I'm somewhat of a newcomer-- been here for about the last month. It has only been within the last year that I have really taken a strong interest in horse racing. I loved to watch it as a kid on tv, but it was tough to develop an interest because horse racing was only on tv four saturdays a year.

Last spring, my wife and I made a small trip to Lexington and I realized that it was going to be the same weekend as the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland. I told my wife that going to Kentucky and not seeing a horse race is like going to New York and not visiting the Empire State Building or like going to Vegas and not gambling. It's just one of those things you have to do. It worked. It worked so well that I tried that same logic to convince her to go to the Jim Beam distillery. Didn't work so well on that , but at least we got to visit Keeneland and see a real deal G1 race. Sinister Minister raced to the front and never looked back.

In anticipation for the trip, I just started reading everything I could find about horse racing. More so about the history than about handicapping. I just loved it all and have been trying to learn more ever since. I've been listening to ATRAB since I got sirius last July, reading everything I can, and trying to watch it as much as I can-- which is still pretty infrequent because I don't have cable or Direct-tv. But I try to stay current by keeping up with the DRF and NTRA websites, and definitely by reading this board. This is really a great community and a great way to talk (and learn) about horse racing.

I'm still learning, and it just seems like there is sooooooo much to learn. I'm really glad that there is a forum like this that goes beyond the basic stories and headlines.