Crunch time
And it’s down to three. In a season where 453 individual horses made at least one start in 180 steeplechase races, the Eclipse Award comes down to three. Cool Jet. Swore. Zanahiyr. The National Thoroughbred Racing Assocation, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced finalists in 17 … Read More
Saturday special
Volleying between Sandown and Cork, with a side of Pornichet (tricky abbreviation there). Exeter and Newcastle abandoned, that makes it easier Saturday viewing. About to wade into domestic form. Decent cards at Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Oaklawn. Quiet house. Winter break hours around here. Miles cramming The Great Gatsby for a … Read More
Numbers
Still thinking about resolutions, plans, goals… Looking at the numbers (I’d rather look at the horses), domestically and internationally in 2025, Riverdee won 19 races from 98 starts for $748,258. Grade 1 winner Cool Jet led the way with $190,500. Promising novice Cyber Ninja contributed $99,076. Three-time maiden winner Vintage … Read More
That time of year
New Year’s Day. Resolutions abound. I used to declare. Run 1,000 miles. Read 52 books. Lose 20 pounds. Win 50 races. Write a billion words. This year, I’ll keep it more reasonable, more realistic. Run more. Read more. Win more. Write more. Just a start. A lot of things to … Read More
Unreasonable hospitality
Books and time. Two of my favorite parts of Christmas. A few new good books and a few stolen moments to read them. Annie’s cousin Helen gave me a copy of Unreasonable Hospitality. Written by Will Guidara and about the restaurant Eleven Madison Park. More about the journey than the … Read More
Why horses?
It’s a good question, one that is posed often to any of us in this crazy game we play. The answers vary but always seem to include connection, history, escape, feeling, thrill, comfort, friends, family… On a quiet Monday morning, I’ve been wedged into the living room couch watching Lossiemouth, … Read More
Pit Stop
Home briefly. Ever so briefly. Just a pit stop before getting back on the road. Ten hours plus yesterday. Three hours plus ahead. Around Washington. Over the Bay Bridge. Possibly a walk on the beach. And back in a flash. The thousand days of Christmas still rolling forward. Gift bags. … Read More
BOxing Day
No time for returns. Time for racing. Some day I’ll go to Europe for Boxing Day. Some day. Decision time. Where would you go? Limerick, Leopardstown and Down Royal in Ireland. Aintree, Fontwell, Kempton, Market Rasen, Sedgefield, Wetherby, Wincanton and Wolverhampton in England. Pau and Pornichet in France. Low sun … Read More
BOxing Day
No time for returns. Time for racing. Some day I’ll go to Europe for Boxing Day. Some day. Decision time. Where would you go? Limerick, Leopardstown and Down Royal in Ireland. Aintree, Fontwell, Kempton, Market Rasen, Sedgefield, Wetherby, Wincanton and Wolverhampton in England. Pau and Pornichet in France. Low sun … Read More
