[Holland Hacker]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

My wife gave me one of the best B-Day presents.

So were watching the post parade for the Lexington at Keeneland and she tells me she likes the 1 - 3 - 7. I ask her if she wants to be (Usually she says no) and she says yes. "I want the 1 to win." While I'm on the phone placing her bet #1 to Win I throw in a $1 Exacta Box 1 -3 - 7, for the hell of it. I continue watching TVG and see "Off" and it dawns on me that the race is being shown on ESPN2. I change the channel to see the 3 leading and getting passed on the last few steps by the 7. My wife than claiims "I Win" I remind her that her only wager was the # 1 to win to which she responds Happy Birthday.

By way of background she was never at the track until I brought her when Smoke Glacken won the Sapling at Monmouth ('95). Since then the only way she handicaps is to watch the post parade and the horses in the paddock. She actually has an uncanny ability to pick winners in short races. She focuses on appearance and the way a horse is carrying their head. It infuriates me that I spend hours pouring over the "PPS" and all she she does it look at a horse and can tell whether or not it will run well. Too bad we can go to the barns and look at the horses before I place my Pick 4 wagers.

Oh well I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.