How did you get into racing?

[Downthestretch55]

I've been around horses since I was a kid.
My first time at a track was back in the '80s..Meadowlands trotters.
Then Toga with my sons many times.
When my mother had a teminal illness in her old age, I tended to her needs.
To pass the time, I'd put her telivision on to the Derby preps, then the TC races. Talk about a "red boarder"!!! I'd pick one before the race. After they crossed the line, she'd say, "that was the one I liked in the post parade!"
Bless her heart. Those races gave her something to forget the pain for a little while.
After she passed on, I got a call from a friend. I had gone to the Belmont with her and her husband, the Real Quiet /Victory Gallop one. My friend had an in with the Jim Jerkens barn, and they ran the 3rd place finisher, Thomas John. Anyway, she asked me if I was interested in buying a race horse.
Seems the gentleman that owned him had gotten very far behind in his "barn bill". So, to make a long story short, I bought the colt and his dam with some money that my mother left to me. That was eight horses ago.
Still love them, still a thrill.
Race on!

[31lengths]

Funny Cide.

[repent]

Originally Posted by 31lengths

Funny Cide.

you know,
Ive never been a fan of Funny Cide.
but there is one very interesting aspect to the Funny Cide story.
if he had NOT been gelded and they retired him after the Belmont Stakes,
he would be viewed on equal terms with smarty jones from a historical perspective.

everyone wants to think of Funny Cide as a bad KY Derby and Preakness winner, but the truth is that he was just a good 3YO who peaked at the right time and then got old real quick.
nothing at all to be ashamed of.
same thing would have happened to smarty jones if they had not saved his as* and retired him.



Repent

[GPK]

My very first experience with horses cam through my uncle. He is known throughout the States as a famous trainer of Tennessee Walking Horses. Traveled with him a few different times, the biggest one being "Celebration" in Tennessee. I used to marvel at the size of some of those horses. His wife had one of her own...never will forget him...biggest freaking horse I ever laid eyes one. His name was MASTER MINDER and he was jet black. What a beautiful specimen he was.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by GPK

My very first experience with horses cam through my uncle. He is known throughout the States as a famous trainer of Tennessee Walking Horses. Traveled with him a few different times, the biggest one being "Celebration" in Tennessee. I used to marvel at the size of some of those horses. His wife had one of her own...never will forget him...biggest freaking horse I ever laid eyes one. His name was MASTER MINDER and he was jet black. What a beautiful specimen he was.

My actual first experience with racing came when I was dating a girl that lived in Lexington and when I went to visit her one time, she said..."Let's go to Keeneland!!" Of course I had zero clue as to what the place was or the history behind it, etc... So, she takes me to Keenland and boy was it beautiful, but it was not during the spring or fall meet. I asked her where everyone was and how in the world could someone sit around all day, watching horses run on a tv and betting on them. I told her those people had to be some kind of bored with no life whatsoever....

NOW....I don't know how I COULD NOT sit around and watch horses race on TV and bet on them. Horse racing has simply become my passion. 2 Years ago, if someone had placed a DRF in front of me and asked me to handicap a race....I would have just laughed. I had ZERO idea how to read a form. Some will still say that I have no idea how to read a form....but I think I do okay

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

I've been around horses since I was a kid.
My first time at a track was back in the '80s..Meadowlands trotters.
Then Toga with my sons many times.
When my mother had a teminal illness in her old age, I tended to her needs.
To pass the time, I'd put her telivision on to the Derby preps, then the TC races. Talk about a "red boarder"!!! I'd pick one before the race. After they crossed the line, she'd say, "that was the one I liked in the post parade!"
Bless her heart. Those races gave her something to forget the pain for a little while.
After she passed on, I got a call from a friend. I had gone to the Belmont with her and her husband, the Real Quiet /Victory Gallop one. My friend had an in with the Jim Jerkens barn, and they ran the 3rd place finisher, Thomas John. Anyway, she asked me if I was interested in buying a race horse.
Seems the gentleman that owned him had gotten very far behind in his "barn bill". So, to make a long story short, I bought the colt and his dam with some money that my mother left to me. That was eight horses ago.
Still love them, still a thrill.
Race on!

What a sad and nice story.