The unmistakable stench of horse manure. The proverbial and unbelievably loud crowing of the rooster. What a great way to start the day. Top o' the world, ma!
Then again, since I didn't sleep Monday night, Tuesday morning basically was Monday night with more daylight. Plus, there were no races to bet on. Not then, not at any point on Tuesday.
"Kid, what are you doing going to the track when there's no races?" Horse handicapper friend The Guru would ask later in the day, give or take a word. "A day at the track without races is a waste of a day."
True. But I enjoy being employed.
Afleet Alex didn't seem to care that I hadn't slept and I couldn't seek additional income from the exacta in the fourth. He was all set to hit the track at Belmont at 5:30 a.m. for his morning gallop. Nice guy, this Alex fella. I was all set to take pictures, help Intrepid videographer friend Bobby capture it on tape and observe things for this lovely blog.
Glad I have 20/15 vision because there are some beautiful things to see at Belmont, some funny things to see at Belmont and some surreal things to see at Belmont.
Beautiful: The expansive racetrack at dawn. The morning dew smothered the air around the track but the green lawn and trees fought through to remind us that nature can be beautiful, unless of course Nature is the name of the horse that came in last in the 8th race and that $20 win ticket in your hand says Nature.
Funny: WHOA! That's right. WHOA! Not STOP. Quite possibly the funniest thing ever placed inside a red octagon and put on display for the public.
Surreal: The Morning Line, the coffee shop/diner at Belmont. What a scene. Horse people at the tables. Jockeys at the coffee shop/diner bar. Jockeys perusing the Daily Racing Form. Jockeys eating small portions. Jockeys wearing their jockey gear. Then there's the tip jar on the counter. A nice idea made even nicer when Intrepid videographer friend Bobby suggests that jockeys, rather than placing money in the jar, should put notes in there. Notes that read "Bet on me in the 5th," or "Box 2-6 in the 8th."
Beautiful: The horses. Such gracefulness. Such wonder. Such beacons of American capitalism.
Funny: Reporters, photographers, videographers and the like standing around watching a world class horse be bathed.
Surreal: Reporters, photographers, videographers and the like standing around watching a world class horse be bathed.
Beautiful: In three simple words: Sleeveless. Female. Jockeys.
Funny: Hearing the word "animal" used to describe a horse that people bet on rather than for people that bet on horses.
Surreal: Waiting for horses to cross the street, then having to wait for a car to cross the street from the other side. Old West meets the New West. Strange stuff.
Enjoy the race. (By the way, you might want to consider making a wheel bet with Afleet Alex and boxing it. Of course, to make some real money on that, you'll need a longshot to finish first or second with Alex. Think: Birdstone upsetting Smarty Jones.)