Longshot's Blog

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Brendan Hansen (L), Aaron Peirsol (C)  Michael Phelps (R) and Jason Lezak (bottom) as the U.S. team wins the men's 4x100m medley relay.

From right: Aaron Peirsol, Jason Lezak, Brendan Hansen and Michael Phelps

Yesterday Michael Phelps won by 1 one hundredth of a second for Gold. 

Tonight Dara Torres misses by the same to take the Silver.

WINS SILVER IN 50m-FREESTYLE

(L-R) Silver medallist Dara Torres of the U.S., gold medallist Britta Steffen of Germany and bronze medallist Cate Campbell of Australia show their medals after the women's 50m freestyle swimming final

Dara Torres celebrates winning the silver medal in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay.

From left, Christine Magnuson, Rebecca Soni, Natalie Coughlin and Dara Torres, react after winning the silver medal in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay.

Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni, Christine Magnuson and Dara Torres.

It is only fitting that 39 years ago today ( on the third day ), a Sunday. That Joe Cocker took the stage at Woodstock and sang his Signature song. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS.

You can hear him clearly on the video posted, saying from   " ME FRIENDS ".  And it was Phelps Friends and Teammates swimming their hearts out to win the WORLD BREAKING EIGHTH GOLD MEDAL FOR PHELPS. He couldn't have done it without them, and without his third leg to put U.S.A in the lead, so once again Jason Lezak could take it all HOME. They couldn't of won without him.

Alone and with the rest. Michael Phelps dream has been accomplished. And his teammates rode the wave all the way to the shore with him. All of them will be apart of HISTORY. EQUALLY & DESERVEDLY.

The same said for 41 year old Dara Torres.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS PEOPLE.

May there spirit live on for everyone to stride for their best.

Champions in Sport, Champions in Life............................

RIDE IT, FEEL IT, LIVE IT. AND BE HAPPY DOING IT.

The all-time most successful Olympian

14Th career gold.

What would you think if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not to sing out of key.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
How do I feel by the end of the day,
(Are you sad because you're on your own?)

No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody
I need somebody to love
Could it be anybody
I want somebody to love.

Would you believe in a love at first sight
Yes, I'm certain that it happens all the time
What do you see when you turn out the light
I can't tell you but I know it's mine,

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody
I just need someone to love
Could it be anybody
I want somebody to love.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
With a little help from my friends.

PHELPS....58.8

CAVIC.......58:9

PHENOMENAL.

In a Horse race, THAT WOULD BE A PHOTO FINISH.

Placed first by the head bob, a Swimmer by a FINGER NAIL.

MAN OH MAN, WHAT A FINISH.

THIS MAN IS TRULY UNBELIEVABLE.

First of all I watched this one at Greek Town Casino. When people found out this race was about to begin, players headed for the T.V.'s. We just happen to be by the East Entrance. Great Plasma T.V. 's there. At the final moments of the race, NO ONE thought he was going to win. When a guy standing behind us started yelling CLOSE, CLOSE, CLOSE, HE'S CLOSING.   Hell I thought i was watching a HORSE RACE!

When they touched we all let out a OOOOOOOOOOOOH.

Then the screen lit, UNITED STATES 1. You could litterally hear a roar throughout Greek Town with people cheering and clapping. It was awesome. Michael Phelps has lit a FIRE under everybody this Olympics. We all watched as they replayed the finish over and over. At first we all said, I DON'T KNOW?

Serbia's swimmer already had his hands out in front of him reaching for the wall. Phelps hadn't yet extended his over his head. We wondered HUH? Then they showed it at 10 different angles. This guy with what seems to be his 6 feet long arms came over his head with Serbia's guy still reaching but not yet touching the wall. Phelps hands looked like his fingers came down almost onto the wall. Angle after angle, we said NO, Yes, No, Yes. Then one final SLOW MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. All of us said YES, HE DID. They showed that particular slow mo, 5 or 6 times. And it did look like Phelps indeed touched that wall first.

15 minutes later I returned to the T.V. and saw Serbia had protested the race. But after an appeal, NO GO. They touch an electronic pad. That's how it is determined. Michael Phelps in the most Dramatic Race of his life touched that wall that looked IMPOSSIBLE and won his 7 Gold Medal of the Games, tying Mark Spitz's records. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew.

I didn't think anything could top the relay race when we beat France. I WAS WRONG. Tonights race Equalled that Drama, and just as Intense. Probably because it was the 7th Gold for him, and he needed it to go for the 8th Saturday night  to break the record.

Lord Knows Michael Phelp's has a guardian angel down here looking out for him, and PUSHED HIM FROM THOSE BIG FEET TO HIS LONG ARMS AND FINGER TIPS TONIGHT. He accomplished tonight what had looked absolutely impossible in the last seconds and strides of that race. It was as a Magical  Moment as your going to find in these games. YOU DID IT MICHAEL.

YOU DID IT, NUMBER 7.

REST WELL FOR YOUR EIGHTH. MAY ALL OF THEM REST WELL, AND COME TOMORROW TO SHARE IN THE MAKING OF HISTORY. THEY DESERVE IT. MAY GOD BLESS THEM IN THEIR QUEST.

TOMORROW WITH THE HELP OF YOUR FRIENDS AND TEAMMATES, YOU'LL HAVE A RECORD BREAKING EIGHTH.

AND HOW ABOUT 41 YEAR OLD DARA TORRES.

She will have the top starting position for the finals of the 50-meter freestyle after posting the fastest time in today's semifinal heats. 24.27

GO GET THEM DARA!

ALL OF THEIR DREAMS COMING TRUE.

BLESS THEIR HEARTS.

Cesar Cielo of Brazil cries on the podium after receiving his gold medal for the men's 50m freestyle.

Rebecca Adlington of Britain celebrates after winning the women's 800m freestyle.

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe wins Gold for women's 200m backstroke and set a world record.

Bronze medallist Maria Kristin Yulianti of Indonesia poses on the podium after the women's singles final badminton match.

An emotional Zhang Ning of China kisses her gold medal during ceremonies for the women's singles badminton.

Sayaka Hirano of Japan celebrates winning their women's team bronze medal play-off table tennis.

Tomorrow there will be more smiles and tears of joy. But for tonight the Dreams have not come while sleeping. They've come as an AWAKENING.

AND TO MARK SPITZ.

WE DIDN'T FORGET YOU, LIKE THE OLYMPICS DID. LIKE MARY LOU RETTON & OTHERS. YOU SHOULD OF BEEN RIGHT THERE, NOT TALKING VIA SATELLITE. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.

In this Aug. 28, 1972, file photo, United States' Mark Spitz, bottom, surges ahead of Great Britain's Brian Brinkley to win the fourth heat of the 200-meter butterfly event in the Olympic games swimming competitions in Munich, West Germany. Michael Phelps, also of the U.S., beat Milorad Cavic, of Serbia, to the wall to win the 100-meter butterfly Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008, tying Spitz's record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics.

HAAAAAAAA YEAAAAAAAAH TAKE THAT!

Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson ran circles around the 11 & 13 year old ineligible Chinese girls, To win The Gold & Silver. Deservedly.

RAN, FLEW, SOMERSAULTED, CARTWHEELED AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

And this is the look of SATISFACTION.

OH YEAH.

And yet another big night for Michael Phelps.

GOLD MEDAL NUMBER 6.

1st & 3rd. 200-meter individual medley

 RYAN LOCHTE: GOLD

Lochte broke the world record with a time of 1min 53. in the mens 200m backstroke.

Tomorrow these natural size 14 flippers are going to get Phelps his 7th.

WE ARE WITNESSING HISTORY IN THE MAKING.

DOESN'T IT FEEL GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHINA GOLD

  Natalie Coughlin

                                                   
                                   GOLD

And Smiles.

WE WERE NOT SUPPOSE TO WIN IN GYMNASTICS?

WHO SAID?

USA BRONZE

Aaron Peirsol GOLD

  MICHAEL PHELPS

HIS THIRD GOLD. AND TIED FOR THE MOST MEDALS EVER HELD.

And Just 5 more to go to win the most in any one games!

Margaret Hoelzer, Bronze

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YEAH!

AND THEY SAID WE COULDN'T WIN WHAT?

From Right : Kevin Tan, Justin Spring, Jonathan Horton, Joey Hagertey, Raj Bhavsar and Alexander Artemev

Jonathan Horton & Justin Spring were phenomenal on the High Bars. I am in awe of these gymnast's. The absolute strength and precision they have is just mesmerising to watch. The Rings & the rest. All I could think of while watching was, I would rip my arms right out of their sockets, Dislocate every joint & bone in my body. Split my skull wide open and DIE!

And these guys perform it like it's MAGIC. Not without some mistakes or flaws. But where they win Medals in Olympic competition, people like me sit in front of our T.V. sets to watch and wonder how they make it look so damn easy. When it's anything but.

Then there's Synchronized Diving.

And the Chinese have perfected this sport from the beginning.

My God, does anybody realize how hard it is to get two individuals to do the exact same thing, at the exact same time, in every single movement of the body? This has to be one of the most hardest sports to perfect. They all deserve medals just for the time put in for practicing these dives.

Flying, Turning, Twisting, Somersaulting, Backwards, Frontwards, Sidewards.......... on Bars, Rings, Mats, & Off Boards.

AND STICKING & HITTING the Landings & the Marks.

I am in Awe of all of them. Their discipline, dedication, & drive. They are all winners one and all.

And the Tears, Smiles, Excitement, & Triumphs are all in one Language & Race.

THE HUMAN ONE.

Russia's Natalia Paderina, left, and Georgia's Nino Salukvadze ( Whose Countries are at war ) hug and wave during the medal ceremony after the women's 10 meter air pistol final at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. Paderina won the silver medal and Salukvadze won bronze.

MAYBE WE SHOULD LET ALL THESE ATHLETE'S RUN THEIR COUNTRIES INSTEAD OF POLITICIANS.

THEN THERE MIGHT BE PEACE.

These games have that affect. Enjoy them while they last. Before all the innocence sadly returns to reality.

But for this moment. I'll enjoy all of their achievements, tears of joy, laughter, and I'll embrace their pride not only for themselves but for all of their countries as well.

With Blazing speed,

Jason Lezak swam a 46.0 anchor,  the fastest in history. In the Mens 4x100m freestyle relay. Along with Lead off man Michael Phelps, who broke the American record in the 100m free with his lead-off leg of 47.51. Then went Garrett Weber-Gale second, and Cullen Jones third.

When Lezak kicked off the wall for the last 50, I didn't think it was possible. Then he started to close like a prize Race Horse, many  I've watched in my life. I was yelling at the top of my lungs Gooooooooooooooooooo, Gooooooooooooooooooo. Now leaping off the couch, screaming Catch Him, Catch Him.

A flash of a second later they posted UNITES STATES 1, France 2, Australia 3.

I continued yelling for a solid 2 minutes. All I could think of is, UNBELIEVABLE. Just minutes earlier I was yelling for Katie Hoff to Hang On for her race. And now the Main event of the night with Phelps and his Teammates just RIPPED TO SHREDS THE WORDS OF FRANCE. WE'RE GOING TO SMASH THE AMERICANS. Something was Smashed all right, The world record of 3:24.08.

I couldn't figure out where Cullen Jones was at. I kept looking for him to join Phelps & Weber-Gale. But he wasn't ever in sight.

Only when Lezak exited the pool did we see him.

WHAT SWEET PICTURES!

KATIE HOFF CAPTURED SILVER IN THE WOMEN'S 400-meter freestyle, and there's nothing wrong with that. The shocked look on her face says it all. She had the race, like France had our guys. The replay showed the finger of Rebecca Adlington of Britain just touching a fraction before Hoff's. 

I never thought it was a disgrace to win the Silver or Bronze. One should be just as proud.

And Christine Magnuson shows her Silver in the Women's 100 meters butterfly.

THANK YOU TO ALL THESE WINNER'S. YOU LIFT UP ALL OF OUR SPIRITS WITH THE TALENT YOU POSSESS.

And for Michael Phelps, with the help of Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones, & Most of All Jason Lezak who was on FIRE in the last 10 strides.

2 DOWN 6 TO GO.

GO GET THEM!

Absolutely Amazing!

In every Olympics, there is always ONE STANDOUT. This Olympics, it is Michael Phelps. And he won his first race in GRAND STYLE. Breaking his own record.

I went out and shopped and made sure I was home in time for Michael Phelps 400-meter individual medley. And  in 4 minutes, 3.84 seconds  he won his first of hopefully many  GOLD MEDALS.  This Man brings on an excitement that makes you look forward to his next event. In fact an excitement to watch all the events. And Swimming has always been my favorite event of the summer Olympics. Actually anything to do with a pool. Diving, water polo, synchronized swimming, ALL OF IT.

And My God, let's not forget 41 year old Dara Torres who qualified for Beijing  in the 100m freestyle that was 2.47 seconds faster than her 1988 qualifier at age 21.  And who now has with the Silver she won today in the Woman's 4x100-meter freestyle relay,  10 Olympic medals and is the first American swimmer to compete in five Olympics. I will be definitely looking forward to her next race Friday ( 15Th ) in the 50m free. And I hope she FLY'S!

One thing everyone should realize about these games is, THERE ARE NO LOSERS HERE.

Medals won or not, they are all Winners. Just beating out all of their competition to get a spot on their countries teams was a feat in itself. And one thing is for sure, if you watched the men's 400 freestyle and watched Park Tae-hwan of S. Korea win the Gold. All have the same in common, their wins were earned. The hard work, the long hours of training, the patience and endurance that took years to perfect have now been achieved. Their very presence at these games made their dreams become a reality.

And Park Tae-hwan's Mother cried the same tears of Joy, that Phelps Mother cried.

We are not so much different as some think. I continue to watch ( actually flip from NBC to CBC ) as I write, and there will be many more stars to talk about in the coming days. And I for one will look forward to every single moment of them.

The last live thoroughbred race these eyes watched, was November 8, 1998.

It was a night we in the horse racing business dreaded, and in the same respect a night we just wanted to get through and over with. But in our hearts WE NEVER WANTED IT TO END. I spent the last two days of the live meet at DRC, taking pictures OF EVERYTHING. Backside, Front side, Left side, Right side, Barns, Horses, Friends, Grand Stand, Closed Mezzanine, Track, Training Track, Stalls, Tack Rooms. Friends in Mutual's, Sport Service, Club House Dining Room, Kitchen, Hot Walking Machines, Vets, Blacksmith's, Outriders Barn, Spit Barn, Backside Track Kitchen. Every single thing I felt I may never see again. I wasn't a traveler so I didn't go out of town to other tracks. Detroit Race Course was HOME. And I only lived 5 miles away. I started going to that track when I was 17 in 1974. I started working there two years later when I was 19, in the Mutual's.  After being around the place every day, I got to know a lot of Trainers and Owners. And started hot walking. The second year into that job, I met a Trainer down the shed row. A lady I still regard to this day as my Professor. She taught me to rub horses step by step. I observed her every move, and closely listened to every word. That Trainers name, Bonnie Sutherland. From the time we met, we just clicked. And I was eager to learn. The trainer I started out with just wasn't the teaching type. You'd ask him why he was doing something with a horse, and he'd reply WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT FOR? I realized that there would be nothing learned from that man. Cigar hanging out of his mouth, hell you couldn't understand him half the time. So I did my job with his stable, and watched and learned from the other down the shed row. The following year, I worked for Sutherland Racing Stable. And learned I did, FAST.

You don't get far in life thinking you already know it all, and the only sure thing I did know was, I knew NOTHING. Those horses intimidated me something horrible, I was terrified of them. Their power was staggering. So the very first thing I was taught, if you show them your scared of them. THEY BECOME VERY NERVOUS, and this will cause your worst fear to come true. Hell by the second year with Bonnie I was sitting relaxed but cautious on the stall ground, poulticing their legs.

And Picking their feet? was always fun. There was always at least one horse that absolutely refused to lift their hoof up, like they purposely wanted to aggravate you. I honestly believe that for

some, that was the highlight of their day.

So I learned, from pulling manes to wrapping up legs. I learned to spot problems by just seeing. Fluid pockets on ankles & knees, YOU SWEAT THEM. Feet & legs carrying heat, you pack and poultice them. From their blazes to thrush in their feet. That animal from head to toe is your responsibility. Trainers get the glory when horses win. Us GROOMS know better. Without us, most of the horses running would never make it to post. The label of GROOM, is like a trademark. It stands for THE CARE OF.  And we wear it with pride. Actually the Trainer is only a small part of the Horse's RUN. I'll give credit where credit is due. GROOM, EXERCISE RIDER, PONY PERSON & The Blacksmiths, are really the Horse's main Trainer's and keepers. We do all the work, while the big-shot Trainers says, jog them a mile and a half. WHOOPEE! Then get all the glory when the horse wins.

Then they're off to the track kitchen to play cards!

I never went to Great Lakes Down in Muskegon once. So there are literally people I haven't seen in 10 long years. And in that 10 years, we've lost a lot of people. There will be a lot of ghosts stirring up in the wind there Friday. This Blog in part will be to their Memory. I know their physical presence we will not see, but in Reality. They will be there, In our minds, hearts and memories. I always said they could build the Taj Mahal of all racetracks, something as beautiful as Hialeah and as prestigious as Church Hill downs. But for 99.9 % of us that are at Pinnacle Friday. Our minds and hearts will still be at a track no longer in existence. The DETROIT RACE COURSE.

I always hoped and wished that Jerry Campbell would of re-named the new track just that. But Pinnacle he chose, instead of a DRC we'll have a PRC.  For the people that have been out of the business completely like me, and there are many others. Friday the emotions will be running high. I worked with my last horse two years after DRC closed, on a farm and that was that. I along with a thousand others have prayed for this moment that will come Friday. And personally I know when I see the very first race run, my thoughts will also be on the very last day of DRC. And how ALL of us felt that night. I watched grown men cry, I'll never forget Bob Gorham up in the clubhouse grandstand wailing as he watched the last horse he had entered run that final race. I won't forget snapping a picture of Bo Wade, with the tears in his eyes. And I'll never forget how everything at that moment seemed final. All of us went without sleep for a week before that final night. We cried silently but yet with that still last glimmer of hope that somebody would save us, and the track we loved that we called HOME.

DETROIT RACE COURSE wasn't just something that was, it is something for us that  will always be. But now we have a new home, and God knows it will take years and years to build up a feeling that matched what DRC stood for, for us. And with the many faces that will be missing, our joy will be mixed with sadness for our friends and co-workers that didn't live to see this day come. Our hearts will be heavy. For those of you that will read this blog, you'll probably say. Damn it's just another racetrack. And I'll say to them, no it is our LIVES COMING BACK TO US. Our livelihoods, our friendships, our sweat, blood, joy & souls coming together again. It's something only Horse People can identify with. Today is a beginning again. Will I be able to once again do what I did for a living for what seems so long ago? The answer is I honestly don't know. My bones are riddled with arthritis, and at times I'm downright in excruciating pain.

Though My Heart will say, YES.  I'll really have to see which one wins out. Mentally I'm a strong as I ever was, physically not so much anymore. But a funny and strange phenomenon happens when your will wants something so much. Friday the Thunder returns, on the Track and in our Hearts. And with it our Prayer will have been answered.

To our old friend that will never leave us, and for those we've lost that won't be in eye's view Friday. We will keep your Memory Alive, Always.

Don Lovell, Dennis Schofield, Clare Purdy, Bobby White, Richard ( Buckwheat )Strauss, Dewey Morris, Bill Thorne, Farid Sefa, Lonnie Winters, John Foggiono, Roland McMaster, George Maker, Bill McNerney, Ed Tripp, Beverly Karcher, Bob Miller, Charles White, Richard White, Ernestine Ruffin, Julius Venegar, Thomas ( Doc ) Burlew, Paul Raddack, Sidney King, Mibs & Scotty Carroll, Willis Vandevere, Willie Foote....................... And unfortunately many others. But they will have the Best View in the house. Up in Heaven. ( Well maybe a few will have to look up, LOL )

AND NOW FOR THE NEW.

IT'S FINALLY ONCE AGAIN,

POST TIME.

AND HOW SWEET IT IS.

THANK YOU,

JERRY CAMPBELL. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF ALL OUR HEARTS.

WE ARE INDEED HOME AGAIN.

STANLEY IS BACK WHERE IT BELONGS!

HOCKEY TOWN U.S.A. DETROIT, MICHIGAN

2008 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!

 YEAH BABY, BACK WHERE YOU BELONG!

A FIGHTING MAN!

THANK YOU MR.& MRS. IILITCH FOR NEVER GIVING UP ON DETROIT!

YOU FINALLY GOT IT DALLY!

 OZZIE

OZZIE, OZZIE!

JUST GOES TO SHOW, YOUR NEVER TOO OLD !

DIDN'T GET ALL, BUT

THESE PICTURES WILL PROBABLY ALL DISAPPEAR. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW.

THESE ARE OUR DETROIT RED WINGS. AND IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!

THANK YOU FOR A BEAUTIFUL SEASON!

I've been workin'
I've been workin' so hard

I've been workin'
I've been workin' so hard

I come home
I'll make-a love to you
I'll make-a love to you

I've been grindin'
I've been grindin' so long

I've been grindin'
I've been grindin' so long

Been up the thruway, down the thruway
Up the thruway, down the thruway
Up, down, back and up again

And I said
Woman, woman, woman, woman
Woman, woman, woman, woman

At the end of this game tonight, this is all I could think of. A Bob Seger cover of this song. MAN O MAN. It Should of been over with a half a minute left in the third, Ice it, get rid of it. JUST CLEAR IT OUT OF THE ZONE!

But it's easy to do commentary when your not the ones with the skates on, doing all the work.

It was an exhausting night for both the Red Wings and their DIE HARD FANS. Only because we love them so much and wanted to see them win. But I'm sure not as much as THEY DID.

So instead of Monday Motown Madness, we will instead have WEDNESDAY NIGHT MOTOWN MADNESS,  OR SATURDAY NIGHT. As long as they get it done. The officiating again was a joke tonight. In old time hockey, NO WAY in the world would a sudden death overtime period draw a penalty. You would literally have to slam a stick over a head, AND SPLIT THE HEAD WIDE OPEN. To get a call. Not these days. Does anybody check to see if the officials have any bets going down?

Just wondering?

We are still going to win, cheap penalties and all. GUARANTEED.

LET'S GO RED WINGS!

I HOPE!

I hear the pitter patter of a BIG STANLEY CUP

COMING.  

And it's going to be ALL OURS!

LETS GO RED WINGS!      

SHUT OUT NUMBER TWO.

IT IS OURS!

AND WE'RE TAKING IT BACK !

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN STYLE!

WE CAN SEE IT,

WE CAN SMELL IT,

WE CAN TASTE IT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHAx7KpcEas&feature=
related

     L

        O

              L                                                    
               

COULD OF FOOLED ME.

How about Older, More Seasoned & Experienced.

Funny our guys were running circles around the Penguins.

Pittsburgh was no match for our RED WINGS. NOT EVEN A CLUE.

We blew them off the ice tonight, and will again Monday night. And for all the goals the officials literally STEAL from us, we'll shove 4 more down both your and Pittsburgh's throats. Who would you choose? Flightless birds that can only waddle from one place to another slowly? Or ones that can TAKE OFF AND SOAR TO GO ANYWHERE THEY WANT!

5-0 BLOWOUT!

SHOVE THOSE ZEBRA'S WITH WHISTLES!

LETS GO RED WINGS !

I predict nothing. I just pray they all return to their stalls safe and sound.

Everybody in Horse racing looks forward to this day. All of the Horsemen ( and included in  this description of Horsemen,  a Woman means Horsemen as well) &  the fans of the sport.

I didn't go to the track to watch this race, my boyfriend went with my bets. I stayed home to watch it in the comfort of our living room. I liked Eight Belles from the the time I heard she was being entered in the race. Entered in both the Oaks & Derby, Scratched from the Oaks to run with the boys. She ran in the most Prestigious Race in horse racing  history.  THE KENTUCKY DERBY. AND SHE RAN HER HEART OUT. As I sat watching the race unfold, I knew that Big Brown had done what he needed to do at the start of this race. He didn't bolt out trying to clear the entire field, had he the race would of ended for him right there. Kent Desormeaux ran a perfect race, BUT??????????????????????????????  So did Gabriel Saez . Eight Belles was in the race from the start, being rated perfectly.    At the top of the stretch when Big Brown made his move, so did Eight Belles. In reality I wanted her to kick his a**. I mean a Filly that can not only run with the boys but beat them? Hell yes. I was literally screaming in my living room, GO BABY, GO. Catch him!  Big Brown opened up like the big horse he is, but Eight Belles ran the race of her life. And second in the Derby? And only beaten by 5 lengths. She beat Dennis of Cork by 5 lengths as well. At the end of the race I leaped from the couch yelling SHE RAN HER HEART OUT, SHE RAN HER HEART OUT, SHE RAN HER HEART OUT. Called my boyfriend who couldn't really hear me from all the people at the track. But I tried to yell over the phone, WHO CAME IN SECOND BABY? Who came in second. Didn't I tell you that Filly would be there, she ran her heart out. He couldn't really hear so we ended the call.

Still smiling from ear to ear with tears welled up in my eyes, the unbelievable happened. The Announcer came out and said there a problem with Eight Belles, she appears to have sustained an injury. Then the camera went to her laying on the track. I Screamed NO, NO, NO. It can't be. She just ran her heart out, it can't end up like this. The tears of Joy I had,  suddenly turned to saddening crying. Jus