Teach
02-04-2015, 12:09 PM
You’ve probably done this before. First thought or word that comes to mind. I say “hot”; you might say: “cold”. You get the idea, only these are race-track first thoughts.
I’ll start it off:
I. Word: “NYRA”. First thought: Caposella… as in Fred Caposella.
As a kid watching horse racing on an old black-and-white Zenith TV. “Thank you, Win…That means one thing, ‘it is now post time!”
II. Word: "Hialeah". First thought: Flamingoes..as in “Dance of The Flamingos”.
I was a college kid on a shoestring spring-break budget betting deuces and drinkin' beer. All I recall are those long-legged pink birds flying all over the place.
III. Word: "Kentucky Derby". First thought: Dark Star.
Dark Star won the 1953 Derby; he defeated Native Dancer who finished second. First Kentucky Derby race I ever watched on TV.
IV. "Suffolk Downs". First thought: Pabst Blue Ribbon.
First beer I ever bought at a race track. Also: “Beachmont”. Announcer Jim Hannon would often say as they reached the far turn en route to the top of the stretch: “They’re now in Beachmont” (a section of Revere – next to Boston – where part of the track is located).
V. "Rockingham Park". First thought: Necy II
I hit my first and only twin-tri with this harness horse.
VI. "Foxboro Raceway": “Mr Day…Mr. Safford…Mr. Hansen…etc.
Clayt Smith, the track announcer. would, in the late 50s and early 60s introduce the drivers in the post parade with the title: “Mr.” What would people think today?
VII. "Yonkers Raceway": Word: lost.
I was teaching on Long Island; had never been to Yonkers. Got lost. I know it’s hard to believe: “Lost In Yonkers”.
VIII. "Brandywine Raceway". The lake, lagoon in the middle of the infield.
I was there once in the mid-to-late 60s. Now a shopping mall.
IX. "Hinsdale Raceway (NH)" Word: backyard.
When I first saw the track I said to my friend, "This gotta be someone’s backyard."
X. "Scarborough Downs". Word: Mosquitoes.
When I went there (near Portland, ME) for the harness races, they had night racing on a mile track. The mosquitoes were ferocious. I’ve had a phlebotomist take less blood.
Well, you get the idea. What are some of yours?
I’ll start it off:
I. Word: “NYRA”. First thought: Caposella… as in Fred Caposella.
As a kid watching horse racing on an old black-and-white Zenith TV. “Thank you, Win…That means one thing, ‘it is now post time!”
II. Word: "Hialeah". First thought: Flamingoes..as in “Dance of The Flamingos”.
I was a college kid on a shoestring spring-break budget betting deuces and drinkin' beer. All I recall are those long-legged pink birds flying all over the place.
III. Word: "Kentucky Derby". First thought: Dark Star.
Dark Star won the 1953 Derby; he defeated Native Dancer who finished second. First Kentucky Derby race I ever watched on TV.
IV. "Suffolk Downs". First thought: Pabst Blue Ribbon.
First beer I ever bought at a race track. Also: “Beachmont”. Announcer Jim Hannon would often say as they reached the far turn en route to the top of the stretch: “They’re now in Beachmont” (a section of Revere – next to Boston – where part of the track is located).
V. "Rockingham Park". First thought: Necy II
I hit my first and only twin-tri with this harness horse.
VI. "Foxboro Raceway": “Mr Day…Mr. Safford…Mr. Hansen…etc.
Clayt Smith, the track announcer. would, in the late 50s and early 60s introduce the drivers in the post parade with the title: “Mr.” What would people think today?
VII. "Yonkers Raceway": Word: lost.
I was teaching on Long Island; had never been to Yonkers. Got lost. I know it’s hard to believe: “Lost In Yonkers”.
VIII. "Brandywine Raceway". The lake, lagoon in the middle of the infield.
I was there once in the mid-to-late 60s. Now a shopping mall.
IX. "Hinsdale Raceway (NH)" Word: backyard.
When I first saw the track I said to my friend, "This gotta be someone’s backyard."
X. "Scarborough Downs". Word: Mosquitoes.
When I went there (near Portland, ME) for the harness races, they had night racing on a mile track. The mosquitoes were ferocious. I’ve had a phlebotomist take less blood.
Well, you get the idea. What are some of yours?