2009 Belmont Stakes - Borel's curtain call

Not much for the ponies anymore but my brother can read the ink off a racing form. I think he's still jealous that I got to Del Mar before he did when I visited last year.

 

If they both run, I'm there.
The first professional athlete my second son ever was photographed with was Easy Goer at the Saratoga barns.

 

Moddy, if you come up to Saratoga, the first round is on me.

 

Food good, but laughably overpriced, in a town where you DON'T have to overpay, even in August.

 

And permit me to reiterate my relief that Rachel is NOT participating in the Belmont, even though
her absence will probably cost La Belle Belmont 35,000 (guessing) at the gate . . . live long
and prosper, you witch.

 

Random fact: Buck Weaver was a parimutuel clerk on the Southside for a number of years after World War II.

 

Additional random fact: Beloved oldtime Blackhawk Reggie Fleming was a clerk at Arlington
during the offseason summers, for years . . .

 

God, I knew I loved you. Fenian, not god.

Anyway, no funny hats. But Keeneland really is the best place on earth.

 

I've never found there to be anything special at Siro's except that it's packed with racing fanatics for six weeks a year, and if you want to celebrate a winning ticket on a Pick 4, this is a good place to do it. But I can't imagine how desolate the place must be the rest of the year.

If you're going to Saratoga, go AFTER the Travers, when the crowds begin to thin and the whole place is much more manageable. Get there one morning really early and watch the horses work out, then go to breakfast . . . oh, can't remember the name of the place, but it's within walking distance of the track. I want to say it has an Irish sounding name, but I only went there for the first time last year, so I could be way off on this one.

 

I'd go for the Travers -- got to see the main event, folks -- and then stay for a few days to watch and gamble more leisurely.
And IJAG, not one funny hat?

 

IJAG... if you ever come to Saratoga, you HAVE to wear a funny hat.