real slim shady

Now where was this cool, crisp fall weather last weekend when they really needed it for the Breeders' Cup? Karma can be wicked, I guess. As for all the pontificating on holding the Cup at MP or the need to limit it to FLA or CA, I'll only add that there are two tracks that should ever host: Belmont and Churchill Downs. If the day is to truly represent a World Championship event for racing, it's not about sunshine for the corporate sponsors and track-goers, it's about offering up the fairest, most level playing field for the horses. That means real turf courses, cool weather and main tracks that run mostly fair when managed properly (CD is the concern there, of course). When you add these other tracks to the mix and their host of fairness issues it only serves to diminish the betting product, as well as the legitimacy of the championships on the line.

As for our our own stable of future champions (of the backyard), all is running well enough. Nautical Agent shipped down to Colts Neck over the weekend. We're shopping around for a spot, probably at one of the tracks in PA. Mass Romantic and Veiled Reference are training toward races in the next few weeks. Veiled Reference worked a good half in 50 1/5 on Friday and will come back at 5/8ths next week in preparation for a second start mid-month.

Finally, it was only a matter of time before senior management canned me from my job as stable photographer. Wendy, from the Great Lake state, didn't help my cause with these additional photos from her day out a week or so back. Let that serve as a reminder of why you never turn your back on a Wolverine, people. Photos are quite good, so this is probably for the best in the long-term, I know.