Let It Ride
Monday was a quiet day. I tried to do some housework and shopping. Laundry, dishes and cleaning the bathroom was complimented by organizing paperwork to do my taxes. I realized something else, change was coming. How would or how should I spend next Saturday.
Hialeah Park has closed for the season. The season lasted only 32 days but it was a fun. A couple of really good days handicapping. Visiting the backstretch to see how a new friends quarter horses lived and getting a live shot of horses walking in Hialeah's famous lane on their way out to the track or back to the barn was priceless.
Horses and where they live have their own atmosphere. It's smells, sounds and the people who do stuff because they like it are the background for the show that are the races and what horse racing has become.
One morning after spending some time on the backstretch I was able to see the horses working in the morning. The silence of the morning is broken only by the sound of hooves and horses breathing and the occasional whack on the rump by a jockey urging his charge to run a little faster. It is the stuff of movies and at Hialeah the morning has flamingos, palm trees and greenery that is missing at other places up north. After a gallop or a more serious workout the horses are brought back to the track entrance where they stand quietly before they go back to the barn. I imagine the silent conversation. "If you win, there will be pictures". "Please stand quietly".
Closing day was almost crowded. Music was probably as important as the races. The horses and the people that care for them would be leaving for Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Minnesota or farms in Florida. The place looked like a race track.
Next year there will probably be slot machines. That's the plan. I'm already looking forward to the day when my four legged friends come back. That's my plan.
Hialeah Park has closed for the season. The season lasted only 32 days but it was a fun. A couple of really good days handicapping. Visiting the backstretch to see how a new friends quarter horses lived and getting a live shot of horses walking in Hialeah's famous lane on their way out to the track or back to the barn was priceless.
Horses and where they live have their own atmosphere. It's smells, sounds and the people who do stuff because they like it are the background for the show that are the races and what horse racing has become.
One morning after spending some time on the backstretch I was able to see the horses working in the morning. The silence of the morning is broken only by the sound of hooves and horses breathing and the occasional whack on the rump by a jockey urging his charge to run a little faster. It is the stuff of movies and at Hialeah the morning has flamingos, palm trees and greenery that is missing at other places up north. After a gallop or a more serious workout the horses are brought back to the track entrance where they stand quietly before they go back to the barn. I imagine the silent conversation. "If you win, there will be pictures". "Please stand quietly".
Closing day was almost crowded. Music was probably as important as the races. The horses and the people that care for them would be leaving for Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Minnesota or farms in Florida. The place looked like a race track.
Next year there will probably be slot machines. That's the plan. I'm already looking forward to the day when my four legged friends come back. That's my plan.
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