A little racing love

In a lovely bit of romantic whimsy, NYRA has scheduled the Dearly Precious for Valentine’s Day this year. Though the bay filly has a pedigree that suggests romance (out of Imsodear), it was her performance on the racetrack that really set hearts racing. En route to being named champion two year old filly of 1975,…

Derby picks for charity

My picks are made, my league is created—now it’s your turn to join. We’re kicking off the second annual Derby picks for charity contest at Brooklyn Backstretch. Join the Brooklyn Backstretch league in the Road to the Roses, and the winner will have a minimum $50 donation made in her name to the racing charity…

Unreality TV

It’s a poorly-kept secret that reality television is in fact only partially that—situations and conflicts are contrived to create maximum drama and ultimate titillation, to make viewers return to see where the ugliness ends. It was something of a relief, then, that the first two episodes of Jockeys were not characterized by the manufactured antagonisms…

A miscellany of Derby thoughts

I haven’t seen Jockeys; I haven’t checked race results; I’ve no idea whether the Pick 6 at Aqueduct was hit or whether any cat horses have won, or even raced, in the last few days. A much-welcomed international visitor, a quick trip out of town, and an unequivocally fun reunion have me waking this Monday…

Monday morning quick picks

As predicted last week, the Derby prep re-runs have begun on the OTB channel, so if between now and the middle of April you miss any, just tune in to channel 71 and before too long, you’ll be able to recite the race calls along with the track announcers. Here we go… I feel a…

The aptly-named Correction

I am intrigued by this race horse, born in 1888, owned by J.A. and A.H. Morris (of the Morris Park track in the Bronx). She’s got a race named after her, to be run today at Aqueduct, and Pedigree Query calls her “the best sprint mare of her day.” But Pedigree Query’s usually extensive race…

Confessions

Bless me, readers, for I have sinned. Nothing, unfortunately, along the titillating lines of St. Augustine…but my Catholic upbringing does, on occasion, lead me to unburden that which is weighing on my soul. I can only hope that you will find my sins venial as opposed to mortal, and assign me penance and grant me…

New York Racing TV

Sitting home, Monday night, not watching the Eclipse Awards because Time Warner Cable in Brooklyn doesn’t offer TVG, not even for a price, and because I live in a co-op, a satellite dish is a non-starter. Thanks to Ray Paulick, though, I’m keeping up. I follow racing on the New York City OTB racing channel,…

Thursday morning quick picks

Thanks to everyone who sent both private and public get-well wishes for Madison—as of this morning, she seems to be feeling a lot better. She’s not quite back to her old self, but she felt well enough to put in a pick for today, and she’s much perkier than she’s been over the last few…