[Gate Dancer]

Growing up in Omaha, it was inevitable that an appearance at Ak-Sar-Ben would be in the cards. I believe it was my sophomore year in college (at UNO) when I made my first $2 show bet and got back $6. I thought there might be something to this. After that began the period of reading anything and everything on the sport. I had always watched the Triple Crown but had not really involved myself until the actual first visit to the track. I finally sent away for a 'system' book by Prof. Gordon Jones and was convinced by blindly following his figures and instructions I would be on the path to financial security. The first opportunity to use it was at Agricultural Park in Columbus, NE. After a couple of ups and downs the 'feature' race of the day came up and the 'system' had a 13-1 shot named Flying Shoulda. It cruised and I got back over $100 for my $5 dollar win and place bets. I was totally sold at this point and that was the springboard to a continual passion ever since.

I watched the rise and fall of Ak-Sar-Ben and Jack Van Berg treated us to seeing Gate Dancer in person. To watch that horse make his move on the far turn with his specially made 'hood' (earmuffs) was stunning. I studied and played the Nebraska circuit before moving to Chicago in 1989. Arlington Park is still one of the most beautiful tracks I've been to. After a 12 year stretch in SW Nebraska (thank God for Phonebet) I have relocated here in Montana and have a very nice simulcast location a few minutes from home.

I think my passion for horse-racing is derived from figuring out the challenge that each individual race provides. I like the mathmatical part of pace, figures and final times. I get personal satisfaction from picking a winner that you just can't get from a slot machine. I realize the effort involved in learning and becoming adept at horse-racing is just too much work for the vast majority of people, but I refuse to become a 'mind numbed robot' at a slot machine. I am concerned about the future of the game and certainly believe changes must be made. It will always be hard to get new people involved due to the plethora of alternative gambling options. As for me, I'll always be looking to improve my handicapping skills and this forum is one of those ways.