Fans hold their breath as Zenyatta takes on the colts in Breeders' Cup Classic

A delightful way to spend a part of the Sabbath, watching the Breeders' Cup ... And the favorite is a Round Rump Filly with a Good Chest too ....... The Touts and Tipsters are whispering that a fourteenth straight win could be too much to hope for ... but it may be that they are simply trying to pump up some decent Odds on this Filly ... If her Legs hold out, she could very well do it ... Her previous thirteen Wins were so easy for her that each one looked like a Boat Race ... I think I will start icing down the Beverages early, and invite my Bookie over to watch with us on the Big Screen ....... Marvelous ..............

Watching the beauty, strength and excitement of the horse race sounds so much better to me than yet another weekend of disappointing Redskins football...but I doubt I'll be able to get my husband to change the channel.

good morning  ! 
 
jalopkin, ........."marvelous"....indeed!!! 
 
y'all have a good one!   

Good Mornin' all -- still trying to make sense of the massacre at Fort Hood.

The producers of the Breeder's Cup should consider doing a reality tv show about this.
Its a sure bet that a show about horse racing will not lose rating due to a messy divorce in the fifth  season. 

I know this is off topic, but can I /we just say that the female police officer who stopped the shooter is a REALLY amazing person? It's so coincidental that ANDY wrote what she did because I've been thinking about this. The more that comes out about her- she's just incredible!!!
To get back on topic- if she loves horses, I hope a wealthy person out there makes her a gift of a beauty she can ride forever.

Jalopkin - you've got the best plan for today that I;ve heard yet!  Horse racing is a fascinating sport to me.  Having a bookie only heightens the interest.
 
bebe - you're absolutely right about the woman who stopped the insanity.  There are some amazing Americans out there!
 
As we say in these parts, y'all have a good one!!

The  traditional  theory  favoring  male  horses  is  that  they  are  genetically  engineered  to  be  bigger  and  stronger.   I  like  to  go  with  the  contrarian  approach.  The  female  will  be  smarter,  more  focused  on  the  objective,  and  crafty.....jmo.
 
Ironic  that  the  Ft.  Hood  alleged  shooter  maintains  that  he  was  the  victim  of  verbal  abuse  by  fellow  soldiers  at  the  post.   The  previous  day  we  discussed  bullying,  and  how  it  can  screw  up  individuals,  with  the  conclusion  that  it  was  a  serious  problem  that  needed  to  be  addressed.   Then  we  have  the  ironic  detail  that   the  identified  shooter  is  a   graduate  of  Virginia  Tech,  although  obviously  he  got  his  degree  before  2007.  Sad,  sad.
 
Back  to  topic,  I  hope  we  all  have  a  fine  day.  The  weather  seems  to  be  cooperating  with  an  outside  agenda  where  I   live.

bebe~  I know its off topic, but regarding the bullying issue of the other day,  I found out that in NYC teachers are offered a chance to take an on-line professional development in a course called the "Bully Free Classrom".   It is actually given through Chapman University out in Orange County, CA.   If you are interested in this all you need to do is go to the Capman University link and put in bully free classroom.  It will take you their Education Extenshion courses.  Some of them sound quite interesting.  I don't know where you live or if they would be acceptable for your PD credits, so you may want to check the back of your state and city liscenses to check requirements and then run it by your principal.
 
 

Perhaps  our  host  is  an  aficionado  of  horse  breeding  &  racing.  The  business  address  is  Lexington,  and  he  tells  us  every  Friday  that  he  is  retiring  to  rest  &  mentally  regroup  at  his  farm  in  Kentucky.  Lexington  is  the  venue  of  Keeneland,  the  only  racetrack  at  which  I  feel  comfortable.  It  is  small,  intimate,  and  the  mix  of  people  from  all  over  the  world  is  a  sight  to  see.  Keeneland  runs  a  painfully  short  three  week  season  in   both  the  early  Spring  &  late  Fall,  so  the  horses  &  participants  are  not  conflicted  with  schedules  of  other  tracks.  With  the  exception  of  occasional  rogue  weather  events,  I  can  honestly  say  that  every  day  seems  to  be  a  perfect  day  at  Keeneland.  The  countryside  has  horse  farms  encircled  with  white  fences,  and  the  sides  of  the  road  are  often  bordered  by  stone  walls  built  by  hand  many  years  ago.   Perhaps  I  shall  look  for  Peterman  fashions  next  Spring,  the   classic  traditional   theme  would  fit  in  perfectly.

JULIA- many thanks! I will check this out & let you know. Much appreciated. Enjoy a New York City day for me- I'll have a college football town in the south, football game day for you!

Bert~ I think you are right about our host.  The hacking jacets I've purchased from him have gotten many compliments from the hosey set/Beford crowd that I meet at museum functions.  Do you think us bloggers would have any influence in having some varitions on jodphurs and jockey caps in next Fall's catalog?

A timely post. My husband is studying the racing form as we speak. I just heard him say, "You have to throw Zenyatta out in the Classic. Her speed ratings are ridiculously low. And she's the favorite?"  Opinions like those have cost us dearly.

Julia  Masi:   I  am  no  insider,  just  a  quiet  observer  of  people's  behavior  &  habits.  It  is  useful  if  you  are  involved  in  jury  selection.....deciding  what  attire,  hobbies,  body  language  does  to  attitudes.    I  do  think,  however,  that  our  host  genuinely  has  an affection  for  the  contributors  of  this  website  that  exceeds  his  ecomomic  interest.   So  if  you  can  figure  out  a  way  to  "drop  the  hint,"  your  ideas  may  be  undertaken.  Perhaps  a  reference  here  to  a  recently  posted  photograph  of  you  or  yours,  wearing  a  style  that  you  think  would  work  well?   I  really  felt  involved  with  the  sheer  imagination  of  how  the  pedestrians  in  Paris  or  Rome  combined  simple  inexpensive  things  to  generate  a  "to  die  for"  look.   Empower  yourself,  girl....your  writing  skills  are  impressive,  how  could  you  NOT  be  good  using  your  imagination  here? 

Here in Arkansas, I try to go to Oaklawn each year to view the lovely horses, the colourful crowds, and the 'interesting' weather each Spring racing season. The ponies run for about three months (February to April? I'm never sure) at a small and beautiful track in Hot Springs. This little town is the only city that's also a National Park, natural hot springs pop up all along Central Avenue where they have a wine and cheese art walk every third Thursday, since this main drag is mostly art galleries, boutiques, and tourist traps inhabiting restored buildings that are becoming more dignified and easy on the eyes as the process continues. Across the tree-shaded boulevard, wide sidewalks lead you past Bathhouse Row, a really amazing group of early 20th century spa buildings being restored (one is the National Park headquarters-you can get a tour from lady Rangers in Smokey Bear hats lol). There is a promenade going up the mountain to the Observation Tower. Lots of great restaurants, and the Arlington Hotel where Al Capone is supposed to have wintered when Chicago got too windy. Its Art Deco bar and the opposite stage shell-where swing bands hold real touch-your-partner dances when the Ballroom is occupied-takes a back seat to no place for just coolness.
 
I go to Hot Springs as often as possible-it's just fifty miles down the road-but especially for the horse racing.

I hope the weather in KY is as beautiful as it is here.  What a great day for outside fun.  We're sprucing up the inside just now but hope to be raking (read pile making and jumping in) leaves and pine needles any minute now.
 
Good Luck to all you horse racing fans. 
 
One defensive note though, as the spouse of a well-adjusted VT grad I don't think a University alone is responsible for the self-indulgent, inexcusably bad behavior of its students or alumni any more than a race track is responsible for the loss of money on an errant bet.  Odds are in favor of more bad apples the bigger your barrel.

I am betting a whole $2.00 on Zenyatta courtesy of a friend who will be at the race in Santa Anita.  Why $2.00? Because that is the amount I bet on horse races, whether Thoroughbred or Standardbred.  It started back in 1992 in Oklahoma City when I was stationed at Tinker AFB (I can't really count the nickel and dime bets I made with my uncle and my parent's friend Mr. B-- at the county fair harness races as I grew up). The racetrack in Oklahoma City is directly acrossthe road fro mthe Zoological Park and the science museum. After visiting the latter two facilities several times, I gave in to tempation one sunny day and went to the races. I had $20.00 in my lefthand pocket for betting and another $20.00 in my righthand pocket for food. There were ten races that day and I decided to bet $2.00 on each one. My picks for most of the races ended up in the middle of the pack.I didn't mind. I loved the atmosphere, being able to see the beautiful colts and fillies as they were prepared for their races, listening to the more "knowledgeable" bettors argue over performance, and especially seeing the winners cross the finish line. I did pick a winner that day, though. I was walking along the row of saddling boxes and spotted a lovely filly. I feel in love with her. She had attitude (A good one), was happy and excited and a very intelligent eye. Her name was "Christine's Humour" and she was going out for her first race ever. By her name alone I had to bet on her (though I go by Dancingkatz in all the online communities I frequent, Christine is one of my own names) and I placed my bet for her to win despite odds of 22 to 1. The man in line behind me laughed and said there was no point betting on a first time runner. I gave my $2.00 to the agent and found a good spot near the finish line to watch the race from. Chrstine's Humour won the race by a very convincing three and a half lengths. Even if I hadn't bet on her I would hae been cheering my lungs out for her as she left the pack behind and really enjoyed running. She was beautiful. I don't know what happened to the rest of her career as shortly thereafter I was sent TDY to Saudi Arabia in support of the follow-up to Desert Storm, but whenever I can get to a racetrack, I go looking for a filly to put a $2.00 bet on. Oh, my winnings from that race went into my righthand pocket and I used it to have a superb dinner that evening where I made certain to raise a glass to my equine benefactress. I really hope that Zenyatta shows the boys her heels and leavesthem all in the dust.

Just34me:    Virginia  Tech  is  a  great  school.   All  I  meant  was  that  th  combined  probability  of  2  tragic  events  coincidentally  linking  to  the  same  man  is  off  the  charts.....a  statistical   anomaly.

Julia: May I join you in making such requests of our esteemed host? Frankly, the hacking jackets and jhodpurs I've found in the local riding store are very poorly constructed for the prices they are asking. I'd love some jhods and breeches made to the quality of Mr. Peterman's hacking jacket. I wonder if he might be inclined to expand into footwear someday? Paddock boots are comfy and would look wonderful with a number of the current catalog items.  Olivia: I wonder if it would be possible to arrange for a petermanseye.com"day at the races" down at Keeneland next spring or autumn? It is a lovely track and the atmosphere of Lexington is unlike anywhere else in the world. Even Newmarket and Epsom in the U.K. can't quite match the "southern genteel" feel. Both places are emminently icons of horse racing but the atmosphere is quite different--as different as racing on turf, dirt and Pro-Ride.

I have a big picture hat and a nice dress I'd love to wear to the races!
Alas, my one complaint about Oaklawn (besides the expensive watery beer and the games of 'chance') is that they have no day when more formal dress is encouraged. I think that would be lots of fun.
I wear my Peterman hacking jacket with long skirts and riding boots and a frothy white blouse or a turtleneck, and I think it works well for an outfit, especially when all the positive comments are factored in...

OLIVIA:  Do those "Positive Comments" include Wolf Whistles ??? And if you're around the Track, do you get insulted if someone tells you that you have a Good Seat ???  Don't mind me, I'm off today and just Horsing Around ....... Maybe get a Horse Laugh or two ...
 
SHANDONISTA:  Perhaps if enough people go in concert, the Engineer can be inveigled to stop the SepiaTrain alongside the other Track, and the Race can be view with a good pair of Glasses ....... Horse Racing truly is, The Sport of Kings !!!  Of course, Darg Racing is the Sport of Queens ....... Off to the Races !!!  and its Post Time over here .......

I don't know how or why, but horse-racing has always seemed sort of -- well, boring -- to me.  Please tell me I'm not the only one here....  I'm usually 'out of step' but sometimes it gets absurdly isolating.....

The female police officer, Ms. Kimberly Munley, who stopped the situation at Fort Hood is from Carolina Beach, NC. She was a police officer here in our small town of Wrightsville Beach, NC for a few years. She is a friend of the family and was a key member of our small community. Indeed quite the hero.

JALOPKIN~ Thank you for the laughs and you've got me thinking of Jimmy Durante..."now isn't it better to go through life with smile and a song, then walking around life with a face 11 miles long"...quite a bit longer than a furlong!
Jimmy Durante, Bing Crosby and Pat O'Brien built the horse racing track in Del Mar, CA, back in the late 1930's. It was where Seabiscuit won the race against Ligaroti, to put the Del Mar Racetrack on the map, and where a lot of Hollywood stars spent both their time and money...as Durante said, "That's a horse of another cholera!"
My mistake earlier...Professional football is tomorrow, I know, but the Navy vs. Notre Dame game is way more important, than the Breeder's Cup, in my house today!

Doc  Nolan,  it's  fine  with  me  that  sometimes  you  see  things  differently  that  the  rest  of  us.  I  learn  from  your  different  perspective.   Horse  racing  does  have  big  intervals  between  races,  which  means  if  you  aren't  a  big  fan  it  is  important   to  have  good  companionship.   Keeneland  in  Lexington  is  a  great  "people  show,"  a  place  to  see  and  be  seen.  Starting  Tuesday  of  next  week  they  commence  13  days  of  breeding  stock  auctions,  two  large  farms  are  being  liquidated,  and  the  event  will  likely  draw  enthusiasts  from  all  over  the  world. 
 
Midshipmen  14,  Notre  Dame  7,  Kindlee's  household  is  focused  on  the  television  for  the  duration. 

You're supposed to be watching the odds board by the windows in those intervals. 
 
Bettin' is serious busines among some aficianados.
 
Not for me though.
 
For me it's all about the show.  Twice I got so "enthusiastic" I threw winning tickets up in the air. 
 
We never found them.
 
Easy come, easy go. 
 

Go Navy!

Good  evening,  Park4.  
 
Kindlee,  please  congratulate  your  hubby,  Midshipmen  get  a  quality  win  on  the  road  over  Notre  Dame.  Pound  for  spunky  pound,  Navy  is  one  of  the  best  football  teams  around,  but  that  is  just  my  opinion.   Now  my  opinion  is  irrelevant,  I  need  my  dancing  shoes.....
It  is,  after  all,  Saturday  night.

Well the race is coming up, we have one winner from Kentucky. Doc, there id nothing like the sound of thundering horses on the turf. To see these wonderful animals running of the turf.is a thing of beauty.

Hurrah! Zenyatta won! This puts an afternoon filled with irritations (including a flat tire gotten from trying toavoid an accident) into perspective. I think I'll go pour myself a glass of Chardonnay and raise it in a toast. Viva, Zenyatta!

Here's a link to the Breeder's Cup Classic website were you can see a video of the race, in case you didn't catch it on television. http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=43343 Her come from dead last run was incredible!

Truth is no rounder than a horse's eye." Mark Halprin

DANCINGKATZ:
Severe and Serious error in THAT link.

Argh! For some reason the link copied with the foirst word of my next sentence as part of it. I'll try again:  http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=43343  

http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=43343
 
Just drop the her.

Great video.

Wow, what a race. Thank you for the link.
 
korthal~ I hope your mom is doing well.

SHANDONISTA:   What a Great Race !!!  Never figured she'd even be in the Running and after the first furlong I was happy I had put my Money on Summer Bird ... HO  LEE  SOCKS!
 
An astoundingly amazing Horse ... From Dead Last to Win, and half a Furlong behind for most of the Race !!!  They need to set her out to do nothing but make Babies .......
 
The entire Race Day was fabulous, and several Stables showed well .......  We just made it for Havdalah, and now it is time to go back to work ....... Shortly .......
 
Good Evening, All .......

I spent the day working calves.  My brain is thumping, and I don't think I'll be able to shrug my shoulders for a week.
 
But, my kindle book is available for sale, in case anybody wants to buy it.
 
http://www.amazon.com/The-Bastards-Club/dp/B002VLZ1L4/ref

DOC- I have never been to a horse race, but I think I would enjoy it as a one shot deal. Or maybe I would quit my job & bet on the horses all the day long...
 
JALOPKIN- just got back from walking my babies in the very dark field. It was like "The Blair Witch Project."Creepy... So I saw your post- HO LEE SOCKS. I thought he was a Chinese horse & I found that charming. I finally got it. Man, I'm s-l-o-w...

I was practically raised at the track.  Yes Mom was a gambler.  But, as they would pat me on the head and ask who I liked and I would respond......those horses are still running.  Oddly enough, though Miss Clairol visits regularly now, and many other things have changed over lo these many years, my failure at picking a winner has not.  Congrats to Zenyatta and you can be assured that if I was there, I would not have bet on her.

bebe~That's funny! 
Bert~Thanks for the compliment.

BEBE:  I   KNOW   you're kidding !!!  But thats Funny !!!!!!!!!!!! Thats two days inna row that one of you ladies has said something that I REALLY wish I had thought of ....... Julia Masi stunned me yesterday, and now you today ....... This Village is a very refreshing place to spend time ... The Blair Witch Project in my family(Mother's Side) was when my Old Maid Aunt(who actually looked like Margaret Hamilton's Twin) finally got married at the age of 53, and they hired a Theatrical Make-Up Artist to do necesary Repairs and Camouflage before the Ceremony ... She married an Army Colonel named, Blair ... of course, he was on leave and blind drunk when he met her ... The morning after the nite before, he was hungover from Champagne, and as he hoisted himself up on his elbows, the bathroom door was ajar slightly, and with one eye open he got a peek of her naked boney ass, in the light of day   ... He called out weakly , trying to stifle the eruption that was engorging his throat from being startled awake, and said he was going out for cigarettes ....... That was in 1977, and nobody has seen him since .......

I use to own a few retired Thoroughbred racers and trained them for English for my daughter. We've been out of it for a few years now and I sure do miss those beautiful horses.

JALOPKIN- sadly - I was not joking- just s-l-o-w... My grandmother's sister's husband went out for a pack of cigarettes & never returned. That would put a bad feeling on a person for a very l-o-n-g time...

KINDLEE:
 
Mom is home and doing well. My sister is with her.
 
If anything like this happens again I'll try to be there. I felt so bad for my sister to be alone for this.
 
Mom is our longest living relative so every little thing makes us wonder how long she will go.
 
Mom's very strong and the nurses were suprised she wasn't bed bound. I guess they think all 90 year olds are. They don't know she's like the energizer bunny.
 
I talked to her today for a few minutes and will call her again tomorrow.

MICHAEL:
 
I wish I had a kindle.
 
Let us know when we can get your book printed on paper like all the old fashioned ones.

korthal~ I'm very glad to hear your mom is doing well. It is difficult being geographically far away from a parent when they need help - I know.
 
Michael~ Download complete! But, first, I have to finish reading "Stone's Fall." Good luck with sales, reviews, and your shoulders.

HO-LEE SOCKS!
 
oh Jalopkin, that's a good one!
 
 
 
Michael:
I'm getting a Kindle from Santa.  He told me last night.  The Bastard's Club will make for some great January reading...can't wait!

Kindlee: You are the first (and only, so far). Thank you.
Park4: I hope you enjoy it, and thank you!

PARK4:  It was always easier to use that as an expletive around my kids, or anybody elses kids, rather than, Holy S__T !!!  Or around Ladies .......