Michael Dickinson and Tapit (... and Buddha too!)
 

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.

~ Buddha

I don't know why but I was thinking about Tapit and Smarty Jones (first Derby I ever saw) and remembered something I thought was, well, interesting for lack of a better word.

You guys remember this I'm sure... Michael Dickinson walking around the track beforehand, poking his fingers in the ground, presumably to find a path for his horse.

The thing is, I've never seen a trainer do this since.

Do they and I've just never noticed it?

Was it just that he was eccentric?

Did it have more to do with his development of Tapeta (although that would be a strange time to be sidetracked, right before the Derby and all).

Was it as strange then as it seems now?

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

Before the 1996 BC Mile, he walked the entire Woodbine course three times, with his assistant (she was in heels) and their exercise rider to find the best path on the course. He then drew up a map for Gary Stevens (who was riding Da Hoss) with instructions on it.

Eccentric is putting it mildly, but hard to fault the success he had.

If you really think about it, knowing where the best ground is, is something most people would want to know.

Thanks, Hossy. Good stuff. :)

There was no good ground when Smarty Jones won, and Tapit couldn't have beaten him on Tapeta, dirt, slop, grass, or the surface of the moon.

Oh yeah, I agree... he wouldn't have beaten Smarty no matter what but he was a lot of fun to watch, especially in the Wood. :D

I recall foreign jocks walking the course before the Arlington International way back. They seem do it regularly on turf courses in Australia. The jocks and trainers will be out on the course trying to find the best path. I've seen trainers use a walking stick to poke.