10 Things I Learned at Breeders’ Cup
October 29th, 2007By Jude T. Feld
1) European horses are difficult to gauge. Alistair Donald said, “Despite Dylan Thomas winning the Arc de Triomphe on a soft turf course, the horse doesn’t like soft turf.” Who knew? Lots of American money went down the drain at 4-5.
2) The musical silks worn by Curlin are a distraction. From now on, egomaniac partners should be forced to settle on one set for their partnership so a wonderful horse can maintain his identy with the fans.
3) Years ago, Tom Ainslie wrote of the lady who worked the Monmouth iced tea stand bringing lemons from home to better serve her customers. Her tradition is carried on today, as the gals who work the concessions at Monmouth Park are the friendliest in the nation. Led by Debbie, the bartender in the sports bar, who pours drinks and slings beers, all the while dealing with customers’ tote issues, these gals get a gold star for a job well done with a smiling face.
4) It is possible to have a safe racetrack with four straight days of rain. I don’t want to say that Monmouth Park’s track crew is in a class by themselves, but it wouldn’t take long to call roll.
5) According to Senator Daymon Thayer, it takes Breeders’ Cup staff and track officials six and a half years to put on their top drawer show.
6) Pam Gomez, Garrett’s wife, is even more beautiful than she was when she was twenty.
7) When Bob Baffert tells you it’s Easter, paint your eggs. The “Silver Fox” has been bragging on Midnight Lute since before he won at Saratoga, then he tells me Friday, “This horse is training better now than he did this summer. It’s scary.”
8) Trainer Doug O’Neill better not try playing poker. The look of glee and bounce in his gait when Maryfield caught an off track was a huge “tell” as the boys around the felt say.
9) Kent Desormeaux’s got game. Guiding quirky Corinthian around that quagmire Friday night had to be an “E” ticket ride. The Hall of Famer, using hand, boot and whip, kept his charge’s mind on business to take top prize in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Mud Mile, in a performance remeniscent of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
10) Fans love to be on the inside. The Horse Racing Radio Network coverage of the Breeders’ Cup cards was available on-track to fans who purchased earpiece radios for $10. People loved hearing the paddock reports, interviews and analysis of the races all afternoon. “I never had a better time at the track,” said a gal at the Brickwall Saturday night. “I wish they did that radio thing every day.”
