The Thanksgiving Thread
 

Here's wishing everyone and their families a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.. the best holiday we've got!..

As I've been asking guests and callers on ATR this week, please take a moment and share with everyone what you're thankful for this Thanksgiving..

Great thread, Steve. The things for which I'm thankful are too many to enumerate here. I'm most assuredly thankful for my family and friends, however.

Incredibly thankful and blessed with good health.

I am extremely thankful for my 2 boys, my wife (most of the time!) and the rest of my family.

Very thankful that my terminally ill Mom is here for Thanksgiving and the new medicine seems to be slowing here disease down.

What are you thankful for? (horse racing-wise)
 

Is it a race, a big hit, an event?

As I reflect on this past year if I have to pick one thing that has made the difference to my horse racing hobby if can be only one thing..

Sumwonlovesyou

With over 35 years of playing the ponies the membership to DT stables has given me an extraordinary experience into the life of a trainer, assistants, owner, and yes, the horse itself. It has made my appreciation for the sport so much greater as well as my education. Maybe I'm stupid but I never knew anthing about changing leads, preparing a horse for a race, the kind of things that could go wrong, or just how much a good trainer can move a horse forward.

Even more, I had no idea how great the people around this sport really are and how much fun it would be to join with people that are as crazy as me about this sport to come together with vast differences but with even greater similarities.

So what are you thankful for?

Spyder

I am thankful for my two girls and my wife, for their health and happiness and for them putting up with me and my obsession with this silly game.

I am also thanful that my Mom and Dad are still around so I can spend quality time with them after the hell I put them through as a child/teenager/twentysomething.

Finally I am thankful for all the friendships I have made through Derby Trail.

The friendships developed through this game, mainly via this board. Wouldn't trade those relationships for anything.

This Thanksgiving will hold a special place in my heart as it's probably the last one we get to spend with my Nan. She is the last remaining one of my grandparents. We all love her to death and know that her health is in sharp decline.
I have sooo much to be grateful for, and I thank God every day that I wake up that I'm so blessed. I had a breezy paper route as an adolescent and was just introduced to the "real world" the past few years.
Next weekend, I propose to my soon to be fiancee and will hopefully have great news to spread to family and friends around Christmas time. I have arrangements to get on stage in front of a couple thousand people at a magic show and the magician is going to hand me the microphone. Let's pray that I dont choke!!! This will be videotaped too, I'm getting nervous just typing it...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!!!

Horse Racing-Wise...
 

1. ADW's
2. The pick 3,4,5, & 6 wager.
3. Turf racing
4. Richard Grunder
5. All of the horses that I own a teeny piece of.

DrugS my only true friend

I'm thankful for the internet, as it has allowed us to wager from home, rather than drive to a depressing OTB or track. It also allows us loners a chance to discuss racing with others, our (mainly) anonymous forum peers. I doubt I'll bump into any horse racing aficionados at my Thanksgiving roundup

I am thankful for the whole crazy game itself, that we love. It changes day by day and is always interesting and exciting. Whether you have handicapped and wagered on it or if you are just watching a race for the fun of it. Just total enjoyment (except when I got screwed at the Meadowlands 2 weeks ago).
I am thankful for this board and the people involved. Good people, good stuff. Has the feel of a big happy (most of the time) extended family. I truly enjoy everyones posts and opinions.
Last, I am thankful that I was able to attend my first Breeders Cup. Even though the weather sucked, I had a wonderful time and made some money. Can't wait for it to come around again.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
For me, there are so many blessings to list them all, but I thank God for all of them.
One that I'll share is that my son, Joshua, has recently discovered a triggering gene that causes several kinds of cancers, as well as cardio deformities. So hopefully, many people will benefit from his continued quest for understanding.

I wish you all many blessings and warm fellowship.

Wishing all a Happiest of Thanksgiving....As for myself, among other things, I am thankful for Good Health, Good Friends, and the many Great Times of the past year...I'm thankful for the efforts of those that help to protect our way of life...and I most thankful for the joy that my son and my daughter bring to my life....Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

I'll start by saying that I love everything about this game, but I'm especially thankful for the horses, two in particular. One is a 2 yo filly named Darlin' by Day, and one is her full brother yearling colt named Daring Day. They are both line bred through their sire and dam to a horse that got me hooked on thoroughbreds. Their great grandfather is a great one....Alydar.
Since they both look so much like him, I hope they run half as good as the look.

I'm so thankful that my dreams are coming true...thanks to the horses.

Wayne

At 87 my Mom is at the end...her heart is weak. I am Thankful that I have had a chance to tell her how much she has meant to me. She was a Mom that was always there and always put her kids first no matter what.

I am Thankful for a Mom like her.....:)

Wonderful wife, son, and daughter. We are all healthy and thankful for the blessings we have every day. Thankful this site and all the wonderful people who contribute to this crazy game that we love to play.

Happy Thanksgiving to All.

Thankful English Channel finally won the BC Turf for Kev. :)

I love you Nicole:D
Best wishes to you and Todd for the holidays.

I'm thankful my health, some great friends, two wonderful daughters, and a beautiful new wife. I guess the rest of my family is right up there, too. (most of them, anyway)

In regards to racing, I think I'm most thankful for the info available online. DRF, Equibase, Derby Trail, and the many betting services have really taken this game to another level. Guess I'm showing my age, but I can remember when the only exotic was the Daily Double and simulcast was unheard of. This sport has really come to the people. Oh yeah, I think racing partnerships are a wonderful thing, we're having a blast with SWLY.

Speaking of Thanksgiving and racing ... Does anyone on this board do the big spread at Churchill tomorrow?

Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday. Get to spend quality time with the family without all the gift giving and crazieness. Great food and drink don't hurt either...

I am extremely thankful for my son and daughter and that my wife continues to put up with me for whatever reason. Thankful that my family enters the season in good health. Thankful for the life we live, although it is often easy to forget just how good we have it.

On the racing side, I am thankful to have found this group (so I could stop talking to myself about racing) and very thankful Steve and Chuck created Dee Tee Stables.

Everyone enjoy the Day tomorrow!

Back at 'cha, handsome. (and best wishes to all the DT'ers- safe travel for those traveling and no over- or under-done turkeys. Or Turduckens, which is apparently what is being served at the Thanksgiving I'm attending tomorrow.)

Good family, good friends, and this great sport. Hope everyone has a fantastic holiday.

this year I am thankful for in no particular order: weather, my 4 kids and wife, the Green Monkey, the formation of Dee Tee Stables and involvement with SWLY and KNS, afer that it gets dicey...I guess... Charlie Frye as far away from Cleveland as humanly possible, the great hot dog eater Kobayashi pitching for the Indians next year, Mark Mangino, clown politicians on the national stage always proving I am at least smarter than a few people out there, Idaho, Evening Attire, Appalachian State, Trinity, Milsaps, Brittney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Brangelina, Patrick Biancone, unidentified flying objects, and Going Ballistic.

I apologize for any omissions.

That I bet Sumwonlovesyou to place in her first few races.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Chuck/Cheri,
can't Sumwon have just one x 50 or 60 of us peppermint? Please? :D

1) Most thankful for my beautiful wife and daughter
2) Thankful that Steve has created DT along with DT Stables that has brought many different people from all walks of life together and created lasting friendships.
3) That the Packers are 9-1

What I am thankful for
 

Top 10

10: My health, which at 28 years old, has been taken advantage of way too long.
9: Alan Garcia
8: Thorograph - without you I would still be blowing c-notes on 4/5's that had no shot
7: English Channel retiring
6: People within the business or industry that have opened up their noggins and let me in to gain as much knowledge as possible (Andy and Chuck to name a few)
5: Friends I have met via DT that I will be friends with for a lifetime. It is unbelievable that in such a harsh and cruel world there are so many bomb ass people on here (except GPK, he is minorly bomb)
4: Steve Byk - a man that I owe many and continous thanks for teaching me, including me, and pushing me forward, as a handicapper and more importantly a person
3: Arlington Park and the Chicago crew(Dell, Barney, Bob,): The greatest guys that I have ever been associated with and gained friendships with
2: My father, while sometimes extremely harsh, for being the best dad there could be, especially given the circumstances he grew up in
1: The people that I have in my life that keep me from doing real stupid things, and the ones that bail me out because of something stupid.

Dear Scavs,

GFY.

Sincerely,

i'm thankful for thanksgiving and the weekly parade of holidays year round. enjoy.
i am truly thankful for this great board because of all the love for horses all around. my family and health and God. and my new job that i start this monday.

It's been quite a year; finally got an "upgrade" at my place of employment, became a horse owner with Dee Tee Stables, had my best wagering year "money wise" between the Kentucky Derby and Breeder's Cup day, my stepson finally got married and bought a decent car to get me around. On the downside; my dad's illness and all that money won seemingly disappear quite quickly. But, Dad is doing well with his cancer treatments and if the catscan comes back clean on Dec.3th, his treatments may be over and the cancer gone! Just thankful for all the good things in life; family, friends and the sport of thoroughbred racing as my favorite entertainment. And last but not least; this website and all the things that the "birthday boy" Steve Byk has done!

sauc, i know how ya feel as im going through the same with my father. god bless your mom you and the rest of your family as well as every1 else here and their families and of course happy thanksgiving!

ahhhhhhh kev i guess im my own chitown crew huh, a man show LOL=) anyways hope youre doin aight bro

I am Thankful for my health, my family, my friends, my animals and I'm thankful that I didn't sign the ticket for The Green Monkey

Doing well John, thanks. Happy thanksgiving to you and the family.

I'm thankful for........
 

Family & friends, ATR, Derby Trail, music, movies, great food, books! I'm very thankful for all the things in life that we have the freedom to enjoy!
A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE! :)

I have been blessed with a truly understanding wife who loves me unconditionally and a healthy, beautiful 4 year old daughter who adores me!! :D

I also never forget those who are less fortunate than my family and me. Even when things get rough in my life, I remember that there are others who have it much, much worse than I do. Let's not forget those people who need our help during this holiday season.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! :D