Never throw a good idea away

I'd failed in 2012 to connect with a "breeding consultant" who lives around here after his horse placed at the Belmont. But I tucked his number away for future reference.

Last year, before California Chrome ran in the Belmont, I rang him up.

He told me all the reasons he thought Chrome wouldn't win. I wrote a column for race day. He was right.

I entered that column among my 3 entries in our statewide press association contest - and it was specifically cited in the first-place award.

As I read someplace once, "everything is material."