Outside of a Horse, Inside of a Man

An often used quote and its variation, "There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse" might be better suited androgynously in this day and age, but it has stood the test of time.

I recently read the "An Affair to Remember" piece here, which outlined the relationship between 67 year old exercise rider Steve Willard, and Zenyatta. When reading it, something that struck me, is that she keeps him young. After battling sciatic pain, he was close to giving it up, but then "she came along".

He relays what we all know, and what many of us appreciate - very few horsemen would have waited on her like John Shirreffs did.

“I can’t think of one other trainer that would have given her the time John’s given her,” Willard said. “Yeah, we got a good horse to start with, but the way John has managed her and the way Mario’s taken care of her … impeccably, is the only word I can come up with.”

It is a fascinating article which shows the culmination of a man's career; and the fact that truly there is nothing better for the inside of us, than the outside of a horse.

Other notes:

Give and Take

The Balmoral 15% pick 4 pool hit almost $105,000 yesterday. Kudos! In addition, for thoroughbred players, Portland Meadows goes to 14% take on their pick 4 this meet. The tracks are slowly learning folks!

Say What?

Jimmy Takter after Lucky Chucky rolled first up and demolished foes in the $1M Canadian Trotting Classic Saturday, including his charge who was on the lead, said: "I thought he had a tremendous race... Lucky Chucky got the trip today."

Booze Cruisin

A judge in Indiana failed a breathalyzer test seven times, apparently. Insert your own joke here.

Secretariat the movie opens soon. If you have not seen the trailer, it is below.