Family members (parents, brothers, and an aunt) are who got me interested in racing. They would take me to Fair Grounds about once a year during the Christmas holidays starting when I was about 7; I remember winning with my first bet-a daily double, with a horse named Call Me Henry winning the first leg. I liked the track, but football and baseball were the sports that caught my attention. I started following racing with greater enthusiasm during the 1983-1984 Fair Grounds meet, which was an excellent time as Taylor's Special for Mott and Silent King for Delp battled for 3yo supremacy at FG. After that meet, I began my formal racing education (reading Beyer and Davidowitz's books) that summer, and made my first of many trips to Jefferson Downs. I was in my early teens at the time, and I remember not seeing many people my age out at the track, which actually proved beneficial as people were more likely to talk to me and I picked up pointers from some very sharp handicappers. I'd read everything about racing that I could get my hands on.
My early human racing heroes were Frankie Brothers and Randy Romero. The early equine heroes were Taylor's Special, Tiffany Lass, and Turkoman, among others.
My outlook on the sport has changed over time as I have become more interested in the gambling aspect than rooting for individual horses. It is now rare that I get excited about seeing a particular horse run just for the sake of it.
I seldom go to Louisiana Downs, which has been my local track for 13 years. I'd prefer to bet at home at my computer than go to what that track has sadly become. That said, whether it is going to Oaklawn or on my frequent trips to Fair Grounds, there are few things that beat live racing.
I have two young daughters who like to go to Fair Grounds when we are in New Orleans. They enjoy looking at the horses, eating ice cream, and maybe getting a pair of goggles from a jockey. It remains to be seen whether they will develop any true enthusiasm for racing when they become teenagers, but I'm hopeful.
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Still trying to outsmart me, aren't you, mule-skinner? You want me to think that you don't want me to go down there, but the subtle truth is you really don't want me to go down there!
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