Born, like other comic book characters, out of an otherwise trivial but life-changing animal bite, the Rabid Librarian seeks out strange, useless facts, raves about real and perceived injustices, and seeks to meet her greatest challenge of all--her own life.
I'm home a little later than I planned (I was hoping to start Library of Souls) because we watched The Abominable Doctor Phibes, a Vincent Price movie from 1971 that I saw in the late '70s in school. I've celebrated Halloween, but haven't really done so for Samhain yet. So I've lit incense and many candles and I'm listening to Loreena McKennitt. I have some wine for an offering that I'll give about midnight. All in all, even though this week was crazy and there was so much to do (and I'm still not caught up at work), it was a good week, with lots of Halloween fun, a friend's birthday, and now today having some rest and relaxation with friends. We are playing the game tomorrow, so that should be fun, too. The game notes were finished days ago, so I'm in good shape there. I can't believe it's almost November. The Chicago trip will be here before you know it.
Anyway, I hope you have a great holiday, and are having a completely decent weekend. It's a busy one here in Lexington--we had the Breeder's Cup at Keeneland yesterday and today, and American Pharaoh (see post for 2 November 2015 about the name American PHAROAH) completely nailed the Classic, which is to be his last start before retiring to stud. A and I watched it, and it was breathtaking. The horse at one point, once his lead was assured, seemed to be running just for the pure joy of doing so, rather than to win. I have some mixed feelings about horse racing, but it was still exhilarating to watch.
I had not looked at the contenders for the Kentucky Derby (I'm a bad Kentuckian, I'm sure, because of it). I have to admit, I tend to like grey horses, followed by black, so I was happy to see Frosted in the running. I also like the breeding of Bolo. Finally, I like Carpe Diem's name (it means 'seize the day' in Latin). I won't rank them, but it would be nice to see one of them win. :)
The horses I picked came in 1st (California Chrome), 4th (Wicked Strong), and 5th (Samraat). Not bad, really. So glad it was a clean race and everything worked out fine. For a complete listing in order of finish, you can check out the Bleacher Report. I think if I'd placed a $2 bet on each to win, I'd have made $!0. :) Ah, well. A had Danza to win, Wildcat Red to place, and California Chrome to show, so he would have won $9 on a $2 bet. But he chose two of the horses in the top three. I think if Wicked Strong had had a little more space he might have won, so he might be one to look for in terms of the Belmont. The last time a Triple Crown winner was crowned was Affirmed back in 1978. I've visited Affirmed's grave at Darley Stud, a nearby horse farm (pictured to the right).
After the Derby we watched What Lies Beneath with Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford, which was pretty good, and now I'm home and ready for bed. Still not sure if we'll be playing tomorrow. Good night.
This dark and stormy Derby week, there is no other way to put it. These are dismal days for horse racing in North America. We once said, in the grandstands and along the backstretches, that all horse racing needed to reassert itself onto the American sporting scene was a Triple Crown winner. But the last 3-year-old colt to accomplish that task was Affirmed in 1978. And that means that a third of a century, an entire generation, has come and gone without such a champion. In the meantime, chaos. The great gaming monopoly that once was horse racing has devolved into a rudderless mess.
But once again, there will be no Triple Crown this year, as Shackleford won without ever being out of first place, while Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom came in 2nd. I would love to see a Triple Crown winner, but really, it sounds like it was another great race. And he won at 12-1 odds, too, so someone made some money there on betting. Me, I learned never to bet on horses; I suck at figuring out the right ones.
I have never been to Keeneland, Lexington's thoroughbred racetrack, nor for that matter any horse race in Kentucky. I once went to Louisiana Downs in Shreveport with my father and grandmother when I was 19. I learnt I should never bet on horses; I bet on the long-shot and the favourite to show in a five horse race. Guess which horses didn't make it?
But it sounds like today's Blue Grass Stakes was well worth seeing, as we lead into the Derby.
You must understand that horse racing is serious business in Kentucky, both literally and figuratively. And the Derby is the event of the year (akin to New Orleans' Mardi Gras, I suppose, but with mint juleps and hats). Even those who aren't fans catch the fever at Derby time. I usually try to tune in. I love grey horses, and tend to favour those, or black ones if there are no greys. They don't tend to win, of course--most horses are bays, so the odds are in their favour. But still...my favourite Derby winner was Black Gold, who won in 1924. His story was told in Marguerite Henry's book named for him. He was euthanised after breaking down four years after the Derby during a race at the New Orleans Fair Ground, and he is buried there. Despite his injury, he finished the race on three legs. A race, the Black Gold Stakes, is run at the Fair Grounds in his honour today.
Unlike many Kentuckians (and quite a few guests to our Commonwealth), I was not at Churchill Downs, or even watching the Kentucky Derby in simulcast at Keeneland, Lexington's historical track. I didn't go to a Derby party--I worked instead, but I was at a friend's house at Derby time and like no doubt millions of others, we switched the TV over to watch the most famous 2 minutes in sports.
What a run! I had gone with Dunkirk (because I like grey horses, although bays, being more prevalent, win more often), and my friend had picked him because he liked his particulars. But out of nowhere a 50-1 long shot came barreling through along the rail to win the 135th Derby--a horse bought for less than $10,000, with good breeding but not a great background in terms of races. But Mine That Bird also had an excellent jockey, Calvin Borel, whom at first I thought was French by his accent, then recognised the Louisiana accent I grew up around.
The article above is by former Lexington-Herald Leader writer Billy Reed. (The H-L only keeps their articles public for 7 days, so I found another source to link to.)
There will be no stud fee for Mind that Bird, or offspring for that matter, as he is a gelding, one of only two that have won the Derby in my lifetime.
What a run, though....I wonder how he will do (if they enter him, of course) in the Preakness and Belmont.
Didn't see the race? There is an official Kentucky Derby channel on YouTube, and they've posted a replay (and graciously allowed it to be embedded):
