[randallscott35]

Little excerpt from Haskin's latest. I must say, I wasn't aware of this but I can't quite understand an under 16 rule to watch works.


Cheers for Chip



I have read the following blog comment on Bloodhorse.com’s “And They’re Off” video and on “At the Races with Steve Byk,” and I am posting it here as well, because it is something everyone connected with this sport, and even those that aren’t, should know about, for it shows once again that there is no sport that has the ability to touch people’s hearts as horseracing does, and no sport where the fans can interact with the stars. So, here goes:

“In June, just a few days before the Belmont, my 13-year-old son and I got up at 3 a.m. and headed down to Belmont to watch Mine That Bird train out on the track. Once there, I was told that while I could go in to watch the morning works, my son could not. According to the security guard at the gate, one must be 16 years of age or older to get in. Needless to say, my son was so disappointed and barely spoke a word the entire 1 1/2-hour car ride home. My son is mildly autistic and he deals with difficulty and heartache too often, due to the difficulties of living with any type of autism. That day was supposed to be special. I took him out of school for the day and he barely slept the night before we went down to Belmont. He was so excited that he would see the horse he fell in love with when Mine That Bird won the Derby.

“A few days after the Belmont, I happened to post about our experience on a blog here on Bloodhorse. Chip Woolley's girlfriend, Kim, saw it and immediately e-mailed me. No more than one day later, Chip called my son on the phone and thanked him for being such a good fan. He also asked for our address and sent my son a great, signed picture of Mine That Bird's Kentucky Derby win. He made my son feel so special. To him, that picture is, as he calls it, "a one of a kind.

“Chip Woolley also invited us to come and meet Mine That Bird when we came up to Saratoga. He gave us his phone number and when I called him the day we got up to Saratoga, he remembered us immediately. He invited us over to the Clark Stakes barn and for the next three hours, my son and I had the experience of a lifetime, visiting with Chip and George (the groom and exercise rider) and Mine That Bird. Chip is such a genuine, caring person. When he speaks to you, he gives you his undivided attention. He gave my son a stash of carrots to feed to Mine That Bird.

“I can't thank Chip and Kim enough for such a truly special day. As we left the stakes barn, my son said, "Mom, Chip is a really nice man, isn't he?" My answer was, "Yes, Morgan, you are right. He is a very, very nice man." Chip may not know it but he made my son feel so welcomed and so special. I truly cannot thank him enough and will always be so grateful to him.

“I wanted to share my story about a man who my family views as one of the greatest human beings in racing.”