JC / Railbird - Thoroughbred racing news and notes

I met Marc Subia today and he told me the story of his amazing autograph jacket. "It's my most prized possession." Marc started coming to Del Mar with his dad in the 1970s. It's his home track. And he's been collecting jockey autographs for decades ...

Grand Jete keeping an eye on me as I take a picture of Rushing Fall's #BC17 garland. #thoroughbred #horseracing #delmar

Another #treasurefromthearchive — this UPI collage for Secretariat vs. Sham. #inthearchives #thoroughbred #horseracing

Thanks, Arlington. Let's do this again next year. #Million35

That's a helmet. #BC16 #thoroughbred #horseracing #jockeys

Lady Eli on the muscle. #BC16 @santaanitapark #breederscup #thoroughbred #horseracing

Readings: Runyon I

For forty years he’s followed the track
And played them hosses to Helenback
And they ain’t a thing he shouldn’t know, that bloke.
So I sez to him, “I want advice
On beating this dodge at a decent price.
And what have you got to tell me, old soak?”
“Well, son,” he sez, “I’ve bet and won,
And I’ve bet and lost, and when all is done
I’m sure of one thing — and only one —
All hawss players must die broke!”

A Will to Win

I’m a little scared of owner Michael Gill after reading this article. “I’m a competitor … I am the toughest son of a bitch you’ve ever met in your life. If you want to beat me at something, you’ll have to kill me.” (Daily Racing Form)

Posted by JC in Owners/Owning on 01/22/2005 @ 12:10 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

Headlines: January 22

– A snowstorm moving across the eastern half of the country today may jeopardize Laurel’s highly anticipated reopening. (Sun)
– “Ten years ago, you probably could have taken bets against Oaklawn’s survival and certainly against its continuing as a major player on the sport’s national stage,” writes Gary West. “But Oaklawn not only has survived, it has prospered” (ST) … Almost 23,000 turn out for opening day. (DRF)
– Retired Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron plans to open a jockey school in Kentucky. “There’s a need for it because there is no such thing as a real legitimate jockeys’ school in this country,” said McCarron. (CJ)
– Jockey Russell Baze may surpass Bill Shoemaker as second on the all-time victory list this weekend. (DRF)
– NYRA announced on Friday that it, with the New York Horsemen’s Association, would fund more research in improved testing for performance-enhancing substances. The announcement followed Tuesday’s news that NYRA is developing a post-race milkshake testing program. (NYDN)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted by JC in Miscellany on 01/22/2005 @ 12:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

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