Keeneland’s fall meet has come and gone.
Box fans, rubber matts, webbings and brush boxes line each corner of the stable area this morning. Crossing guards fiddle with their phones, there are few horses coming and going on a sleepy Sunday morning. Larry Jones, still hard at it, rides one home. The track kitchen’s lights are on, a few hunched over hungry men and women fuel for the day. A tall man and a short woman take down the gift shop, hangars in one pile, hooks in another, the merchandise put away for next year.
And, no, we still haven’t won a race at Keeneland. Eagle Poise’s second in the 2013 Sycamore, Motivational’s fast-closing third this spring and some healthy checks on Pinkie Swear and Master McGrath in the Royal Chase are still the highlights. Motivational ran well, finishing fifth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths for everything in a tough nine-furlong allowance Friday. Nine furlongs – he needs 18 furlongs. Cool horse. Tough spot.
I’m on my way home. If I hurry, I can get home to throw a ball for Miles. Or, at least, read about Marquis de Lafayette.
