Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)

Subject: OT: Horse Racing (was Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: vlmagee
Date: 09 Apr 06 - 10:15 AM

Let me know if you do. I have 4 seats for every day of the race meet, and usually some of the seats go unused. Any racing fan that can get to Saratoga needs to go there. But let me warn you, you can't go just once!

My first day at the races was October 5th, 1968 when I saw Shuvee beat Gallant Bloom at a mile. That in itself is incredible, as Shuvee was a router. She won the Jockey Club Gold Cup twice (as did her sire Nashua), back when it was run at 2 miles.

My memories of racing from 1968 through Secretariat are precious to me. In my mind, racing has not been nearly as good in the years since then. At Saratoga, the horses were stilled saddled around the trees and the public could stand just a few feet away from them. Today, horses are saddled in the paddock and only owners and trainer can get near them. So I stood within 5 feet of horses like Secretariat. Amazing. I also remember the finish of his first race - which he lost. Other than my husband and my ex-boyfriend (who introduced me to racing), I'm sure nobody else remembers: Herbull, Master Achiever, Fleet 'n Royal, Secretariat, Big Burn ... and no, I didn't just look that up.

I didn't see Kelso, either in person (we always say "in horse") or on TV. I hadn't yet been introduced to horse racing. Forego was a big favorite of my husband's so we did have a favorite old gelding to cheer on. I had better not tell my husband that Dish has still another channel with horse racing! Well, that battle is lost; I'm sure we'll have it added by the Fall (can't drop DirecTV because of NFL Sunday Ticket).

Anyhow, if you do plan a trip to Saratoga, let me know.

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: sciencegeek
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 07:47 PM

yeah, I know all about having to explain things to the other half...:)

Growing up I always watched channel 5 for the Saturday live at the races, usually Aqueduct or Belmont Park during the season and then Hialeah for the winter. I got to watch Kelso's final 4 years of racing. Always loved that old guy.   And Bill Hartack was one of my favorite jockeys. It's weird to see jockeys now and remember when I saw their dads ride - some as apprentices, even. Where or where did the years go?

I've had Dish for a few years now and it's great. On the free public stations they have RFTV which has plenty of horse programs as well as bluegrass and other nice stuff. Being a geek, I love the university channels with their programming.

Someday I'll have to get over to Saratoga.

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 06:35 PM

Strawberry Roan

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: vlmagee
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 05:40 PM

OK, now I'll get serious.

Michael Martin Murphey released an entire CD of horse songs called Horse Legends. It includes Lightfoot's The Pony Man (how did I forget that?), Tennessee Stud, a song called Run For The Roses and 7 other songs. You can look at the track listing at Amazon:

Horse Legends at Amazon

And Run For The Roses somehow reminded me a new song by Michael Jerling (whose web site I do). The song, Why They Run The Race, is available only on a local compilation CD called Saratoga Pie available from Michael's web site. The song - perhaps needless to say - is inspired by the Saratoga Racetrack (and that's where I spend my summers). Michael's web site is at michaeljerling.com. You can listen to the song in the Listening Room.

I don't think there was a level for punsters, and that is just as well. For what it's worth, when I read your reply to my husband, he didn't get it! Maybe he was too absorbed in channel switching among NBC, ABC and TVG to catch all the races. And he wants to get Dish-TV (we have DirecTV) so he can watch HRTV. (The non-horse racing fan can ignore this entire paragraph).

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: sciencegeek
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 02:38 PM

vlmagee, that old "chestnut" will never die.... LOL


did Dante's Inferno include a level for punsters?

another horse themed song Fred Small's Heart of the Appalosa

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: bobad
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 11:09 AM

Horse With No Name

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: vlmagee
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 11:04 AM

Didn't realize my cookie was gone. I take credit for the above message ...

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 11:01 AM

Was he Upset?

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

Another song about horses: Tennessee Stud

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: Peace
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 02:41 PM

:-)

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 02:12 PM

He mighta doubled down on the next few and ended up ahead of the game...   quit too soon, I'd say.

:-)

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: Peace
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 02:06 PM

My grandfather bet on Man of War once; it was the only race he ever lost.

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 01:31 PM

You might look for a whisp of him in the Wood this coming Saturday in New York. "Keyed Entry" is by the Irish-stallion "Honour and Glory" by "Relaunch" by "In Reality" who is in turn inbred three-by-three to Man O' War's grandson "War Relic".

If "Keyed Entry" gets the Wood, watch for the old hardboots ta start noddin' to each other 'bout the first Saturday in May and this direct male-line descendent o' Man O' War.   

Where'd I put that thin billfold o' mine?

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: Snuffy
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 03:46 PM

Creeping Jane

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: sciencegeek
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 11:54 AM

Well, we could try to slip in Galway Races. he..he

My poor brain is suffering "oldtimers" and I'm stuck on the name of a song that was written for a grey race mare.

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 10:32 AM

Stewball.

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: sciencegeek
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 09:14 AM

And a grand racehorse he was! He was named Man O' War because his owner,Riddle, served in the navy - I believe he was on a destroyer -but don't quote me on that. The nautical names continued on in his offspring & descendants - like War Admiral, Battleship and Seabiscuit.

I don't know of any song written about him, but other race horses - Standardbreds and Throughbreds have had songs written in their honor. That could be a challange - list songs written about horses. Anyone game for that?

Subject: Happy! - Mar 29 (Man O' War)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 08:11 AM


Happy Birthday!

Man O' War was born 3/29/1917
(d1947)

          "Are you a man-o-war or a privateer?" said he,
  
                  "High Barbary," Child #285

(Ok, it's thin.)

Early warning notice: This series of the Happy File noncontinues beginning April 16.
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