Opinion

Looking at horses at Keeneland January. Frigid. Ball point pens are frozen, they indent on the page but don’t write. The horses walk like they’re made of popsicle sticks. Heaters roar from the aisles of the barns. The wind whips, biting. Like a Jack London short story, you know the one, “To Build a Fire.” … Read more

It is the best of runs, it is the worst of runs…the Christmas Day run in Birmingham, Alabama. The best because of the optimism, the annual re-setting of life’s goals that Christmas brings, I promise to get fit, promise to write more, promise to be a better man. I believe it for a day. The worst because of the egg casserole this morning, the bottles of Stella Artois last night, the overall gluttony of the season and the hills in every direction. I feel like I’m dragging a blocking sled behind me. I haven’t run in months, that’s an annual plight, somehow caught up with year-end tasks and done in by year-end pessimism. My weight has gone up and my desire has gone down, I’ve been here before.

Allen Jerkens pushed his chair back after two hours of talking and eating, a March dinner coming to a close. The Hall of Fame trainer picked the time and place, which comes with three guarantees – early, Italian, close to the track. Like at every dinner with Jerkens, 83 at the time, conversation leapt from insights … Read more

One day left in the temporary six-month rental that turned into the rental for more than eight and the place is littered with stuff.

Frigid. Snowy. Bleak. Dark. That’s how I have described Woodbine so far. Eagle Poise doesn’t seem to mind. Alert, enthusiastic and under three blankets at 6:30 this morning, the 7-year-old veteran makes his return to Woodbine, in the Valedictory today, scheduled to go off at 2:26. He’s run in the mile and three quarter gem … Read more

Sorting through books, newspaper clips and other research materials on people, places, horses, races, and other happenings from the 1930s, ’40s, ’50s and ’60s proved most interesting earlier this year and again these last few weeks.

Strange week. Snow days and birthday parties. Cold horses and dedicated help. First the snow. You know it’s coming. Know the ramifications when it does come. The newscasters who stand on plowed street corners and interview spinning motorists and puffing shovelers should come to the farm, we’ll give them some insight and color. And drama. … Read more

Just finished writing a feature for Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred about Paddy Young winning his fourth championship. At 37, Young is winding down a stellar career. He became the first four-time champ since John Cushman won four in a row in the early 80s. At 43 – and 13 years removed from my riding career – I’m amazed … Read more

With minutes to go before the 12:50 at Newbury Saturday, there’s a false start in the 12:45 at Towcester. I push away from my lap top, mutter and stammer. Yes, I’m cursing a false start 3,524 miles away. My mother, father and wife look at me, a combination of disdain and wonder. They have no … Read more

Happy Thanksgiving. The house is quiet, the only sound coming from water filtering through Charles’ fish tank, the only light emanating from my lap top. Hot tea brewed, steeping next to me. A horse ambles across the front field, I can’t see who it is, doesn’t matter as long as he’s ambling and not running. … Read more