Unintended Consequences
Scrubbing feed buckets, helping around the backside, trips to the racing secretary's office for the past performances and watching horses work and jockeys ride on cool mornings was a plan. My jockey and trainer friends: Shanley, Matt, Randy, Dale seemed happy almost every morning. By the time I got to the track, there were horses out on the walkers, having a bath and some of the really early risers were already back in their stalls. If possible I would try to arrive so I could see "our horses" out on the track. I always took a little ribbing for sleeping in but if I brought doughnuts or bagels it was forgiven if not forgotten.
By December most of the horses knew the routine, they had been to other tracks. Hialeah was the last stop before most horses got a rest and the carnival went to Texas, Oklahoma, or Louisiana in March. Walk quietly out to the track, warm up, gallop, or really run. Come back to the winners circle stop and then walk back to the barn for a bath and some quiet time in the stalls. This was the routine but there were always exceptions.
Spending almost the entire day in a stall when you are a big animal can make any trip to the track for some exercise a big deal. If it was a relatively cool crisp morning some horses like to play around. They might buck a little or just test they guy who was riding them by questioning every command, or sometimes it was a errant flamingo, parrot, or fox that might make them take off to parts unknown and the rider scrambling. This is dangerous and while horses and riders can get hurt, usually it is just part of the morning routine that everyone hopes doesn't happen to their horse(s).
By 10:30 am the Jockey Cafeteria was full. Agents were lining up rides for their clients, the track was closed for maintenance, and those that did not have to make weight were having breakfast, after breakfast there was more chores, or in my case finishing the breakfast burrito and a few words with the cook to hear if he had any hot tips or tidbits to share.
The races started at 1:00 pm, lasted till about 5:00 pm. Then after walking from a bar stool to the saddling area between races I got on the train for a forty minute ride and another fifteen minute walk.
back home.
This year the track owner and the horseman can't agree on much of anything and the result is December 2016 was kind of a drag. It went creeping into the past. Slow motion, and still waiting for something to happen isn't really a plan. I found myself watching the TV more, walking less, eating more and with time on my hands because the horses have not returned to Hialeah yet.
By December most of the horses knew the routine, they had been to other tracks. Hialeah was the last stop before most horses got a rest and the carnival went to Texas, Oklahoma, or Louisiana in March. Walk quietly out to the track, warm up, gallop, or really run. Come back to the winners circle stop and then walk back to the barn for a bath and some quiet time in the stalls. This was the routine but there were always exceptions.
Spending almost the entire day in a stall when you are a big animal can make any trip to the track for some exercise a big deal. If it was a relatively cool crisp morning some horses like to play around. They might buck a little or just test they guy who was riding them by questioning every command, or sometimes it was a errant flamingo, parrot, or fox that might make them take off to parts unknown and the rider scrambling. This is dangerous and while horses and riders can get hurt, usually it is just part of the morning routine that everyone hopes doesn't happen to their horse(s).
By 10:30 am the Jockey Cafeteria was full. Agents were lining up rides for their clients, the track was closed for maintenance, and those that did not have to make weight were having breakfast, after breakfast there was more chores, or in my case finishing the breakfast burrito and a few words with the cook to hear if he had any hot tips or tidbits to share.
The races started at 1:00 pm, lasted till about 5:00 pm. Then after walking from a bar stool to the saddling area between races I got on the train for a forty minute ride and another fifteen minute walk.
back home.
This year the track owner and the horseman can't agree on much of anything and the result is December 2016 was kind of a drag. It went creeping into the past. Slow motion, and still waiting for something to happen isn't really a plan. I found myself watching the TV more, walking less, eating more and with time on my hands because the horses have not returned to Hialeah yet.
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