Showing posts with label Churchill Downs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Churchill Downs. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tuesday CARDINAL COUPLE. Yes I know! It's Laundry Day at Sandy's house - again!


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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Sandy's Laundry Day


-More changes at Churchill Downs

(Cardinal Couple columnist Sandy gets out the Tide, Spray and Wash and Woolite...it's laundry day here at the C.C. She is pictured below on the left...she and Sonja patiently posing for another Paul camera-phone picture ).





Yes, I know it is laundry day, literally as my washer has been performing its duties since early this morning but as we all know that in most  any task it takes the whole team for a success to occur.  This morning both my dryer, as well as my laptop, are straining to perform as needed so both the literal laundry and the women's latest news tasks are suffering.  Thanks for bearing with me.




OLYMPIC BASKETBALL

This week, no one has been without a huge variety of choices of sporting events to view, including women’s basketball, as the Olympics are in full swing.  Geno Auriemma, as coach of the U.S. basketball team (that is United States -- not UConn team) was reminded of the team concept in the opening match as the Americans struggled early against Croatia until Louisville and Atlanta Dream star Angel McCoughtry
was brought off the bench to help overcome sloppy play and spark a struggling US team to a commanding win with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and a blocked shot in just over 11 minutes of play. 


Monday night play saw Angel score 10 points, 2 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in 18 minutes of play in the US win over Angola. (Editor note: The stat line says two steals, I say three.)
Tomorrow, August 1 at 10:15 PM against Turkey will be the next game in their Group A, game 30 match play. 


Might be time to rethink the starting line up Geno.

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JEFF TO STAY AT LOUISVILLE

As much as some other teams would love to fuel the gossip columns and blogs with tales of Jeff Walz’s impending jump to another team we are happy to inform you of your future disappointment.
   
University of Louisville AD Jurich appears to have taken the pro-active route and approached Jeff concerning a contract extension which has been agreed to by all parties.  Reports are that  2 years have been added to Jeff’s existing 5 year contract which will keep him in Cardinal red through at least the 2018-2019 season.   Other details are not known at this time beyond the inclusion of reported financial incentives which occur for his fulfilling extended periods of the contract which is great news for all of the Cardinal faithful.

( Editor note: Coach Walz recently told CARDINAL COUPLE that he is "pleased and excited" about the extension and his goal continues to be bringing a national championship to the Ville)


WNBA TO LOUISVLLE

Under the heading of day dreaming… 


It appears that the Seattle Storm are having some difficult negotiations with their city regarding the building of a facility and what contributions the city will make for the teams presence. 

If things don’t work out for you in Seattle – Storm President and CEO Karen Bryant...

You should come check out Louisville where the benefits of a city having a professional team here during the summer would be a great benefit to the city and fill the empty gap the Louisville basketball faithful feel during the summer months.

 Can you imagine the attendance with Angel and other UofL greats playing their professional careers locally?  Just a thought...

( Another great column today by Sandy! As we end the month of July, the writers at CARDINAL COUPLE are gearing up for the first month of UofL women's fall sports. We promise in-depth and comprehensive coverage of all activities and we appreciate you reading CARDINAL COUPLE!!) 

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MORE CHANGES AT THE "WORLD'S MOST LEGENDARY  HORSE-RACING TRACK. 

I just might need a tour guide or map when Churchill Downs opens for its fall meet in late October. Churchill has announced changes in gathering spaces and room that will start renovation in early August. 

- Champions Lounge, the second floor club where I've spent a lot of time over the past several years, will now be the track's main Gold Room...which moves from the 6th. floor, where it was next to the media center. The Champions Room has been so many things over the past several years...whether being a Gold Room will work or not is debatable.  Still no bathrooms in there.  

- The Mansion replaces the Media Center and Gold Room on the 6th floor. It's billed as a "spectacular new venue that will meld the legendary past of the historic track with an exciting future to provide a lavish ambiance, panoramic views and unprecedented  levels of personalized service, elegance and excitement." (We're guessing the $3 draft beer and hot dog Fridays won't make it up there)


- The Media Center is being moved from the 6th floor to the 1st. floor of the general offices, located by Gate 1 and the infield tunnel. From the grand view to the grandstands. 


- The former Paddock Pavillion building will be razed and will become a open gathering space for patrons of the Derby and other social events throughout the year. Wonder if they'd let us set up a Cardinal Couple UofL Women's Sports Concierge kiosk there? Thought not...


All I want to know is what's the name of the room where the Pick4 plotters, daily handicappers and trifecta terrors are supposed to meet? It's sounding more and more like "the bricks". 


It all about the benjamins, ladies and gentlemen. The decline of the Twin Spires Club unless you're wagering the income of a family of four, cut backs on giveaways and promotions (whatever happened to the Chili Cook-off?) and general indifference to the $2 regular bettor and attendee continues. 


And they wonder why they can't get enough horses and trainers to run more than 4 days a week? 


Churchill is spending $9 million dollars to fete the folks who attend four days a year (assuming they still are part of the Breeder's Cup rotation down the road.) 


Looking at the "regular fan-friendly" efforts of Saratoga, Del Mar and Monmouth (none of which are CDI owned) and the successes there lead us to believe that Churchill is content to throw Ms. and Mr. Joe Public a bone occasionally (Downs after Dark) but if you aren't in a Armani suit, flying in on a Lear jet or throwing $100 dollar bills around like pennies...then try not to mess up the red carpet rolled out to the 1%


This goes way beyond a casino gambling issue. It's a corporation tailoring its' image to service greed. And, greed is good, according to Gordon Gekko.  


Greed is Good


This article probably won't please the admins, muckity-mucks, media wizards and brass of Churchill. They don't please me much lately, so it's tit-for tat. 


Nevertheless, the fan's view must be told. Yes, we're still out there...decreasing in numbers, reeling with the changes. We may be war-torn Poland in this latest Churchill blitzkrieg, but the fact of the matter is, it just doesn't matter. 


We're only the other 99%. 


I'd like to see a position created at Churchill. I'd name it Director of Average, Everyday Person Operations. I'd volunteer to be that director. At least the little guy would have someone to go to who would listen. Probably couldn't accomplish much, but at least they'd have an ear to bend. 


Yep, sitting here waiting for the phone to ring...


-Paul.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- In Memorandum

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- In memorandum. Norma Burgess. 1938-2012


We depart from the normal UofL women's sports coverage to offer this eulogy for a huge UofL women's sports fan and dear friend....Norma Burgess. 


A year-long battle with brain cancer has taken our pal to the life ever-after. She will be missed by many. She passed away Tuesday afternoon at St Mary's Hospital in Louisville. 


Norma dedicated her life to others. 


A Navy veteran, Girl Scout employee, Zonta Club member and always willing to champion the cause of the needy, downtrodden, down on their luck and those in need. Highly involved in promoting the celebration of women in the horse racing industry. 


Norma was Title IX way before it ever was created.


Two of Norma's many friends...Jo-An (left) and Sheila
I met her years ago. A random seating next to her at maybe her favorite hangout...Churchill Downs. She handicapped the races quite well, she spoke with great knowledge on jockeys, trainers, bloodlines, trends and workouts. She rarely bet...taking satisfaction in the successful results of horses, jockeys and trainers that she would point out had better than average chances of winning races. We became fast friends. She "adopted" Sonja and would quiz me on her whereabouts and status on occasions when I was "flying solo". We were UofL fans. She loved her Cards. 


We would break into song, sometimes. She, John, Doug and I kept the patrons of the Paddock Bar and other track venues entertained with our well-meant (but far from perfect pitch) four-part harmony. If Joe was there, it was Beatles and, although we didn't exactly sound like the "Fab Four"...we weren't that bad. She, John and I formed the "picker-gnat" club...named after the pesky, little flies that would occasionally buzz around the bar area. 


She would always insist I sing "My Old Kentucky Home" with her at the end of the races when it was piped over the public address system.


And, I never refused that request. 


Norma and Mine that Bird trainer Chip Wooley
If she had been a gambler, she probably would have been a millionaire by now. She was that good. That knowledgeable...that accurate. I learned a lot from her over the years on what to look for in horses and those who rode and cared for them. She had her passions and being at the track with friends was one of them. She'd throw a $2 win ticket down from time to time. She loved handicapping "those tricky 10 cent superfectas" with me and we hit more than a few over the years. 


$6 bucks each, five horse superfecta box. She'd pick two, I'd pick two and we'd agree on the final horse. 


I also got to meet her wonderful brother Ron. A Georgia man...fascinated with the world of horse-racing and a staunch friend and supporter of his little sister. He could sing, too and it was one of the highlights of Derby Week when he'd roll into town and we'd "handicap a few" together.


Norma loved her Lady Cards. She attended women's basketball, softball and volleyball for many years. Rejoicing in victories, saddened by losses. She told me once that she loved Angel McCoughtry because of the heart and passion #35 had.


Norma was a hoops player, too....back in the days when there was a center jump after each basket and the uniforms went from under the chin to the top of the shoes.


The look on her face when I gave her a poster of Angel is something I'll never forget. You'd thought Angel herself had shown up and given her the jersey off her back. 


Brother Ron. Norma and Susan Stidham on Thursday of
Derby Week 2012
I saw her last on Kentucky Oaks day back in early May. Feeling the effects of the chemo, the radiation, the demon that is cancer...she still accompanied her brother Ron to watch the races at a simulcasting venue here in town. Kept a lively conversation with me, Sonja, her friends and even picked a few winners out. She was happy. Several days later, she was back in the hospital and it was just a matter of time. 


Cancer stinks.


I choose to remember her the way I saw her that day. Smiling and laughing. Sharing her opinion. Hugging. Living life. 


She didn't have a computer or laptop. She never saw CARDINAL COUPLE but kept a stockpile of our business cards in her purse and would hand them out to people who she thought might enjoy reading about women's sports. 


"Miss Norma" was a friend. She always will be. I wish I had many pictures to share but...sadly, I don't. Always figured there would be time for that. The picture at the top of this article was taken by our buddy Jo-Ann. Me, her and Tom  She kept a special eye on us...the Irish hoodlums. The Martin and Lewis of Churchill. If we were a "rat pack"...she was Frank Sinatra...calm, cool, collected. The "chair-woman."




Our good friend Susan Stidham sent me this picture of her and I. It is, indeed, worth 1000 words. Me and my buddy.


Farewell, old buddy. The world will be a little sadder place without you but good memories, thoughts and memories will be the way I'll remember you. Your "call to the post" is a sad day for us who knew you...but, in the end, another departure which breaks a heart but reminds us that all of us are mortal. 


Gonna miss you, pal. Her birthday was coming up on Friday. She fought hard, remained optimistic to the end that she would win the battle, defeat the big "C". Her inspiration and friendship will be missed by many.


One last song. This one's straight at you, Miss Norma.


LINK:


Really gonna miss you

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Sunday, July 1, 2012

Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Get out the pencils

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-We offer a quiz on Louisville WBB


-Circle Unbroken wins Bashford Manor Stakes 



-Lady Cards to Mexico?

OK, readers...finish your coffee and put your books beneath your desk...we offer a short quiz on Cardinal womens basketball for you today. Best of luck and no googling your answers. 


1. Who of the following people below WAS NOT an assistant coach for UofL WBB? 


a) Loretta Hummeldorf
b) Bethann Ord
c) Sheckey Greene
d) Dallas Boychuk
e) Nikki Collen


2. This UofL Head Coach had a 88-37 record at UofL 


a) Tom Collen
b) Bud Childers
c) John Dromo
d) Terry Hall
e) Jeff Walz


3. Which of the people listed below was the Most Improved Louisville WBB player in 2010?


a) Yuliya Tokova
b) Monique Reid
c) Nancy Drew
d) Molly Malone
e) Katie Petrino


4. Which person below is a current Lady Card, hails from Columbus, OH and loves ham and pineapple pizza? 


a) Devin Hester
b) Megan Deines
c) Asia Taylor
d) Sherrone Vails
e) Lori Petty


5. Louisville women's basketball is undefeated against
four of the schools listed below. Which one below has Lousiville never defeated?


a) Texas-Arlington
b) Troy State
c) Wolford
d) SMU
e) Saint Francis


6. Jeff Walz is the current UofL head women's basketball coach. Name his hometown.


a) Leipzig
b) Jeffersonville
c) Ft. Thomas
d) Ft. Campbell
e) Thunder Gulch


7. Which of the following people below are members of the 1,000 point club at UofL? 


a) Stephanie Edwards 
b) Valeriya Musina
c) Courtney Love
d) Rachel Story
e) Haley Jurich


8. This mascot greets the players during the pre-game introduction. The name of the mascot is: 


a) Indestructo the Robot
b) Lawrence the Sailor
c) Deputy Dawg
d) Louie the Cardinal Bird
e) Dancing Dean the Dwarf


9. Louisville women's basketball was in this conference until the 1995-96 season.


a) Metro Conference
b) Atlantic Coast Conference
c) Ohio Valley Conference
d) Great Eight Conference
e) Big East Conference


10. Four of the players below come from the state of Kentucky. Which one doesn't? 


a) Monique Reid
b) Shelby Harper
c) Nita Slaughter
d) Tia Gibbs
e) Shawnta Dyer

WE hope you enjoyed this little quiz (answers at the end of today's column.) 


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Circle Unbroken is undefeated in two lifetime starts
We may have got a look at one of the top contenders for the 2013 Kentucky Derby last night when Circle Unbroken bested a field of eight in the Bashford Manor stakes race for two year olds. 


WE celebrated Bread Boy's birthday last night. It took
four women to hold him up for this picture, including his
lovely wife Tina. Who took this picture? 
He followed the pacesetters out of the starting gate and rider Jon Court kept him out of trouble until the stretch. Court saw the chance to pass race leader Special Jo and took a hard fought lead with less than a furlong to go. Court was able to keep him to task and held off late charging Positively with Calvin Borel on board to win by a length. 


At 2-1 odds and the favorite in the race, Circle Un broken paid $6.80 to win. 


Our buddy, Turf Club host and ex-jockey Charlie Woods
looks good in his white suit and excellent accessory to his right! 
Circle Unbroken was named for trainer Garry Simms' close knit group of friends who have been supportive during his two year battle with Multiple Myeloma...which is a cancer that starts in the blood cells of bone marrow. 


Simms battles on. He talks about Circle Unbroken: 


"It's the second most I've ever paid for a horse. The horse was sold at Keeneland's Yearling Sale in September for $92,000. I just loved the horse. I usually look for bargains, but there was just something about Circle. He's almost a perfect specimen. He had the perfect eye, attitude, walk...he had everything in a horse. I was going to get him and I probably would have paid more than I ended up doing." 


Archie and Tina's friends from St. Louis. Aren't they two
pretty ladies? (See, girls...I told you I'd put you in
today column!) 
The Bashford Manor, you might like to know, is not named after the shopping mall that was on Bardstown Road until 2003. There was a huge thoroughbred breeding and racing farm on the property where the mall now sits back in the late 1800's and stood until 1973...when it's was purchased by developers for the mall that sits there today. Five Kentucky Derby winners came from the farm and two Kentucky Oaks winners. The barns were right about where Target sits now on the property. 


It was a fun evening on the Saturday night "white out" Downs after Dark. Sonja, Tommy Boy and I successfully handicapped the early "Pick 4" which returned $666 on a two dollar ticket.  


Dash, Louie and Taylor
We were pleasantly surprised when midway through the evening our friends "Dash Rip-Rock" and "Taylor Swift" showed up. He was in from Miami visiting his fiancee "Taylor" who just completed her first year at the UofL School of Dentistry. Dash loves to handicap with Tommy Boy and I and we were successful in hitting a couple of nice exactas as the evening went on. By then, we had left the Turf Club and Bread Boy's birthday celebration...returning to Champions on the second floor clubhouse level. It was nice and cool in there and we spent the rest of the night in air-conditioned comfort. 


SELINA was our bartender in Champions. She could be
Bria Smith's sister..they look so much alike!  Pretty lady! 
I still don't quite understand why Tommy Boy was riding up and down the elevator with a bottle of bitters, maybe some things are best left unexplained. 


Churchill concludes the Spring Meet with a 6:30 post time tonight. If you go, keep an eye out for Turallure in the Firecracker Handicap. This horse loves Churchill and should hit the wire ahead of the rest. 


Our favorite jockey Brian J.Hernandez, Jr. was not at Churchill yesterday. He was riding at Prairie Meadows in Iowa and won the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap on Fort Larned and came in second in the Iowa Oaks on Ice Cream Silence. Good job BJH!  


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UofL WBB headed to a tourney in Puerto Vallenta? This bracket draw says so...Cards start with UCF, then are assured at least two more games...maybe a rematch against Gonzaga. 


More on this later...




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OK, here are your answers to the quiz: 


1. (c) Sheckey Greene is a comedian and also the name of a racehorse. Neither coached at UofL.
2. (a) Tom Collen coached at Louisville and complied the record before taking the Arkansas job.
3. (b) Monique Reid was the most improved that year and is a senior on the 2012-13 squad. 
4. (c) Asia Taylor is from Columbus and loves ham and pineapple pizza. ( Agree with her 100% on that...)
5. (d) Louisville is 0-1 against SMU, losing to them back in 1996.
6. (c) Jeff Walz is from Ft. Thomas, KY. Did you know
he played basketball at Northern Kentucky University?
7. (a) Stephanie Edwards scored 1034 points at UofL from 1980 through 1985.
8. (d) Louie the Cardinal Bird is the official UofL mascot and greets the starters. 
9. (a) The Cards were in the Metro Conference before joining Conference USA.
10. (e) Shawnta Dyer is from Marion, OH. Did you know she has a twin brother that plays basketball too? 


So, how did you do? 


9-10 correct. You know your women's hoops! Call Tom Jurich and tell him you'd like a job at UofL.
7-8 correct. Not bad, not bad. You've followed the WBB team a bit, haven't you? 
5-6 correct. You need to read Cardinal Couple daily. You'll do better next time if you do.
3-4 correct. Bill the Goat got more than four correct. Please go stand in the dunce's corner and put the hat on.
1-2 correct. Women's sports just isn't your thing, is it? Go back to your football magazines. 
0 correct. Sing us the words to the UK fight song, lurker...


Have a great Sunday...readers and we'll see you next time!


-- Paul Sykes
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Saturday, June 30, 2012

Saturday Cardinal Couple



SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-E-Po headed to Olympics


-that's our boy...


-Goodbye ESPN, hello Fox? 


Walz campers chasing after Erin Andrews
to the Fox Sports Network. (Photo by Jenny O Bryan)
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE swimmer Eszter Povazsay (whom we will refer to as E-Po for the rest of her time at UofL) has been name to the Hungary Olympic swimming team. 


This is huge. 


Competing in a once every four year worldwide sporting conclave. Going against the very best, with a chance to stand on the platform, have a medal hug around your shoulders and hear your national anthem if you have the gold around your neck. 


Think about that. How would you react? Tears? A big, goofy grin? Or head bowed and fist in the air like the sprinters did in 1968 in Mexico City?


She's one of four Cards from the swimming teams that is going to be in the summer games...Joao De Luca, Carlos Almeida and Pedro Oliveira from the men's team also swimming in London. 


She won the BIG EAST Championship this year in the 100-backstroke. 


How great would it be to see a UofL Cardinal standing on the winners stand? Get 'em  E-Po. Bring the gold back to the Ville. Or Hungary.


Have any UofL athletes ever won a gold medal? If so, who were they an what event was it in? 


Think you know the answer? Leave it in the comments section or e-mail it to us at:


 cardinalcouple@insightbb.com




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If we've told you once, we've told you 1000 times...Brian Hernandez, Jr. is the most underrated, best performing jockey at Churchill Downs over the last several years.


We went to night racing Friday, a scorcher of a late afternoon still at 5:30 p.m. when we arrived. Fortunately, there are areas at Churchill where the air is cold, the seats are comfy and we headed there immediately. With us was Tommy Boy, our Director of Wagering and Nonsense at CARDINAL COUPLE. 


Talking nonsense with Tommy Boy
Churchill Downs had 11 races last night. Brian rode in nine of them. He won three of them and came in second five times. If you had put $2 across the board (win, place and show) on Brian in each race he rode in, your total outlay would have been $54 dollars. Your return on investment would have been $196.


I got a little more heavily invested in him than $6 per race. Thank you, Brian.


Not bad, eh?


Two days to go before the live meet ends. Both post times are 6:30 p.m. 


Dave, Dan, Sonja and Tommy Boy
The "What was I thinking?" award of the meet has to go to jockey Shane Sellers for his performance in the ninth race last night. Ahead by five lengths in the stretch and looking seemingly uncatchable...Sellers decides to go with a right handed whip. The horse responds by crashing thru the temporary rail on the turf course and did not finish the race. 


Wouldn't want to have explained that brilliant strategic
move to the owners and trainer. He gets a "Gibbs slap" to the back of the head from all of us. 


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Erin Andrews has left ESPN. The word is that Fox Sports is after her. 


ESPN, you blew this one. They claim they made " an
aggressive offer" to keep her. They should have offered to rename the network "Erin Sports Predominantly Network". 



Things change. WE realize that. But letting the "face" of sideline reporters get away from you and most likely end up at your rival...well, it's like giving Mickey Mantle an automatic walk so you can pitch to Roger Maris. 


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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Lacrosse adds nine.

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Lacrosse adds nine student-athletes for 2012-13 season


-Downs after Dark: June 16th report


Coach Kellie Young
Kellie Young is the only head lacrosse coach that the University of Louisville program has ever had. She enters her sixth season...coming in from James Madison University and building the Louisville program from scratch. 


Nine student-athletes will join the program as freshmen this fall. A look at the list shows the east coast remains an area that Louisville is still targeting...with two newcomers from Maryland, two from New York, and one each from Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ontario. No local area players are a part of the incoming class and the UofL lacrosse rosters shows no local players from the Louisville area. Currently, 12 high schools in the metro area offer women's lacrosse as a team sport. 


Boltja's back
Young was 43-24 in her first four years as Louisville's head coach before undergoing a rebuilding season last year and finishing 3-12. The Cards do return leading scorer junior Nikki Boltja and defender Monica Negron...both were second team Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association All-West/Midwest Region team selections.  


"The class of 2012 features an outstanding group of young women. They have given great thought to choosing Louisville and are passionate about representing our University and our Athletic Department at the highest level in the classroom, on the field and in life. Driven to be the best on and off the field, their talent and work ethic are bound to propel this program forward."  -- Coach Young, on the incoming freshmen. 


The Cards look to improve over a disappointing season where they went 0-5 at home and lost 9 out of their last ten games. We expect to see a return to the winning ways of Louisville Lacrosse this year and a return to the BIG EAST Conference Tournament. 2009 was Louisville last apperance in post-season play. 


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Churchill Downs ran the Stephen Foster Day racing card under the lights for the first time Saturday. A late decision to attend got us out there shortly before the third race and we changed up our normal track-visit routine....spending several hours "down on the bricks" mingling with the party-goers and would-be handicappers. 


Things were getting active and the paddock area was packed when we arrived. Night racing definitely brings  a younger crowd than usual at the Downs...not sure if they fully understood the significance and quality of the race card tonight, but they were having a grand time. 


Paul got us off to a great start in the fourth race by insisting that Brian Hernandez, Jr. would win the mile and sixteeth turf event. He's that way about Brian on the turf. He wouldn't tell me how much he bet on him until after the race...when he showed me the ticket. Risky stuff...but Twist of Silver and Brian did not disappoint, beating the field at odds of 22-1.


That definitely paid for the rest of the evening. 


There were four huge stakes races tonight: The Matt Winn, The Regret, the Fleur de Lis Handicap and the Stephan Foster Handicap. I'd like to tell you we did well in all of them, but....alas, we did not. Only Royal Delta, in the Fleur De Lis gave us a cashable ticket and it wasn't much. 


The evening did end on a good note, though when he and I invested $12 in a final race .10 cent superfecta  and got back $187 for our picks.


 Also, a very nasty spill in the 9th race of the evening in the stretch...three horses and jockeys involved. Johnny Velazquez was taken to Audubon Hospital for observation. Hate to see that stuff happen. Even more 
frustration when one of the horses was our selection and looked to be going for the lead when the mishap occurred. Mr. Producer, the Johnny V. mount that stumbled and fell was euthanized on the track. The other two horses lost their jockeys but returned to the barns under their own power. John McKee and Manny Cruz, the other two jockeys involved walked off the track with no assistance needed.


WE left after the final race but things were still thumping with the D.J. and crowd when we left. A great night for it and leaving with money in your pocket is always good...


Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there today! Whether it's a cookout, day of rest or gathering with family...enjoy it, guys. 


Sonja
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