When did you.....

[my miss storm cat]

..... become a racing fan? Were you taken to the track as a kid or did you fall in love with a certain horse, ie the post-9/11 we-need-a-hero-and-his-name-is-Smarty-Jones mentality? Were you taken to the track by friends or did you just kinda stumble into it, or did you grow up around horses and have a natural interest?

Tell me your story.

[Thunder Gulch]

First remember watching Spectacular Bid in 1979. My grandfather was a racing fan and owned a few greyhounds, but he died when I was only 5. My grandmother remained interested, so we would watch the Derby together. I watched Triple Crown races through 1990, but that was about the extent of it.
The first big event I attended was the 1991 Derby. I got hooked on that event and have been to every Derby since. I made major scores in 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1997 which only fueled the fire (haven' hit since ). In 1998 I took the next step by going to the Breeders Cup. Then I caught the fall meet at Keenland in 1999.

[Danzig]

i've always been a complete horse nut. so it just came naturally to me. i remember the days of the slew crew, and i wanted alydar to beat affirmed. and then spectacular bid came along (i liked general assembly myself...i detect a pattern!)...but then, in '80, that big beautiful chestnut filly with a blazed face came along. oh man, that was it. you see, i'm a tomboy, always have been. and there she was duking it out with the boys, and she beat them. it was great. she was also my first derby horse to win...i love seattle slew, but didn't see him run til after the t.c. he was almost before my time....
i've got a tony leonard print of risk. she had tremendous heart, she was a tough gal on the track and now she's our senior derby winner.

[31lengths]

2002 started paying attention.....
2003 became a fan...
2004 became addicted.

[1st_Saturday_in_May]

Point Given 2001

[MLC]

This is my first post. I've been reading posts for about a year and a half now, first at ESPN, now here. This site is much better. I really admire the involvement most of you have in the sport.
As to the topic, I've been following racing since the late 50's when my family watched any sport on TV and horse racing was popular. The names of famous racehorses, jockeys, owners, and trainers were household words. I remember the newspaper stories when Nashua's owner was shot, when Tim Tam broke down in the Belmont, and when Eddie Arcaro retired. I was hooked and really followed the sport the year that Kelso won the "Handicappers Triple Crown", when Carry Back made his triple crown bid. My favorites at that time were Kelso, Bowl of Flowers, and Jaipur.

For me it was when I was 5 or 6. I used to go to the track with me dad

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by MLC

This is my first post. I've been reading posts for about a year and a half now, first at ESPN, now here. This site is much better. I really admire the involvement most of you have in the sport.
As to the topic, I've been following racing since the late 50's when my family watched any sport on TV and horse racing was popular. The names of famous racehorses, jockeys, owners, and trainers were household words. I remember the newspaper stories when Nashua's owner was shot, when Tim Tam broke down in the Belmont, and when Eddie Arcaro retired. I was hooked and really followed the sport the year that Kelso won the "Handicappers Triple Crown", when Carry Back made his triple crown bid. My favorites at that time were Kelso, Bowl of Flowers, and Jaipur.

thanks for stepping up with your first post. looking forward to hearing more from you either on the "good old days" when the sport was much more popular, or your thoughts on the current scene.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by MLC

This is my first post. I've been reading posts for about a year and a half now, first at ESPN, now here. This site is much better. I really admire the involvement most of you have in the sport.
As to the topic, I've been following racing since the late 50's when my family watched any sport on TV and horse racing was popular. The names of famous racehorses, jockeys, owners, and trainers were household words. I remember the newspaper stories when Nashua's owner was shot, when Tim Tam broke down in the Belmont, and when Eddie Arcaro retired. I was hooked and really followed the sport the year that Kelso won the "Handicappers Triple Crown", when Carry Back made his triple crown bid. My favorites at that time were Kelso, Bowl of Flowers, and Jaipur.

well, welcome! what took ya so long?

lucky you to have seen all those fabulous horses, many of which most of us have only seen in pictures or the occasional grainy black and white film footage. kelso was an amazing horse.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by MLC

This is my first post. I've been reading posts for about a year and a half now, first at ESPN, now here. This site is much better. I really admire the involvement most of you have in the sport.
As to the topic, I've been following racing since the late 50's when my family watched any sport on TV and horse racing was popular. The names of famous racehorses, jockeys, owners, and trainers were household words. I remember the newspaper stories when Nashua's owner was shot, when Tim Tam broke down in the Belmont, and when Eddie Arcaro retired. I was hooked and really followed the sport the year that Kelso won the "Handicappers Triple Crown", when Carry Back made his triple crown bid. My favorites at that time were Kelso, Bowl of Flowers, and Jaipur.

I hope this is the first of many posts.

Welcome.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by 31lengths

2002 started paying attention.....
2003 became a fan...
2004 became addicted.

Mine is similar.....

2004 - all three of the above. Thank you, Smarty Jones. I'm hooked.