2018 Road trips

[mick]

I have a few racing "road trips" planned for 2018 and wanted to post them in case other paceandcap guys/girls might be in the vicinity. If so, we could have lunch/dinner, watch a few races and make a few bets. It's always more fun with friends.

Oaklawn Park - March 23-24
Keeneland - April 18-20
Belmont - June/July ???
Hastings - August 27 or 31
Keeneland - October ???

The dates are firm for Oaklawn Park and Keeneland in April. Don E and Julia will be with me at Keeneland. If you want to join us, let me know and we'll save a place for you at the table.

I have tentatively planned a trip to Vancouver for late August and if it works out, I want to spend an evening at old Hastings. I'm also thinking about a Belmont Park trip but that might happen next year. We'll see just how much gas I have in the tank.

[mick]

I should add that if PaceandCap has another Saratoga trip in the offing for August, I will definitely be there. That's just too good to miss!

[Bill V.]

Happy travels Mick

In 2017 I made it to all but 2 of my goals
I made it to the Saratoga gathering < which was one of the best ever Pace and Cap gatherings, and of course the ultimate , The Breeders cup :)
Unfortunately I missed the Haskell at Monmouth and the Pennsylvania
derby at Parx,

I don't know if traveling is in my near future. for 2018 I would like to take a short trip to Vegas.


Happy to be up and around

Bill

[mick]

Ah, yes, Lost Wages. Only place I've ever been where they had slot machines in the airport! :D

[Lt1]

They get you coming and going lol.
Tim

[Jeebs]

I should add that if PaceandCap has another Saratoga trip in the offing for August, I will definitely be there. That's just too good to miss!

I'm game for another gathering this summer!

[mowens33]

Jeebs, Saratoga sounds good to me!

Mick, let me know if you decided to go Belmont!

Mike

[mick]

I sure will, Mike. We have a good friend there (aka Tim) who can put us on a lot of winners!

[Lt1]

Be glad to as soon as I get them from you Mick.
Tim

[darmar]

Hi Mick
My name is Darryl March aka darmar. Please keep me informed about your planned trip up to Vancouver in August. I live about 30 miles east of Hastings Racecourse and I would like meet you if you get up here this summer.
PS your Glossary is a godsend thanks for all the hard work

[mick]

Hey, Darryl.

Thanks for your reply and I will certainly keep you informed. Having never been to Vancouver, I'm looking forward to this trip and having a fellow Sartin disciple show me around would be great. As the details firm up, I'll let you know specifics.

I appreciate your kind words about the Glossary. With all the work that Ted has been doing, a revision will soon be needed.

[Ted Craven]

Mick, Darryl - greetings from ... Vancouver! Just arrived for a week of meetings in Whistler and Van. Probably not much time for socializing this trip Darryl, but we'll get together sometime soon. Alison and I are moving to the Island in a few years when she retires.

We all need to co-ordinate soon on Saratoga this year. I'll be going, for the same weekend or week as we usually do (Alabama weekend) August 18th.

Let's start a thread soon to collect this year's attendees (tomorrow, or someone else can start it!).

So not sure I can hook up with you Mick in Van in the Autumn, but let's see - maybe Alison and I will be on the Island in September. Darryl, looking forward to finally meeting you somehow, somewhere!

Cheers,

Ted

[mick]

I've just returned from 3 days at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It's an old track founded in 1904 but thoroughly modernized. The weather was mild, the sun was shining and the quality of racing very good, if somewhat unpredictable.

I lost $65 for the three days and all the damage was done on the last race on Saturday (yesterday). I was in deep on the late double, had hit the first leg and had half the field covered in the second leg. Needless to say, I didn't have enough coverage. "Bad Student" won at 10-1 and there went my double. Heck, I wouldn't have bet that horse with my ex-wife's money. Regardless, it was a good time.

There's a lot of history in Hot Springs. It was a big baseball spring training town back in the 20's and 30's. There's a marker on the sidewalk listing all the major league greats who played the ponies at Oaklawn. Not the easiest place to get to - seven hours driving from Nashville - but worth the trip.

Next month, it's back to my first love, Keeneland.

[mick]

Here are a couple of the many photos I took. A lifelong fan of baseball, I enjoyed the historical connection between baseball spring training and the picturesque old track. The new statue of American Pharoah is very striking. He began his three-year-old campaign with victories in the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby, both at Oaklawn, and went on to win the Triple Crown.

[Mitch44]

Nice pic's Mick


Mitch44

[dlivery]

Nice to hear all the great attributes.
Memories of all hall of fame horses of this great sport has been brought to the front for all us to enjoy it is just amazing.

Thank You again for your report:D

May all of your wagers be winning ones.

Lawrence

[Mr.Pagine]

Nick,

I am jealous, a I have always wanted to head to Oaklawn; especially this year, as Justify (The Derby Winner) will be there soon.

You may see me in Keeneland, as I plan to head down and meet GUN RUNNER!!

Happy Punting,
Jon

[mick]

Jon,

If you are coming to Lexington, let me know. We might be there at the same time. Also, make sure you have dinner at least one night at "Distilled at Gratz Park." It's one of my favorite restaurants anywhere.

[Mr.Pagine]

Mick,

As we creep closer to the date, I will let you know, and for sure I will hit that restaurant!!

Happy Punting.
Chat soon.

[mick]

I've just returned from four days in Lexington with our friend Don E. and his lady Julia. We had a fine time betting some difficult races at beautiful Keeneland. We also had some delicious meals. We had breakfast every morning at the Track Kitchen and Kentucky Burgoo for lunch. For dinner, we ate at Dudley's on Short, the Campbell House restaurant and Distilled at Gratz Park. If you like good food and you're in Lexington, you must eat at Distilled at Gratz Park. It's superb.

I want to thank to "rdiam" and "rmath" for their handicapping help. As tough as the cards were, we needed it.

I've attached a few photos. No need for snaps of the Keeneland track as you're seeing how beautiful the place is on TVG. The Keeneland clock is just inside the back gate where I've been coming and going for decades. The Blue Cactus Cantina is my favorite place to sit and enjoy the races. It's under the stands, out of the weather and located at the finish line. And the third shot is of Don with the thoroughbred statue in front of the Campbell House on South Broadway, which is adjacent to where we stayed.

Keeneland should be on everyone's bucket list. Not only is it a beautiful place, the people are friendly, warm and very hospitable. And then there's the bourbon ... ;)

[Mitch44]

Glad to see your checking off your bucket list Mick. Nice pic.'s. Life at its best when dreams are fulfilled.


Mitch44

[mick]

A few more pics. :)

[mick]

The road trip continues and this week I'm in New York at Belmont. This is a BIG track. Horses running down the backstretch aren't much more than specks to the naked eye. The grandstand is huge, the biggest I've ever seen. With lots of comfortable seating, good coffee, food, and fine views, it all makes for a great experience. But the best part is that I'm here with our friend Tim (Lt1). He is an excellent player and a walking encyclopedia of Sartin Methodology knowledge. Here are a few nuggets from yesterday.

1. With maiden graduates, don't consider them likely win contenders unless they're 1st or 2nd in Turn Time. (I cashed two tickets with that piece of advice.)

2. A router shortening up isn't a likely win contender unless he's in the top 2 in LP. He won't be on the lead so he has to run big late. Of course, he'll need some pace to run into as well.

3. For longer races like the Belmont Stakes, when all horses don't have those long running lines, change the race distance to 9 furlongs and select pacelines for that distance.

Here are a few pics from yesterday. My little phone camera can't begin to capture the size of this place so I scaled back my attempts to a few smaller subjects. I really liked the decorative iron work at the seating area for the paddock.

[mick]

Feasting on the minnows today. ;)

[Ted Craven]

Such a lovely couple http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/images/smilies/47.gif


Seriously - I envy you two. And you Mick, first time at Belmont with such a knowledgeable tour guide. I hope I get such a first time at Belmont some day :)


Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Leave some of the pools for the rest of us!


Ted

[mowens33]

Know that's a site for sour eyes!

See you gentlemen at Saratoga!!

Mike

[mick]

Last night I went to historic Hastings Park in Vancouver with Sartin veteran Darryl March. It was a fine evening with beautiful weather and Darryl had lots of Doc Sartin stories, which I always enjoy hearing. And I made enough to pay for dinner! :D

Hastings Park is a short track, less than six furlongs, with sharp turns. Local knowledge is important and Darryl has plenty. I was amazed at the fast first fractions these cheap claimers ran. Darryl pointed out that they had to do that to gain position on the turns. Those that were fanned wide had no chance. And in a big field, an outside post is a real disadvantage, almost insurmountable.

The setting for Hastings Park is one of the more dramatic I've ever seen. Burrard Inlet and the coastal mountains ring the track to the north and while photos never do such scenery justice, I've attached one anyway.

The best part of the experience though was hanging out with Darryl. He was pleasant and amusing with lots of wry anecdotes. And he was so helpful in getting me, my wife and our New Zealand friends to our hotel. If you haven't been to Vancouver, this is one damn big city with major traffic issues and he drove right into the heart of it to help us out. Thank you, Darryl.

Ever notice what good folks Sartin people tend to be?

[Lt1]

Glad to see you had another great time. You are right on about Sartin folks.
Tim