highnote
05-23-2012, 12:40 AM
As I was watching a replay of the Preakness this past weekend I was reminded of the time I watched the Preakness with Telly Savalas. I can't remember the year -- '91, 92' '93 -- or who won -- Prairie Bayou, Pine Bluff or Hansel. I do know I will never forget our brief encounter.
I was attending a conference that was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Universal City, CA. As the race was about to begin, a bald man wearing a satin robe, pajamas and house slippers walks into the lounge and sits on a sofa to watch the race. I did a double-take and then realized it was Savalas. He was pretty gruff, but we did chat a little about the race. I remember being disappointed in myself for not knowing more about racing.
When I was a kid I used to watch him on TV playing the role of Kojak. Now fast forward 20 years to where I'm a young man and just learning about racing. I didn't have much to offer him in the way of racing conversation, but I was thrilled to be sitting alone with him in the lounge watching the Preakness.
I have always found it strange, that a person of his stature was alone that day and came downstairs from his room to watch the race. For 20 years his full-time residence was the Sheraton Hotel. You'd think he'd have prefered to watch the race in the quiet of his own room or surrounded by racing buddies. I guess he just wanted some company that day. He didn't seem well. He had probably already been diagnosed with cancer. He died about year later.
Now, every year when I watch the Preakness I think about sitting in that hotel lounge talking horse racing with Telly Savalas.
So here's a toast to Telly -- "Who loves ya, baby?"
I was attending a conference that was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Universal City, CA. As the race was about to begin, a bald man wearing a satin robe, pajamas and house slippers walks into the lounge and sits on a sofa to watch the race. I did a double-take and then realized it was Savalas. He was pretty gruff, but we did chat a little about the race. I remember being disappointed in myself for not knowing more about racing.
When I was a kid I used to watch him on TV playing the role of Kojak. Now fast forward 20 years to where I'm a young man and just learning about racing. I didn't have much to offer him in the way of racing conversation, but I was thrilled to be sitting alone with him in the lounge watching the Preakness.
I have always found it strange, that a person of his stature was alone that day and came downstairs from his room to watch the race. For 20 years his full-time residence was the Sheraton Hotel. You'd think he'd have prefered to watch the race in the quiet of his own room or surrounded by racing buddies. I guess he just wanted some company that day. He didn't seem well. He had probably already been diagnosed with cancer. He died about year later.
Now, every year when I watch the Preakness I think about sitting in that hotel lounge talking horse racing with Telly Savalas.
So here's a toast to Telly -- "Who loves ya, baby?"