The last few days
 

Saturday, August 11, 2007

The last few days

Apologies for not updating more this week, but we've been going out to dinner a lot, and I've been getting home late, and the lighting hasn't been quite right, and Wednesday night I had to take a leak, and uh..

Had a good day on Wednesday, but it was another one of those that would've been plenty more tubular had I not been getting a mutuel colonoscopy the previous week and a half. Hit the early double, the fourth through sixth pick three and the seventh through ninth pick three. In other words, if I had played the pick nine, I would've consoed.

The cash I made then was given back today and then some, however, when Alexandros could do no better than fourth in the fifth race. Might take a look at tomorrow's card later considering the exorbitant $101,000+ carryover, but can't guarantee that I'll be on my A-game, as I'm sick, my back hurts, I'm working a full day tomorrow, I'm an old man, I'm confused, I thought I paid for it, etc.

Thursday night was guys' night out, and saw a trip to the buffet at Saratoga Harness for me, Stever, Sonny, Richie, Matt, Donnie, Mike, John Tierney, Freddy from Centerplate and Paulie. The food was good, not great, but the dining room was a looker, especially classy considering the caliber of horses running outside of the glass.

Then on Friday came a jaunt to somewhere I've been meaning to go up here since last year, Leon's. A bunch of the Carolina Crew headed there for Sam's 22nd birthday, and again, the food was good, not great (there's a great Mexican place up the block from my house, so maybe I'm spoiled), but the waitress talent and prolific bar made up for any shortcoming in the cuisine aisle.

Tomorrow should be a fine mess, with folding chairs being the giveaway, which means not only will the "give me any free stuff you have" parasites be out in full force, but they'll be lounging in every nook and cranny of the already overcrowded weekend Saratoga racecourse. It's very possible that it gets to the point where you have to step on five or six old hags to reach the beer cooler on the other side of your picnic table.

Monday has the potential to be interesting, as I'm supposed to spend a few minutes with professional race caller and drinker Tom Durkin. See, a friend of a friend of my mom is friends with the voice of the Spa, and she told him that I was heavy into racing and had a little knack for calling races (at least hung over in my boxers in my basement), so I'm supposed to go chat with TD on Monday and maybe watch him call a race or two. No clue what the hell I'm gonna talk to him about, so if you have any messages for the guy, let me know.

I'm going to go back to trying to blast my sinuses out with more spicy chinese food, but will be back later with anything I can glean from tomorrow's card.

another interesting tale.;)
your time with TD, just talk horses and racing like you do with the DTer's.

Joey,

I see you're trying a new style this year as a literary presser. Last year you burst out of the tale telling gate and were strong all the way though fading a bit at the end.

This year you're starting a bit slow so I expect you to pick up the pace as you come around the turn into the Sepetember stretch.

Observing as best I can from SC your tid bits are a welcome addition to the Siro's seminars, Byksters show, and the limited video I can steal on youbet.net until time expires.

Thanks,

Spyder

well id ask durkin what he thinks a blazing first quarter is..and whats in the flask..premium or high test...

I can answer that....anything under 24 flat....

I would tell him you are looking for a place in Tuscany, but have heard there are none available. None, in all of Tuscany...

I think he goes there for the winters.

Seeing the traffic lined up and cars parked in every nook and cranny of Saratoga Springs today one would have thought that Secretariat & Man O' War had risen from the dead to settle the debate of who was better, but no....it was all for a freakin' chair!!

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40193

I hope that attendance brought you lots of tips Joey!

You think people who line up around the municipality at 5 a.m. for a $3 folding chair are big tippers?

And where the flip were you this weekend, missy?

bro....just give TD your best gate crew and Denman impression...you will be in there...

Oooh, good point!

I came by yesterday but you were still working. Watched all the works today which was pretty awesome. After the break, Pletcher attacked the track with Panty, Octave and Rags and then Cordero came back with Lawyer Ron who looked amazing. I wanted NO part of the track today when I saw the traffic coming in and no superstars on the card.

I left today mid-card, it was so crazy today. I love seeing the interest and attendance this year, which is by FAR the highest I've seen im my 25 years attending Saratoga, but today was tough.

The handle figures are through the roof. They did almost $40,000,000 this weekend!!

Saw the meteor showers were at their peak tonight, walked outside and saw plenty of stars. Figured I had brought a cigar up to smoke at Saratoga but wound up in the festival tent with a bunch of PaceAdvantage dudes (it was fun guys, sorry we left so abruptly) so never got to smoke it and what better than to smoke it and see the meteor shower. I quickly realized that in a city while sitting under a streetlight I was about as likely to see a shooting star as I've been to cash a ticket since opening day. Then the clouds rolled in and I quickly realized the only way I'd see a meteor is if it hit my house.

Final tally:

1 giant @$$ cigar
3 gin and tonics
1 random dude named Dave that told my neighbors "he was gaseous and needed to use their bathroom" (and they let him)
9 incoming flights from the eastern seaboard to the Albany Airport
1 helicopter that was either searching for Gaseous Dave or flying Joey in to Albany Med after an eventful night with the Captain
1 bare knuckle kick boxing match between a 7 year old and a 13 year old egged on by their Moms (same house as gaseuous Dave, shocker)
1 random dog on my lap (trying to escape the fumes from Gaseous Dave no doubt)
Countless sore spots on my body from the giveaway chair today at Saratoga
0 shooting stars (unless you count Gaseous Dave)

dont forget 1 pork w/o a roll with peppers and onions.






what does givaway day and crime have in common...



dont pay

Good point. And I never pay! :p

Not something one sees everyday....nice 'hood Sniper....

Joey Dearest....
If I lend you a dress will you go over to the women's booth on Wednesday and get me one of those Rags to Riches posters?

Does it have to be a dress? They won't give me one if I'm just in a halter top and capris?

Seriously though, if all you have to do is be a girl, I'll ship some of the BBQT flock to load up. I want one too.

I'm not sure if they will hand them out to guys too...but I wouldn't worry, you'll look stunning in a halter top and capris...heck you might even get a piece of pie too! :D

And a trip to every barn on the track..

someone better have pictures !

I would pay money for that picture!

Is that Panty Raid? :p