The Preakness

Today was The Preakness Race in Maryland. I love watching the race it is so exciting, so much enthusiasm, listening to the announcer who I still haven't figured out how they can figure out which horse is doing what. It is just great fun.

I know there are many who will go on about how it isn't a sport, well you try staying on something that large and going that fast and not call it a sport. I know there are some who call it abuse, maybe I disagree but there are those who have that opinion.

Me, I call it a great childhood memory. I went to Santa Anita Race Track pretty regularly with my grandma and my great-grandma and occasionally my mom. Just think four generations of women enjoying the track. Makes you giggle doesn't it? My Great-Grandma always bet on Willie Shoemaker if he was riding. My Grandma would get so frustrated with her.. "Mother, there are other jockeys just as good". You have to understand my Grandma to really appreciate the sentiment she was such a no nonsense woman until it came to dealing with my Great-Grandma.. guess some things never change, girls and their mothers.Now my mother was worse, she bet the horse who had the prettiest silks. Again so out of character, my mother is so very logic based and picking a horse by it's color? Grandma, she read the sheet, figured the odds and placed her bet. Me, I sorta just went on a feeling. Drove everyone nuts cuz I usually won. Honestly in my entire life I have never gone home from the track with less than I went with.

The Triple Crown was obviously something we would watch and yes back in the day Willie Shoemaker raced in it. So today was The Preakness, the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Sadly the Derby winner didn't win so no Triple Crown Winner again this year. Before the race the trainer was asked if he thought that his horse would win the triple crown, he smiled and said "well, He's the only one who can". Oh the wit.

I know this was just a babbling, a mixture of today and yesterday but sometimes it is fun to remember those snippets from your past and share them with others. Goodness knows the kids are tired of the stories..

Am Amazing Ride

I admit it I love Horse racing.. It could be the pagentry, the grace, the speed, the determination to fly or it could simply be a great childhood memory.

My grandma used to take me to Santa Anita when I was a kid.. and my great grandma would bet on any horse willie shoemaker was riding.. for years I didn't realize that there was more than one jockey.

I must admit I have never gone to the track and come home with less money than I took and someday.. God willing and the creeks don't rise I will get to the Kentucky Derby.

But today's Preakness was just amazing.. I love this jockey and am impressed with his talent and dedication. I was a bit miffed with him for switching horses, I truly believe had he been riding Mine that bird he would have won.. but to watch this race.. it was a joy..

I hope you all saw it, if not then check out the reruns. it was the epitome of what horse racing should be..