Lets change it up! 100 things we love..

[tzipi]

No I'm just having fun Cincy. Everyones listed some great things

[OTM Al]

Originally Posted by Tuffmug

The 1 1/8 mile all out duel from the start to the wire by Ghostzapper and Saint Liam at Belmont. Impossible!

I'll never forget that one. 1st P4 I ever hit and I had them both. St Liam piad $500 and Ghostzapper paid $50 which gave me a net loss of about $4 on the wager.

[johnhannibalsmith]

3) Having a pocket full of cash for the first and a pocket full of lint after the ninth and feeling like I got my money's worth.

2) Having just enough money for cigarettes and lunch after training hours and then forsaking lunch so I can eat steak for dinner after catching the early double, which parlayed into the winners of the third, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth.

1) The smell of the backside from inside the car while a half-mile away after spending far too long away from where I belong.

[turfnsport]

Jockey fights.

[Horseplayersbet.com]

Hitting a superfecta off a winner that pays more than $50 to win.
Being live in a win 4 where no public top 3 choices won any leg so far.

[sandpit]

1. Being on the turf course rail at the Hollywood finish line when Cesario won the American Oaks. I've been attending the races for 40 years, and have never seen a horse with such power and grace.

2. The first time my uncle took me to the Churchill Downs jocks' room when I was just a little boy. I was hooked right there.

3. Meeting Charlie Whittingham.

[DanG]

A couple similar incidents come to mind…

1. Seeing Easy Goer rear in front of the GP grandstand on his way to school before his first 3yo start. Going down to the walking ring and it seemed a woman next to me and myself were the only ones who were aware who ‘this’ was. She turned to me having never met and said…”can you feel the vibes…he’s one of the ones.”

2. Watching Seattle Slew rear entering the Belmont walking ring before his Triple Crown bid. He let out a bloodcurdling yell like the stud he turned out to be and the rest is history.


3. 3rd is being grateful for encouragement at key times in a game that can overwhelm with bitter negativity.

[Robert Goren]

The best race I ever saw in person was Vale of Tears setting the world record for 6f at Aksarben in the late 60s. He look like he had a jet pack for a jockey. I love watching really fast races.

[Grits]

Originally Posted by sandpit

3. Meeting Charlie Whittingham.

Sandpit, Charlie's widow, Peggy, lives a block down from me. She and her sister. If I see her anytime soon, I'll tell her about your post to this thread. She'll smile.

With the thread I'd note:

1. Saratoga and Belmont afternoons with friends

2. Unearthing longshots.

3. Sitting in a box on the finish line watching the horse I was there for, the one I backed--circle the field, moving from last to first, winning the 2001 Kentucky Derby.

4. Agreeing with Dan on his 3rd note above.

[Trotman]

Things that will always be with me and I can't put a number on them because there all special. Was watching
Northern Dancer win the 64 Derby,the little guy just would not let Hill Rise get by.
Following Secretariat around track to track in his 3 yr old season ending in Toronto on a cold dark rainy day at Woodbine in The Canadian International.
And being at Mohawk to see Somebeachsomewhere win the
North America Cup,after the race the whole track was cheering as they came back to the winner circle.

[Robert Goren]

Watching a trainer grab a jockey by the silks and hold him about a foot off the ground while telling if ever he stiffed another one his horses he would ......

[Trotman]

RG you break me up! you should be on TV

[tzipi]

I'll also to my list:

Working for numerous trainers over the years. Can't beat early mornings at the track with the horses at dawn.

[jballscalls]

5) Cesario turning for home and pouring it on!
4) The sound of the thundering hooves as they pass by you in the stretch (on dirt, polytrack you can't hear the thunder)
3) That unlike football, you dont have to wait a week to get to the next game/match, the next race is just 25 to 30 minutes away depending on jurisdiction.
2) Getting to announce these great animals and be just a little part of the game
1) sitting on my dad's shoulders on the rail at Longacres, memories of those days are fading, but they are still there, and i hope they never leave.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

Watching a trainer grab a jockey by the silks and hold him about a foot off the ground while telling if ever he stiffed another one his horses he would ......

(Au contraire: Most jockeys I know are quite strong and more capable of grabbing a trainer by the nose and holding him a foot or so off the ground, if the above would happen.)