 4) Illinois OTB, NTRA, Monmouth allowing for advance wagering on the Breeders Cup. My father and I have a tradition of watching and wagering and Mom and Dad retired to Arkansas. They could not make it to Illinois this year so I bet our Pick 3s Friday ending in the 10th and 11th and went south to watch at their new home. Hit both Pick 3s we played and while they were chalky it ended in a profitable day that I got to spend with Dad. 5) On the phone with Dad watching the Belmont with both of us cheering on Rags to Riches over Curlin to get us profit on our Pick 3. 6) Street Sense. I picked him to win the Breeders Cup Juvenile based on his win at G3 Arlington Park and my daughter had him in the Ky. Derby. All of his races were incedible to watch. Even in defeat he proved a true champion who gave his best each time. Kudos to all 3 year olds, what a great year for the Derby Trial! Lows: I too share the frustration over the loss of great equine athletes in their prime. I hope the synthetic surfaces which have disrupted my ability to effectively analyze past performances serve to diminish the loss of those we cheer to victory.
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#12
11-28-2007, 07:18 PM
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Quote:
but of course the pols can say they cleaned up their backyard.
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#14
11-28-2007, 07:31 PM
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Quote:
but a problem isn't eliminated, just moved. still a problem..well, actually more so. one of the things mentioned was the abhorrent condition these horses suffered when shipping to slaughterhouses, improper trailers for instance. having to travel thousands more miles than before only made a bad situation so much worse for these horses.
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#16
11-29-2007, 11:02 AM
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Highs...
Every race Darjina won, seeing Red Clubs win a G1, Apache Cat beating Haradasun, Vodka winning the Derby and showing the boys up, Vengeance of Rain in Dubai, finding Ace. Lows..... George Washington, and April 7th..... watching my favorite horse Hendrix who I still miss.
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#17
11-29-2007, 11:09 AM
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As far as racing goes:
Highs: Rags to Riches Belmont, Street Sense's Derby, Perry Ouzts winning his first Cradle Stakes. Lows: Lethal Grande, the best horse in Oregon racing history, having to be euthanized after a career that saw him win 28 times. Personally in racing Lows: Calling the wrong horse last in a 100k dollar race and realizing when i got back to the front of the field into the stretch she was first, walking around Cincinnati wondering if i should switch jobs. Highs: 2 days later nailing the call of our 200k race and once again feeling i can do this job.
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You can buy my horse racing/gambling novel Southbound at Amazon, BN, or Powells or various bookstores. On twitter @BeemieAwards
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#18
11-29-2007, 02:21 PM
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As a bettor,
High point: Ellis Park offers a 4% takeout Pick-4 for the duration of it's summer meet. Horseplayers who are used to battling against 15-25% takeout have a chance to play against 1/4th the vig or less. Low point: Horseplayers (mostly) choose to bet into 20-25% takeout pools at other tracks rather than play at Ellis, leaving Ellis and other tracks little incentive to try lowering takeout. As a fan, High point: Seeing Lava Man live at Hollywood Park winning the Gold Cup with an ultra-game run through the stretch. Low point: The Barbaro roller-coaster finale. --Dunbar
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Curlin and Hard Spun finish 1,2 in the 2007 BC Classic, demonstrating how competing in all three Triple Crown races ruins a horse for the rest of the year...see avatar photo from REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
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#19
11-29-2007, 02:31 PM
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Highs include Curlin's backing me up for claiming in March that by year's end, he'd be the best horse in the country; seeing the top 3yo's slug it out through the end of the main racing season; the return of Pat Valenzuela; the exciting prospect of watching War Pass become a hall of famer; the brilliance of Magnificience; the scintillating stretch running of Crossing the Line; Patrick Biancone being suspended (I'll never forgive him for running Lion Heart in the Preakness); people saying Baffert couldn't train anymore cause he couldn't win on that junk in Cali and then him going to NY and tearing it up and winning two BC races to further prove that it's the tracks that suck out here.
Lows include the entire older male division; the entire 2yo male and female divisions, save for War Pass and Indian Blessing; all the people saying that this average group of 3yo's were great (they weren't, they only looked that way because the older males were horrible); Crossing the Line, Rags to Riches, Notional and Magnificience being injured; the mass introduction of synthetic racing, especially that junk they race on at Del Mar.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020) Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine
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