Stakes Season!

The Betsy Ross eliminations are drawn for Sunday, and they will start our stakes season.  Ten top pacing mares will contest two $40,000 heats on the matinee card.

My Little Dragon squares off against Arts Diva, Four Starzz Meliss, Mind Boggling, and Spring Break.  Although Luc Ouellette is coming in to drive Four Starzz Meliss, My Little Dragon is a GIFT at 5-1.  I know she's in off a layoff, but she should definitely have her way with this first field.

Darlin's Delight, Martha Maxine, Apache Dame, Go On BB, and Southwind Tempo are in the second elimination, and it looks more wide open.  Martha Maxine beat Darlin's Delight and Southwind Tempo in the Classic Distaff at Dover last week.  Darlin's Delight hadn't raced for a few weeks, and Southwind Tempo just looked dull.

Hopefully the weather stays better for this weekend, as the rain's put a damper on things for the past two nights.  For now, I'm off to lunch and then to the track!

Bloody head-cold!

Opening day is Monday, I have to call trials in all of six hours, and I'm up with a sore throat and congestion.  Not a good combination, but I'll get through it.

Monday's and Tuesday's cards of racing look tremendous, and it's good to get back in the broadcast box (although some people think the sight of binoculars on a stick is an embarrassment--you know who you are!).  Since I'm not writing the morning line or doing a tip sheet this year, I'll post a couple horses that I like every now and then.

Chester - Monday

Race 5 - #3 JK Jack.  Faced similar company in his last two, and won both times.  Positive driver change to Andy Miller is no hindrance, and Joe Hundertpfund knows how to classify his horses.

Race 10 - #2 Its Cherry Ripe (NZ).  Recent Kiwi invader comes off a win, and has taken well to local racing.  Won a nose from third-over in last.  Up in class, but should handle it.

Race 12 - #1 Dynamic Dream.  Shows two wins in last four.  Closed best of any from second-over to be third beaten a neck against similar.  Picks up Tim Tetrick this week.

I know these three are pretty chalky, but also look at in Race 11 - #8 CR Dream Catcher.  15-1 ML, but has been up against the hard-knocking Preferred Trotters at the Meadowlands.  28.2 LQ, Pierce to Tetrick, class drop.

It's bound to be some good racing, and I'm going to try to go back to sleep since I've had my second cup of tea.

Hello, yeah, it's been a while . . .

I've been remiss in posting on this thing.  I'll be better about it this time, I promise.

The past week has been a truly great experience.  I'm writing from North Versailles, PA (an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh) where I'm playing in the pit orchestra for a local school's production of Footloose.  As much as I've performed in live settings (vocalist, trumpeter, piano player, and even on the hardwood myself for five productions), this is my first time in the pit, and it's been plenty of fun.  I've got faith in my piano playing ability again, the cast has been great to work with--I've been coaching a few of them on vocals here and there, and my fellow musicians are tremendous.  This week has definitely pushed me over the top to start composing again.

Last night was opening night, and the energy throughout was tremendous.  Live theatre is never perfect, and just as I told a few members of the cast to not think, live in the moment, and keep pushing forward throughout, I need to remember that myself as I start composing again.

Facts.

Fact #1.  "Paul Kersey" was the name of the fictional main character in the 1974 action film Death Wish. (wikipedia.org, imdb.com)

Fact #2.  Paul Kersey was the name of the original drummer of the rock band Max Webster, originating in Sarnia, Ontario. (wikipedia.org)

Fact #3.  Paul Kersey was also the name of the actor who played the role of Young David Banner in the 2003 film Hulk. (imdb.com)

Fact #4.  I have never yelled in a race call when the final time was slower than 1:49.0.

Fact #5.  When yelling on the apron, it's because I want a horse to win for the sake of liking the horse, knowing the connections, or having a bet down.

Fact #6.  I bet on harness races.

Fact #7.  From August 2004 to May 2007, I called Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania my home.

Fact #8.  While living in Pittsburgh, I was a frequent visitor to the Meadows and Mountaineer, and I also made the Thistledown/Northfield double-header on occasion.

Fact #9.  I learned to call races at the four tracks stated in #8, calling races into a tape recorder from the grandstand (Meadows and Mountaineer), the press box (Thistledown), or the apron (Northfield).  When visiting Chicago on holiday, I would typically make a stop to the roof at Hawthorne--and I still do every now and again.

Fact #10.  I am capable of spot-on impersonations of a few announcers, and passable ones of others.  I'll share them with friends just for the hell of it.

Fact #11.  The racecalling community has provided me with some of my best friends in the entire human race.

Fact #12.  No individual is perfect; every individual has strengths and weaknesses.  Racecallers are not exempt.

Fact #13.  I make it a point to learn from mistakes--my own, and those of others as well.

Fact #14.  I think it's equally important to learn from the strengths of other individuals.

Fact #15.  Learning from mistakes and other's strengths applies equally to all things outside of racecalling.

Fact #16.  Before the 2008 Chester season, I stood atop the grandstand at Dover with a tape recorder as a tightener.

Fact #17.  April 7, 2008 took place as follows.  I was at Dover Downs, watching races through binoculars.  I did have a tape recorder on my person that night, taking notes on the four Classic Series races, one of which was won (impressively, I might add) by Buck I St Pat.  Following the race, Howard Taylor invited me to join him and his party in the clubhouse for a celebratory drink.  I obliged, and the company was most enjoyable.  No screaming, no calling attention away from anything that wasn't deserving, just good racing and good company.

Fact #18.  After the Classic Series races, I had a drink at the track bar with none other than Jack Gallagher.

Fact #19.  I post on message boards.  One name per board.

Fact #20.  If I'm calling at a track where I have Internet access, I will read message boards under the one name per board stated in #19.

Fact #21.  I do not have Internet access on the roof at Chester, or on the roof at Rosecroft.

Fact #22.  Of the 80-ish racecallers in the United States currently, I am quite close with about 10, plus 3 more in Canada and another in New Zealand.  Outside of those, I am friendly acquaintances with 26 others.  I thought 27, but a certain one's "Death Wish" of sorts lowers the count to 26.

Harness Racing, Binoculars, and the Wolverine State

My apologies in advance if this turns into a rant.

Harness Racing

The Sport of standardbred racing is something that I have held very dear for the majority of my life.  When I was 7 or 8, I became fascinated with the mathematical aspects of the betting game, and I was hooked when my mom first took me to the track on my 12th birthday.  I met Dave Palone in the winner's circle after the 2nd race, and I was hooked since.  Dave Palone and I have since become friends, and I am fortunate to have my livelihood grounded in the Sport that I so love.  Simply, I love what I do, and I'm grateful to be doing it on the grand stage of harness racing.

Binoculars

I know in the English tradition and at some Canadian tracks, the commentators do not watch the race through binoculars as much as in the Australian and American traditions of racecalling.  If that works for you, I won't complain.  Ken at the OJC and Gary at Flamboro are the best two examples I can come up with for staying clear, concise and correct  without using binoculars.  They simply don't need them, and it works for them.  This said, it puzzles me to no end to see racecallers not use binoculars when they are constantly stalling to identify a horse on the far turn of a dimly-lit 5/8-mile track with relatively poor camera quality.  Calling solely off the monitor limits one's perspective of the race far too severely, in my opinion, and stalling to identify a horse not only cuts back on being clear and concise, but also compromises the chances of being correct.

The Wolverine State

It's been a while since I've been in Michigan--the 2007 Croswell Fair, to be exact was my last visit.  I have to thank a few individuals along the way in Michigan for their help, including (but definitely not limited to):  

- Bill Rayle.  A true journalist and student of the game, Bill prepared me for the politics and what-not that's inherent in the Sport, let alone anything.  He taught me how to chart, and I am fortunate to call him a friend.

- Brett Boyd.  Brett's passion for the Sport goes unmatched in the Midwest.  He owns, trains, breeds, announces, and truly serves as an ambassador for harness racing.  In the summer of 2006, we called at Croswell and Holland together, and his demands as a trainer that year opened up Vassar for me to call.  Brett's done a great job promoting harness racing in Michigan, and the full grandstands at Jackson alone attest to that.  Again, a true friend.

- Gary Rankin, Sue Whitney, and Earl Welling.  The three racing secretaries at the fairs I called were all very hospitable and welcoming to me and my old 2003 Cavalier.

For the most part, Michigan is home to great people, and to everyone whom I encountered in my time in the Wolverine State, be you friend, foe, or after-the-fact back-stabber, I thank you.

I've been remiss in writing on this blog thing-y . . .

. . . so naturally there's been a lot going on since All-Star Announcers' Day.  But right now, I really don't want to talk about racecalling, although I'll be making one last cameo appearance at Beulah Park on December 6.  I'm grateful to Bill for the opportunity to call Thoroughbreds a few days this year.  It's definitely a challenge, and I enjoy it greatly.

Anyway, about a month ago, I rated a mile in 2'30" perfectly aboard Cam's First Day.  Anyone who's seen this horse race knows he has a ton of gate speed, and he can be kind of tough to calm down once he gets going.  That said, my goal with the training mile was to end with a flourish after an easy front half.  We came home in 33", pretty fast keeping in mind I was in a jog cart on a flat half-mile track.  I realise I've still got a ways to go, but I feel I've come a long way.

I miss composing, and I miss playing good music.  I've done some sketches this fall, but haven't had the time to really flesh anything out.  Four weeks until the offseason, and I'll have plenty of time to write.  Hopefully two or three full charts this winter isn't too ambitious of a goal.

Four days till Kira!!!

All-Star Announcers' Day

Although Sam McKee, Ken Warkentin, Scott Ehrlich, Frank Salive, and Ken Middleton aren't able to make it for this year's All-Star Announcers' Day, I'd say we've assembled quite a solid lineup.  No doubt it will be fun.  Paul, if you want to call the opener, be my guest.