Coffee

re: Coffee

George Harrison — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:04:25 GMT

Soon you will know it all thru my new upcoming book "Horse Talk".

It answers any backstretch conversations you might have heard but do not understand it.

I am now putting Q/A together for the book, please ask me a question on any words you have heard but don't know the meaning, I will put the question in my book to be released late July at the Saratoga meet, this goes for all readers of this blog.

re: Coffee

NEVERKICKYOURDOG — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:00:40 GMT

SOME MORNING AT AP, TURN RIGHT ON THE APRON...GO PAST THE WEST END OF THE CLUBHOUSE TO THE FIRST MARQUIS TENT...UNDER WHICH IS BURIED MARJE'S LEGENDARY DOG "BIFF."

re: Coffee

Michael Nikolic — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:37:37 GMT

Thank you all for sharing your memories and your thoughts.

The ghosts of racing past, indeed, walk those grounds and stay just on the edge of feeling.

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joe — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:16:30 GMT

A dear friend introduced me to Churchill Downs and Derby week a.m. workouts. A bit of a crowd, yes, but NOTHING like Oaks-Derby, even Thursday Derby week crowds. In the creaky,old pre renovation Downs, the hours when the workout crowd died off, before the racing public arrived, were quiet, contemplative and magical. I would walk over to the far clubhouse turn, soak in the distant twin spires, and in the quiet, listen...Secretariat, Seattle Slew...was that Native Dancer still running for that one lost Derby...

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Dreamer's Mom — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:18:09 GMT

Morning at the track is the best! I will do a few stalls and then go to the track with a set of babies-let the rodeo begin! I love listening to the horses blowing and snorting and the riders hootin and hollerin. The other trainers are friendly (the only time the other trainers are friendly) and the owners that actually show up are thrilled to death to see their horse, steam rising off him or her, doing a "morning work". Very cool, indeed!

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Bellwether — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:26:42 GMT

the best place on the planet to be @ 5am every morning...be it Charles Town or Saratoga...Long Live The Dirt!!!

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txhorsefan — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:09:36 GMT

Your blog is always a pleasure to read, whether the topic is positive or negative, because you are so articulate and have such a nice style of writing. It evokes the images you are sharing in great detail with your words and I thank you. You've made it sound like I ought to get up early enough to get out to track to experience this for myself ... nah, I think I'm too old and lazy. But thanks for the lovely picture of a peaceful moment.

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wallflower — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:40:52 GMT

What do you do in the offseason? I envy your routine. Looking for something similar. I'm much more removed from the horse scene than you, but do study it nonetheless. I have been as long as I can remember. Began reading the Farley series as soon as I could. Sometimes I even wonder if this is older than me... There's just something about horses that connects draws you in. Those that get that anyway. Just look them in the eye for a minute... Thanks.

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Kateinabox — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:36:06 GMT

Oh yeh... sorry forgot to mention that I'm in Japan. :)

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Kateinabox — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:35:40 GMT

I am not sure how work outs happen here in Japan. I know for the last workout before major GI races they will have a morning where normal folk can come check it out. But it is a lot more guarded here. And most of the training takes place at special training centers a few miles away from the track. Or so I am told.

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NEVERKICKYOURDOG — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:08:42 GMT

ARLINGTON PARK IS THE BEST FACILITY IN NORTH AMERICA--BY FAR.

I MISS IT DEARLY! MOST CONSISTANT, MOST FAIR, MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE STEWARDS IN ANY JURISDICTION--BY FAR.

OWNERHIP/MANAGEMENT THAT CARES ABOUT AND CATERS TO THEIR PATRONS.

ILLINOIS, HOWEVER, TAKES 1.5% OF YOUR INNER-TRACK WINNINGS AND 2.5% OF YOUR OFF-TRACK WINNINGS! YOU HAVE TO BE AT THE LIVE MEET/HOST TRACK TO NOT PAY THIS.

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PTP — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:15:04 GMT

Nice piece of writing.

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DONNA — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:57:19 GMT

Do you ever wonder how many others like yourself are out there also in the mornings? Maybe they are out there for a relaxing carefree morning watching the horses also. Sure beats the weekend crowns. How different race tracks are who no one else is occupying them. This October I visited The Kentucky Derby museum and after spending some time there I still had three hours before my plane leff. I had never been in Churchill so I decided to check it out. All of the people going in were for the OTB so I literally had the entire track and grandstand to myself. What an awesome feeling I imagined the Derby being run all over again here was Big Brown and the feild of twenty coming down that long enormous stretch I could here the roar of the croud. I walked down to the winners circle and stood smack dab in the middle of it. What a great time I had and not another sole was there.