Gordie Howe In Remembrance… Sadness and Celebration.

 

Tears flooded out of my eyes just months ago on March 28th watching and hearing 20k+ singing happy birthday to this legend at the Joe. What a moment…even Mickey Redmond choking up.

American Pharoah Goes Out In Style with Grand Slam!

 

This horse Saturday concluded not only a career that took The Triple Crown in 2015 like a grand prize-fighter but won the prestigious Breeder’s Cup Classic in the finest fashion of any icing on a cake.

American Pharoah and that icing absolutely glowed.

It had this race tracker crying tears of pure joy. It’s what all in our industry lives for and this champion gave this sport of Thoroughbred Racing his all. He charged down that stretch like a warrior not to be denied taking with him his fans hearts. Everybody there, watching from another race track or in our living rooms felt like we were running the strides along with him.

Me I pray before a race, just come back safe, God let them all come back safe. As Pharoah made the far turn then began to open up I started yelling, open up, stay safe, open up, don’t take any bad steps. Man it was exhausting! LOL

Like Bob Baffert had said this one you wanted for the horse because he earned and deserved to go out with one more final victory. I hope to God that AP realizes how much joy he has brought to all of us, I believe he does because it was from God that this gift came to us.

The Class and Cream of the Crop.

 

 

American Pharoah Goes Wire To Wire In Belmont To Capture Triple Crown.

Pic.’s throughout blog can be clicked onto for full resolution.

 

 

 

 

When American Pharoah won the KY I did something I have never done before, not write a blog. The same with the Preakness even though when I thought he was caught but then just took off and never looked back, I said no I’m not going to write the same old. I hope, he’s got it so on and so forth. I wanted this horse to win the triple crown so bad I like every one else whose been a part of this love affair with horses through work like me or just the fans of the sport of thoroughbred horse racing…. I waited.

This magnificent horse who hadn’t lost a race since he broke his maiden was facing the biggest and grueling test of all. A mile and a half of The Belmont when no matter if you won the first two legs this last one is whether history gets made or not.

It had been 37 years. I was 21 years old when I watched Affirmed do it, his time for the race 2:26.80. Today American Pharoah did it in 2:26.65. Now whether in my lifetime I’ll ever see Secretariat’s record of 2:24.00 be broken, who knows. I’m just happy I got the chance to witness another triple crown win.

Does this horse know how happy he has made so many people and what he achieved today. I think God will convey it to him.

Secretariat’s owner Penny Chenery was at the race today, like all of us she was ready, hoping, praying another horse would be crowned. We all got what we wanted. These horses are in our blood and once in they never ever get out. Thank God.

I was also so happy for trainer Bob Baffert, this man genuinely has brought such talent to the sport. Ahmed Zayat came from money, spent a lot, lost a lot and for only being in the business 10 years I hope he knows how fortunate he is. There are some that have been in the racing game for 50 years and never won a statue of a KY Derby let alone all three legs.

As far as Victor Espinoza is concerned, I knew in 2011 when he donated 100% of a weeks winnings in S. California to help aid the health and welfare of the grooms I knew this man was pure class and had a heart of gold. His riding ability, the knack for knowing his horse and what he has underneath him, when to rate and exactly when to let go you just knew he would turn out to be the success he has become. The blessings has come full circle for him, what a ride it’s been from the chance last year with California Chrome to this one and I’m sure it will continue. What a lesson, never give up.

I do wish somebody would have thanked American Pharoah’s groom as they are the ones who spends the most time taking care of a horses every need from sun up to sun down. I know, I was a groom. Needless to say we know the contribution we make even if it’s not acknowledged. The exercise rider also needed a nod as well.

Today history was made, I felt like I wanted to drive down the street blowing my horn like when our city wins the Stanley Cup or World Series. That is what it felt like, screaming at the top of our lungs at a TV, open up, open up, open up, you got it, you got it.

LOL, my throat got sore. Yes it is that excitement and joy we all feel after waiting so long. Nothing in the world compares to it.

Jockey Jane Magrell Injured At Thistledown In Last Race Of The 2014 Meet.

 

In her last mount of the card in the 9th race Jane Magrell’s horse, 4 year-old Aggie H who finished 7th collapsed just past the wire causing Magrell to take a very hard spill and lose consciousness.

Rushed to Hillcrest Hospital it is reported that she suffered a concussion and an MRI confirmed two fractures to the neck. Thankfully upon regaining consciousness she was able to move her extremities. As of this moment no surgery is needed.

Sources close to her say she will be closely monitored and will remain hospitalized 24-48 hours if no further complications. Will be in a neck brace for some time and will need much rest.

With the grace of God she should be OK.

 

 

With a career of 11,784 starts

Thoroughbred Horse Racing Back In Metro/Detroit Friday June 27th!

I’ve made no secret how I feel about Hazel Park Raceway’s group. From the owners to their pin up boy. But make no mistake it is the Michigan Horseman’s Benevolent and Protection Association who have paid for the racing surface conversion and barn area renovation. 350 stalls ain’t much but it’s enough to get the thoroughbreds back on the track.

Pinnacle should have went on, the State Of Michigan made sure it didn’t. Again Governor Snyder RE-INSTATE our Office Of Racing Commissioner.

Again to reiterate for the millionth time.

Before the word Lottery or Casino was ever heard it was Horse Racing that generated $400 Million dollars a year for the State.

Give this Industry not only the respect it Deserves but what it has Earned.

 

Equibase

Friday’s Entries at Hazel Park.

California Chrome Injured Out Of The Gate At Belmont And There Went History.

#3 Matterhorn stepped on California Chrome out of the gate.

If you don’t think this hurt think again. This poor horse was running on three legs instead of four.

 

But all of us in the horse racing business know that anything can happen in a race. On this occasion though it is more than sad because this injury alone could have cost California Chrome history.

Imagine a chunk getting taken out your heel down to the bone. Could you run a mile and a half? or a few yards for that matter. You know these horses are made out of flesh and blood like us.

There’s no doubt in my mind that the pain this horse withstood throughout the race was horrendous. I now pray it doesn’t turn out to be a quarter crack which can get quite serious.

And say what you will about owner Steve Coburn, NBC’s antics were infuriating.

You don’t rush in just seconds after the conclusion of a race to get a comment of any owner who has just lost a race much less one that was one leg away from winning the triple crown, especially a new owner that just entered racing.

This was a dream story, a couple of non millionaires who took a shot. Yes they very well knew how the triple crown worked before hand nevertheless Coburn at the heat of that particular moment spoke strictly out of pure heartbreaking emotion and I can’t begrudge him for it.

Yes he had a point that fresh horses who hadn’t run in the first two legs didn’t to have to endure the same, but again this has always been the triple crown history that all of the past winners have had to go through and face the same.

Usually the network having these three races would focus on the winning connections not immediately go to the loser, even if they had won the first two legs. To me this was like almost antagonizing Chrome’s owner.

Equally disturbing was the furthering of the matter by Bob Costas who I thought had a lot more class, by asking the winning owner right after the trophy presentation reciting Coburn’s words of it being the cowards way out and what he thought of that?

What in the world was he expecting as a response and what purpose did it serve on the live broadcast.

NBC should be ashamed of themselves. To me totally unprofessional and classless stooping to this level.

The Belmont has always been the ultimate test, a grueling mile and a half of the horse and strategy of the jockey. To go right to the lead in this distance you had better have some gas left in the tank and have a couple of extra kicks.

Victor Espinoza once out of the gate after what occurred made the decision to rate him and with no visible hole opening up it forced him to go 4 wide. In reality after seeing the picture of Chrome’s hoof, I wonder what he would have done on all four.

In my mind he is the champion that is. Whether it was this injury or simply the added distance, California Chrome placing 4th showed he has the heart.

You cannot take the KY Derby away from him nor the Preakness and we will always wonder if this injury hadn’t happened could he have indeed won the Belmont and made history. Sadly we will never know but again that is horse racing.

Now there is only one word on my mind. The Travers.

Not that he has anything more to prove to anyone, but if Chrome has healed completely with no complications what so ever, I’d like to see him & Tonalist run this race. If for anything to ease Steve Coburn’s mind.

Again only if Chrome is 1,000% because no race is worth anything happening to this worthy noble champion.

I applaud California Chrome!

 

 

 

To Be Continued….

Update: June 9, 2014
4:50PM

Co-Owner of California Chrome Steve Coburn Apologizes. ‘Ashamed’ of Angry Rant After Belmont Loss.

Steve Coburn, the co-owner of California Chrome today reined in his disappointment over losing the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown and said he was “very ashamed” and “was wrong” for his post-race rant.

“I need to apologize to the world and America,” Coburn said today on “Good Morning America.“ “I wanted it so much for this horse to win the Triple Crown for the people of America and I was very emotional, very emotional.”
“I sincerely apologize,” he said.

California Chrome … Two Down One To Go … On To New York.

 

I began watching this race sitting, by the half mile I was standing and yelling at the TV…Gooooo…. Goooo… Goooo… Stay Safe… Goooo ….Goooo. Open Up. Then Yeah, Yeah, Yeah …across the wire and let out another scream Whew!!! Yeah Baby, Yeah! LOL

That’s a Triple Crown Race people and a horse racing lover. We dream of that moment, first leg, second leg and now the praying really begins.

This is a dream story as I stated on my KY Derby Blog.

California Chrome …. Dreams Do Come True! 140th KY Derby Winner.

 

So much for four white feet being bad luck!

 

From out of a $8,000.00 MD bred mare named Love the Chase and a $2,500 stud fee from KY bred Lucky Pulpit came a diamond in the rough. Owners Perry Martin & Steve Coburn were called dumb ass’s for having got involved. Thus Dumb Ass’s Partners were formed and are now laughing all the way to the bank, and this retired groom couldn’t be more happier for them.

As far as that goes I’m elated that Art Sherman a 77 year-old trainer who started out in the stable area as a hot walker at 18 defeated all these well-known over-rated named trainers.

Steve Coburn gave credit to his partner stating Martin knew his bloodlines. That he did. Even though California Chrome’s momma & daddy didn’t score so big you have to look a lot further down, way way further down all the way back to War Admiral whose daddy was Man O’War. Then Northern Dancer and history of that blood line, and that was just momma’s side of the family. LOL

Detroit Lions Coach Jim Schwartz Lets Clock Run Out On Season & Hopefully His Job.

Motown Monday “The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game” ~ The Marvelettes

What a befitting song for this day.

The Detroit Tigers had game 2, up 5-1 with a red hot pitcher who performed the was manager Leyland had hoped for and all of us expected. 13 KOs and hitless until the 6th inning. Max Scherzer as usual was on fire.

I will never understand the philosophy of taking this kind of pitcher out of the game. In the old days nobody was counting the pitches thrown, if they were doing good they continued until they weren’t doing good.

Denny McClain, Mickey Lolich were never pulled from fantastic pitching performances, they finished the game.

Boston didn’t win, Detroit handed them the game and there is a very distinctive difference.

Detroit’s Fowl Weather.. Red Wings Down Ducks.. On To The Blackhawks.

In more ways than one.

Thursday Thunder ~ From Boston & Americans To The World!

What an awesome moment that had tears running down my face.

Damn Right… USA

Sweep & Swept..Tigers season over.

No doubt here we’re stunned.

Sweeping the Yankee’s, a 2011 MVP & CY Young Pitcher, a 2012 Triple Crown winner but we sat on 5 days then came up flat. Nobody is sadder than the team themselves, we’re just 3+ Million fans sad with them.

But as I always say every team that plays wants it and there will only be one team that gets it. One city is celebrating and one city leaves empty. And that is the way it goes.

9 nights ago we partied on top of the world winning the AL Pennant and nothing can ever change that. The entire Detroit/Michigan were proud then and guess what WE ARE STILL PROUD now.

And that’s the way it should be.

World Series: Detroit Message to San Francisco…….

WELCOME!

 

We Have The “DETROIT DEMOLITION” For You! TIGERS SWEEP YANKEES!!

WORLD SERIES BOUND!

        R  H  E

DET  8  16  1

NYY  1   2  2 

W:Scherzer (1-0)L:Sabathia (0-1)

I Feel A Sweep & Pennant Coming On! Detroit Tigers/New York Yankees…3 Down 1 to Go to World Series.

 

Justin Verlander pitched another in classic Verlander style throwing just a two hit game into the 9th when he gave up his third being a home run to spoil the shutout. Detroit loves this guy so much we felt bad for him that he didn’t get it, the shutout that is. His spectacular performance did get him the Win, Phil Coke the save and Delmon Young came through again.

 

Biased Baseball Announcers as I said it would be. New York, New York, New York. OH TOO BAD Tigers Win First Game.

Hey Thanks to Valverde we gave you a chance you should have never gotten.

Doug Fister pitched a fabulous game.

Justin Verlander 11 K’s 4 Hit Shutout, Detroit Tigers put away Oakland to ALCS!

EDIT: THIS IS LAST YEARS. JUSTIN HERO AGAIN 2013.

This is your 2013 DETROIT TIGERS ALDS CHAMPS FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR. Click It!!!

Our 2011 MVP showed why he was the MVP by shutting out the Oakland A’s 6 zip with 11 K’s and allowing only 4 hits. And the rest of the team did what they did best, fighting hard with the bats that chased down Chicago then surpassing them at the end of the season to win the ALCD title.

Verlander surpassed Sandy Koufax 1965 strike out record of 10 and went the full nine innings to finish Oakland’s season.

“Last Minute To Play In This Period”….In Memory of Budd Lynch

Oh God will we miss you Budd.

Not only those us old enough to remember this man’s wonderful voice doing the play by play on radio as far back as I can remember (age 4 – 1961) in Detroit were saddened hearing the news of this cherished part of Red Wings history’s death, but all of the NHL hockey fans from a time when it was only the original 6.

To us Budd Lynch was Hockey!

And more importantly after radio, nobody would actually let him retire. That is how much he was loved by all. No one could fathom Red Wing Hockey without him. And I thank God generations past our parents and us boomers got the chance to continue hearing him at the Joe’ as the public address announcer. You see Budd was a Tradition as well as an Iconic Legend straight through to the end of the 2011/2012 season.

From an era even before Hockey Night In Canada started on the TV side, Budd’s voice rang out for 63 years as our announcer…. and he will never be forgotten.

God Speed to his family, friends and fans.

 

Detroit Tigers 2012 ALC CHAMPS Times Two!

I never met a team who makes me feel the way that you do…well alright.

Final	R	H	E
Tigers	6	14	1
Royals	3	9	1

WP: Porcello (10-12, 4.59)

LP: Chen (11-14, 5.07)

                                                 SV: Valverde (35)

 

And Up & Down We Go!

But we landed on Top two years in a row and hopefully we will be that ride that got stuck up in the air for the duration until we win it all. Maybe a month later only then can we all come back down.

Steam Roller Boys, Steam Roller…Take no prisoners!

Tonight We Celebrate.

Michael Phelps Dream Is Complete.

4 years ago I sat screaming at the TV every race he was in during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

I recognized from his first race in these he was actually human. I say that with a big compliment.

But I also knew before the London Olympics started he would be the most decorated olympian of all time. It was virtually impossible that it wouldn’t happen. And I have a feeling he’s not through at 19 medals.

2012 Summer Olympics ~ Hats Off To London!

Thought the music and blazing light display was spectacular. Almost like watching a 1960s psychedelic kaleidoscope flashback.

Listening to the NBC anchors talk about Paul McCartney choking up at the beginning of Hey Jude, I personally not only think he was caught up in the moment of his country’s shining moment. But since that song was written about John Lennon’s first son Julian when born, I couldn’t help thinking his mind was also on his own band-mates legacy and maybe wishing all four were still here to share that particular moment together on this grand world stage.

In any event it was a fantastic beginning and only befitting that the song was chosen so the entire crowd, all the athletes and the whole world that was watching could join into the chorus.

The British have always done things with style and this opening was no exception with Sir Paul McCartney. London Shined on the opening ceremonies.

But just one gigantic mistake, Olympic Flame should of been put high enough to be viewed outside of the stadium. As in MILES AWAY………..

So it’s “Let The Games Begin”.

 

 

I’ll Have Another “Wont”.

…another race anyway.

Actually the injury the horse sustained could have caused him to blow a suspensory and depending how severe, it could have literally ended his life. So I commend the owner to decide just to retire him rather than brining him back to race again altogether. Hey he had a horse that won the first two races to the triple crown.

I’ll Have Another ..and Another ..and Hopefully One More.

In my own fanatical horse racing fashion I stood up as I screamed at the TV ~ Go, Go, Go…Catch Him. Saturday’s Preakness was as exciting as they come, last time I stood shouting at the top of my lungs watching a race was for Zenyatta. Yesterday didn’t disappoint, yet I’ve got to admit I honestly didn’t think this race was going to be another straight out set up of the Derby between these same horses, but I don’t know why.

I’ll Have Another…I Bet You Will and Congrats to Jockey Mario Gutierrez on Kentucky Derby Win

Detroit Red Wings Make History #21 And Salute Their Fans!

Red Wings set the record Tuesday evening to a sell out crowd with 21 straight home wins that began on Nov. 5.

Shaun White “Lightening” Gets #5 Gold With A Perfect 100! Winter X Games 17

Shaun White Scores Perfect 100 to Win SuperPipe Gold

New Jersey Sports Betting is now Law. Legalizing betting on the State’s Four Horse Tracks.

BloodHorse

Aqueduct Racino Brings in $1Million to N.Y. State Thoroughbred Breeding Fund while bringing in $39 Million in Revenue to the State.

And that’s just for under 3 Months.

Aqueduct Casino Breaks $1 Million in Proceeds – BloodHorse

Justin Verlander Cy Young & MVP…. Ain’t it Sweet to be a Detroit Tiger!

1995 (age 12) in Little League.

 

2011 Cy Young & American League Most Valuable Player.