Afleet Alex was the first horse I followed all year round. I was at Saratoga for his Sanford and Hopeful, and I watched every race on his road to the Kentucky Derby, the first time I had ever watched racing in the winter. I had my birthday party on the day of his remarkable, unfathomable Preakness and…
2004-2005 was the first year that I paid attention to horse racing year round. I’d spent much of the summer of 2004 at Saratoga, and I developed my first major horse crush, on Afleet Alex. I was there for his Sanford. I think I bet him, but in memories like this, we always do, don’t…
In no particular order, racing bits that have recently amused me: Day of the Kitten at Belmont on Friday afternoon—and race 4 had “hunch bets” written all over it for me: three Kitten’s Joy offspring (Raise the Kitty, Lisa’s Kitten, Jill’s Kitten) and an Afleet Alex filly. Unfortunately, they were all blown off the track…
The folks at Backstretch Employee Service Team contacted me today to say that NYRA has donated 5,000 Curlin t-shirts to BEST for sale at the races today. Here’s hoping that all 5,000 sell for their low, low price of $5, netting BEST $25,000. BEST provides a variety of services, including medical and dental care, to…
Following yesterday’s little trip back to the 2004 Belmont, here’s what I recall about Belmont 2005. I hit an early, well-paying (as I recall) exacta in the White Carnation when Judy Soda was DQ’d to second and Madonna Lily got the win. And then the rest of the card is pretty much of a blur…
I think—dare I say it—that I may be in love. I haven’t felt this way since 2004. Then, it was summer love: warm rains, summer breezes, cold beers and lemonade. Picnics, tank tops, flowers and trees in bloom. It was July 29th, and his name was Afleet Alex. Then, it was Saratoga; now, it’s Aqueduct…
Brooklyn Backstretch 