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Petrocelli in the first at Aqueduct!
He played infield for the Boston Red Sox during the mid-1960’s to mid-1970’s. He never hit for a high average, but he did hit his share of home runs, 210 lifetime.
Why do I bring up his name? Rico Petrocelli’s been retired for many years. Why, all the sudden: Rico Petrocelli. Because I believe in destiny. The mysterious. The unexplained. Dreams. Years ago, I made a nice hit with a horse I was dreaming about the night before; I bet the horse at the Foxwoods Casino in CT; it was the horse with three Rs in its name: Rory’s Rolls Royce. I had dreamt about a horse with three Rs in its name just that night. Voila!
Well, this morning, I was half-dreaming, dozing. I was thinking about or dreaming about my days as a substitute teacher, about a then young man from a neighboring town who taught at a local high school. Tragically, his father, a police officer, was gunned down during a routine traffic stop. Well, I once substituted for this young man. I recall he had in his room a picture of himself and Red Sox shortstop, Rico Petrocelli. I vaguely recall Rico’s signature on the picture and a comment: “Good Luck, Coach.” (The young teacher was also an assistant football coach).
Well, this morning, as I looked over the entries for the tracks, I notice that the #1 horse in the first race at Aqueduct is Petrocelli. I nearly fell over. Gag me with a spoon! I kid you not. Now, let me indicate that I haven’t been betting the races for well over a week. I had to wait until my funds cleared at an ADW (I don’t use Green Dot, anymore). I haven’t looked at the past performances until just now.
Getting back to the story (this is No B.S.; I’m not touting this horse. I’m not trying to persuade anybody to bet this horse.). I’m just telling you the events that transpired this morning. An honest story. Was this fate? Kismet? A coincidence? This doesn’t happen often. Rarely. I haven’t thought about this teacher or Rico Petrocelli for many, many years. Out of the blue. Why? Do as you wish. Everyone’s a free agent. Yet, I for one am betting this horse.
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Walt (Teach)
"Walt, make a 'mental bet' and lose your mind." R.N.S.
"The important thing is what I think of myself."
"David and Lisa" (1962)
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