I Hope Yogi and Frank D are Right

[richiebee]

I will venture to the Spa this weekend, though I must admit that it pains me to
attend the races at Saratoga in any month other than August.

Frank D., a great source of local knowledge and history, assures me that the
Labor Day weekend is peaceful and laid back. (I think it was great that Frank
revealed the truth behind his fascination with the weather in a recent post; will
enjoy comparing notes on who the best off track QBs and running backs were
throughout history).

I am hoping that closing weekend is kind of like the popular restaurant Yogi
Berra once described by saying: \"Nobody goes there anymore. Its too crowded.\"

Looks like a 30% chance of showers Saturday and Sunday, though I will defer to
Frank for a more accurate report. Hard to imagine any scenario where races come
off the turf on the last weekend of the meet, but nothing NYRA does anymore would
surprise me.

Looking forward to renewing old acquaintances (I think my favorite Jesuit
handicapper, NC Tony will be in attendance). Jimbo: making an encore appearance?
Counting on Michael D. for a couple of live bombs, and after a match of driver\'s
licenses to ascertain age, I am hoping to buy Dr. Billy M a few drinks (or
allowing him to help empty my cooler).

[TGJB]

I have found Labor Day weekend to be the best one, hands down. Late post Friday, lots of surprisingly good music on the street, easy to get in to eat anywhere. Going up Thursday night, I\'ll do seminars Sat and Sun, don\'t know about Monday yet.

[moosepalm]

TGJB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have found Labor Day weekend to be the best one,
> hands down. Late post Friday, lots of surprisingly
> good music on the street, easy to get in to eat
> anywhere.


Ditto to that.  Was always my favorite Spa weekend, but life with a teenager has a way of disrupting priorities, so it\'s not currently an option.  It\'s a relatively tranquil weekend in the world\'s most \"civilized\" town.  Good luck to all who attend.

[NoCarolinaTony]

Sir Richard!!

Yes I am on way up there tomorrow around 3pm! Am bringing my sticks as well. Just finished third in our club championship golf tournament with a back to back 76\'s from the BACK TEE\"S, not bad for an old man.....

Anyway, am on my way there and looking forward to handicappin and anyone who seeks a golf game.

Can\'t wait to be there!!

NC Tony

[shanahan]

NoCarolinaTony Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sir Richard!!
>
> Yes I am on way up there tomorrow around 3pm! Am
> bringing my sticks as well. Just finished third in
> our club championship golf tournament with a back
> to back 76\'s from the BACK TEE\"S, not bad for an
> old man.....
>
> Anyway, am on my way there and looking forward to
> handicappin and anyone who seeks a golf game.
>
> Can\'t wait to be there!!
>
> NC Tony


Hey, NCT - there you are!  I referenced you the other day - just hd back surgery three wks back and know you went through some back pain  a while back...wish I could join the group, but going to STL to bail out the Cards and get that bandwagon back on track (or else to celebrate our 28th anniversary with friends depending on your point of view)...see you at Keeneland?

[NoCarolinaTony]

Right now KEE is in the plans opening weekend and the last two weekends of their meet as of right now. If I could get there more, I will.

There\'s a lot of catching up to do. Been playing a lot of golf this year, and the work is paying off...in more ways than one... just play better when it counts and its for money...I focus more...

Not doing the Handicapping tour circuit much any more...just not enough hours in the day to do that the right way, and play golf, and to be honest, I soured on much of that tour crowd. A lot of great people mixed in with a bunch of other insignificant people who thought there were more relevant.... (let me choose my words wisely).

Anyway, lets get together for sure this time!!

NC Tony

[richiebee]

Don Antonio:

If you are pairing 76s from the tips,its more likely that I will be looking for a
lesson than for a game. I think even board golf purist Flighted Iron will agree that
is quite an accomplishment for an old man with a bad back.

(Speaking of which, it seems as if Freddie Couples went to Germany for some blood
doping to fix his ailing spine before winning the Senior Players Championship a
couple of weeks ago.)

Have a safe trip up and I\'ll be looking for you at the seminar on Saturday.

[FrankD.]

Richie,

It\'s looking like a full complement of degenerates for the weekend which should be interesting ? Friday\'s twilight card and Saturday look great weather wise Sunday and Monday not so much at this point.

I\'m ending my semi boycott of the sub quality NYRA product for the final week simply due to withdraw from gambling for the past 5 days !!! The calendar is clear and I\'m hoping to go 6 for 6 in the final week in live attendance.

Travel wise you guy\'s coming from the south are fine once you get past exits 15 & 16 on I-87. Not the case at all moving about the capital region with many roads closed and bridges out. Several areas are still without power and we ran into I-90 being closed from exits 34A-25A on Monday coming back from Michigan. After 9 hours in the car the last hour and half of the trip took 5 hours on Route 5 and back mountain roads.

Good luck,

Frank D.

[Topcat]

FrankD. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Richie,
>
> It\'s looking like a full complement of degenerates
> for the weekend which should be interesting ?
> Friday\'s twilight card and Saturday look great
> weather wise Sunday and Monday not so much at this
> point.
>
> I\'m ending my semi boycott of the sub quality NYRA
> product for the final week simply due to withdraw
> from gambling for the past 5 days !!! The calendar
> is clear and I\'m hoping to go 6 for 6 in the final
> week in live attendance.
>
> Travel wise you guy\'s coming from the south are
> fine once you get past exits 15 & 16 on I-87. Not
> the case at all moving about the capital region
> with many roads closed and bridges out. Several
> areas are still without power and we ran into I-90
> being closed from exits 34A-25A on Monday coming
> back from Michigan. After 9 hours in the car the
> last hour and half of the trip took 5 hours on
> Route 5 and back mountain roads.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Frank D.


Sounds like I\'ll be lucky, coming from my direction . . . Northway good? Any problems within SS, per se?

[FrankD.]

Topcat,

No problems in town at all or on the northway.

Fast & Good today both rails at 0 feet, look for the good inside trips on the fresh part of the turf courses. Heavily used from the 4 path out may not hold up well at all and some rain coming tomorrow.

Good luck,

Frank D.

[miff]

\"Alot of great people mixed in with a bunch of other insignificant people who thought there were more relevant.... (let me choose my words wisely)\".

Hi Tony,

Several friends that follow the tour expressed the same sentiment re the contest. Good to hear all is well.


Mike

[Flighted Iron]

Richiebee,

Only if one loves the game would they never get tired of the following.
 
Ben Hogan interview 1989 via youtube.com



mjs

[NoCarolinaTony]

Mike,

Are you coming up this weekend?

Thanks for asking ... Spent a few hours at the great race place yesterday. Went 2 for 4 and broke even....(except for the beers..thought I bought a case and got a 16 oz beer...lol)

[FrankD.]

Tony,

In the spirit of being fan friendly NYRA has lowered beer prices at selected bars.
A 16 oz Coors light can is $ 6.00 but a 16 oz. Coors light draft is $3.00. Also right by the Carolina BBQ in front of the Carousel they have a stand for Heineken & Heineken light 12 oz. drafts are $ 4.00 as opposed to the 12 oz. can at $ 7.25.
The Jim Dandy bar or what was the Jim Dandy bar in the clubhouse has the same.

I hope this helps your beer budget !

Good luck,

Frank D.

[richiebee]

Frank:

I\'m stopping by the beer distributor on the way up...Should I bring Schlitz,
Piels, Rheingold or Ballantine?

NYRA funked up the Saturday card, in my opinion, putting all the turf races
in the front of the card, and leaving a late P4 which has two nice betting
races -- The Forego and The Woodward-- and finishes the card with 15K
claimers and a NYB maiden 2YO race.