It's Getting Closer
Friday has finally arrived. The thing each and every one of us has been working toward all week, just like every week before, has come. Don't blink because when you open your eyes it will be Monday. Beth and I are traveling to West Virginia this weekend to visit her parents, but not until Saturday morning. So, I have one evening to relax with my friends and maybe throw some darts, cornhole, etc....
The wedding day is getting closer, perhaps more quickly than I expected. This means the trip to Beth's parents is not without task. We are taking our wedding invitations to her parents for them to address and mail. Thank goodness for computers and printers with fancy calligraphy fonts. This is going to save them tons of time. Other than that, we will be playing with Emma and watching Jimmy Neutron. I may take my Cornish-hole boards for some evening entertainment. Starting the 8th of October is weekend after weekend after weekend of wedding showers for Beth. Man, it's really getting close.
Also coming at us at a deafening pace is the opening of the Keeneland fall meet, where I turn into the mad handicapper. I really am looking forward to being back at the track this fall. The sights, sounds and smells are intoxicating. There is a strong aroma of popcorn doused by cigar smoke and a mild tinge of horse manure in the crisp fall air. The waves of steam coming from your piping hot bowl of burgoo dance like two colts playing in the shedrow. The beautiful architecture of the facilities mixed in with the amber and auburn hues of the turning leaves on the trees spin you into a euphoric dream state where you imagine yourself saddling up your best filly for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.
You hear yourself telling your jock to get her to the rail quick and keep her just off pace, as the crowd gawks at your machine from the paddock. A dull roar from the crowd conversation makes you feel like you have to yell at your rider just so he will hear you. While you help the jockey mount the impressario, you tell him to never mind the Bob Baffert rabbit thrown in the race to chase the Christophe Clement pace demon so he won't get caught up in the quick steps of the speed horses. This because, you know the D. Wayne Lukas horse is the real threat. Another 3-1 off pace son of a gun, just like yourself. You feel good about the race as you review your last workout, a bullet, 0:59 and change, five furlong work over a firm turf course, just five days ago. Nothing else compares and your girl is ready. Mike Battaglia's morning line odds had her at 10-1, the fans have her now at 3-1. She is still a bargain. The call to the post echoes in your ears. It's time to go to work. You watch your beauty walk towards the track entrance tunnel--the same tunnel walked by legends such as Syndicate, Cherokee Run, Louis Quatorze, Take Charge Lady, Go For Wand, Whirlaway, Azeri, Northern Dancer, Riva Ridge, and Alydar. You yell to the jock, "Get up on the reins and show 'em how to ride!" Time to go to the owner's box and calm them down before the race. And don't forget to calm yourself down.
"The horse have reached the starting gate for Keeneland's ninth and feature race of the day, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. This will be a 1 and an 1/8th mile race on turf for three year old fillies on the Haggin Course. The turf is rated at firm. Please note on the totalisator, the jockey on the three horse is 2 pounds over and the six horse has added blinkers. We have a full field of twelve horses today and it looks like they are ready to go."
Minute seem to stretch into hours as you wait for the horses to be pushed into the gate. The eight horse seems to need encouragement to enter the hole, just adding everlasting seconds to your agony. Finally, the eight horse and the rest slide in with ease.
"They're at the post........"
".....And they're off!"
Somehow, I just fired myself up for horse racing. I really can't wait for it, now. I guess I'll just have to go play some Derby Owners Club this evening at Buffalo Wild Wings. Yeah, you're right. I was planning on that already!
Chase/Alisha,
ARRRRRGGHHH, me mateys! I'll not be a furgetten ye talk like eh pirate dey!!!!
"Paul Harvey here, G-Day!"
The wedding day is getting closer, perhaps more quickly than I expected. This means the trip to Beth's parents is not without task. We are taking our wedding invitations to her parents for them to address and mail. Thank goodness for computers and printers with fancy calligraphy fonts. This is going to save them tons of time. Other than that, we will be playing with Emma and watching Jimmy Neutron. I may take my Cornish-hole boards for some evening entertainment. Starting the 8th of October is weekend after weekend after weekend of wedding showers for Beth. Man, it's really getting close.
Also coming at us at a deafening pace is the opening of the Keeneland fall meet, where I turn into the mad handicapper. I really am looking forward to being back at the track this fall. The sights, sounds and smells are intoxicating. There is a strong aroma of popcorn doused by cigar smoke and a mild tinge of horse manure in the crisp fall air. The waves of steam coming from your piping hot bowl of burgoo dance like two colts playing in the shedrow. The beautiful architecture of the facilities mixed in with the amber and auburn hues of the turning leaves on the trees spin you into a euphoric dream state where you imagine yourself saddling up your best filly for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.
You hear yourself telling your jock to get her to the rail quick and keep her just off pace, as the crowd gawks at your machine from the paddock. A dull roar from the crowd conversation makes you feel like you have to yell at your rider just so he will hear you. While you help the jockey mount the impressario, you tell him to never mind the Bob Baffert rabbit thrown in the race to chase the Christophe Clement pace demon so he won't get caught up in the quick steps of the speed horses. This because, you know the D. Wayne Lukas horse is the real threat. Another 3-1 off pace son of a gun, just like yourself. You feel good about the race as you review your last workout, a bullet, 0:59 and change, five furlong work over a firm turf course, just five days ago. Nothing else compares and your girl is ready. Mike Battaglia's morning line odds had her at 10-1, the fans have her now at 3-1. She is still a bargain. The call to the post echoes in your ears. It's time to go to work. You watch your beauty walk towards the track entrance tunnel--the same tunnel walked by legends such as Syndicate, Cherokee Run, Louis Quatorze, Take Charge Lady, Go For Wand, Whirlaway, Azeri, Northern Dancer, Riva Ridge, and Alydar. You yell to the jock, "Get up on the reins and show 'em how to ride!" Time to go to the owner's box and calm them down before the race. And don't forget to calm yourself down.
"The horse have reached the starting gate for Keeneland's ninth and feature race of the day, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. This will be a 1 and an 1/8th mile race on turf for three year old fillies on the Haggin Course. The turf is rated at firm. Please note on the totalisator, the jockey on the three horse is 2 pounds over and the six horse has added blinkers. We have a full field of twelve horses today and it looks like they are ready to go."
Minute seem to stretch into hours as you wait for the horses to be pushed into the gate. The eight horse seems to need encouragement to enter the hole, just adding everlasting seconds to your agony. Finally, the eight horse and the rest slide in with ease.
"They're at the post........"
".....And they're off!"
Somehow, I just fired myself up for horse racing. I really can't wait for it, now. I guess I'll just have to go play some Derby Owners Club this evening at Buffalo Wild Wings. Yeah, you're right. I was planning on that already!
Chase/Alisha,
ARRRRRGGHHH, me mateys! I'll not be a furgetten ye talk like eh pirate dey!!!!
"Paul Harvey here, G-Day!"
posted by J-Delicious at
Friday, September 23, 2005
3 Comments:
Dag, yo. You went flip mode and turned into Ernest Hemingway or something. I could almost taste... er... smell the horse poo. You'll be glad to know that my boy Teeftastic is a hardcore horse racing fan. His dad even calls races out here in Illinois. He's done a few in Lexington, too.
By
Chase Abner, at 9/23/2005 6:16 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
By
Chase Abner, at 9/23/2005 6:16 PM
You were a few days late on the pirate talk... at least on the post... The real question is: Did you actually talk like a pirate on Monday, September 19th? I know I did...
By
Alisha, at 9/26/2005 11:34 AM
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