Great Day on Saturday!

Yesterday we had a great day at Belmont Park! There were just a few brief discussions about the goings on of NYRA’s recent “bloodbath.” And there were a few discussions of differing theories on the Rove/Plame/National Security Breach Scandal (which is now searching for a new name), but mostly it was about great Thoroughbred Racing at the most beautiful track in North America. Okay, so I am prejudiced.

I know that my two loyal readers have been dying to know about this so, here is some personal information about me and my not always obsessing about politics and the demise of what little democracy we have left in this county: I belong to a racing partnership, Castle Village Farm. Yesterday, Saturday, the 16^th, we had two beautiful horses running at Beautiful Belmont Park.

In the sixth race on the card, which was an Allowance Race, for non-winners of two races other than, on the Widener Turf at a distance of a mile, we entered Willfulness who is the four year old son of Williamstown and Awareness by Affirmed. He was 12-1 on the morning line and we were hopeful that he would finish in fourth place.

Well, this fabulous gelding made quite an exciting stretch run and finished second in this eight horse race. This of course led those of us in attendance to act like fools and carry on as if he had just won a Graded Stakes Race. I am sure that all two of my loyal readers understand the phenomena of lowered expectations. What a treat!

So, while we were basking in the glow of that triumph, we had to wait for our next entry in the ninth race. Sure, there were some other great horses and races to entertain us while we waited, including the feature a Grade II Stakes race, but we were anxious about how Brave Sir Robin (don’t you love the name) was going to fare in his race. And we were hoping against hope that he wouldn’t live up to his namesake’s reputation.

As the feature ended, and I swear I can’t remember who won it, we all headed down to the Paddock to watch our beautiful three year old son of Runaway Groom and Brave Hearted by Dancing Brave saddled. The race was a Maiden Special Weight on the dirt at a distance of seven and a half furlongs and the morning line had him at 9-2. When one of our horses goes off at odds like this I am especially nervous. He had made many attempts to break his maiden (horseracing lingo is so “culturally primitive”), would this be the day?

When the Paddock Judge called “Riders Up” and Jean-Luc Samyn put his feet in the irons, the tension was as thick as the air, and it was unbelievably humid and muggy yesterday. Yes, you want to win, or at least hit the board or pickup a check, but you also want everyone to come home safe. That is the fear for every jockey and horse. And then, there is the moment of truth when they break from the gate and the race begins.

It didn’t look or sound very promising as Tom Durkin announced that “Brave Sir Robin is eight lengths behind the pack.” In fact it sounded downright discouraging. I must admit I am easily discouraged and I took my eye off the ball, or the horse as it were, for a little while. Then as they came into the stretch I noticed what I thought were our silks on a brown horse coming up to the front of the pack and five wide at that. “Is that us?” I yelled. My friend Jean screamed, “YES!”

AND SHE WAS RIGHT (isn't she always!) BRAVE SIR ROBIN WAS UNDAUGHNTED BY HIS NAMESAKE AND DID NOT RUN AWAY! HE RAN PAST THEM ALL, ALL NINE OF THEM!

WHEW, what a guy! We then, REALLY began acting like fools, and ran down to the Winner’s Circle, for the obligatory picture with our hero, with hugs and kisses all around. Okay, it may not have been a Graded Stakes Race, or the feature, but our boy showed us he was a racehorse, and one with heart!

In a game where approximately 50% of thoroughbreds never make it to the track, and of those who do, approximately 50% never win a race, these two races were exciting stuff. Both of our boys yesterday showed us they were racehorses, and I can’t tell you how exciting a spectacle it is to watch and experience. Some have even exaggerated and said it is better than sex. So, okay, I have to admit it is certainly better than some of the sex I have had, some, not all (the obligatory disclaimer for any of my former lovers out there.)

So, congratulations to our General Partner, Steve Zorn, and our Trainers, Bill and Pat Turner, and all the Village People!

Also, did I fail to mention that our gorgeous gray, Diligent Gambler, who is trained by Leah Gyarmati, was the winningest (I made up that word) horse in North American in 2004, and the Florida Claiming Horse of the Year?

Now it is on to Saratoga!

So, like I said, Great Day on Saturday!