Radnor Hunt Races

This Saturday will find the Steeplechase afficianados tailgating in Willistown Township PA for the 80th running of The Radnor Hunt Races.This Meet raises money for the Brandywine Conservancy which preserves open space in verdant southern Chester County hunt country and beyond....a very well run and successful organization. The Radnor course...named after W. Burling Cocks, was redesigned a few years ago and is one of the best in the Country. The vantage points from all over the course afford great views and the Jumbotron picks up what the binoculars cannot.
There are 2 major races in this Meet: The National Hunt Cup and The Radnor Hunt Cup.

For the National Hunt Cup my money will be placed on Nationbuilder. This 6 year old Gelding won The Queens Cup in NC last month and while I am not really familiar with the Jockey...I think this big boned Timber Jumper has the speed and stamina to win on this demanding course. Left Unsaid,ridden by Ross Geraghty, will likely be another favorite and it will be interesting to see how the Punters make odds for this leg of The Sport of Kings Series. With a $ 50,000.00 Purse, be sure none of the Jockeys will be leaving anything in the tank.
Next, in The Radnor Hunt Cup,I have to again look to South Monarch. This horse was featured in a prior post and did win at Winterthur and also bested a class field at My Lady's Manor in Maryland. With the experienced and talented Jody Petty on board, I see this as a lock. This pick will not make money with bets at the Punter's easel...but you could sweep a nice pot at a tailgate betting pool.
Friday evening before the races, my wife and I will be attending the Wildflower Ball. This Black Tie Hunt Ball is held at the Radnor Hunt Clubhouse and is always a splendid night. Attended by major fundraiser/sponsors,trainers, Stable owners, and Club Members,it is a great equestrian group...the food, band and free flowing booze do not suck either. The real trick at this function is to maintain composure and not on-load too much in the way of Spirits...else the pounding head and booze-malaise can be vexatious during the following day of tailgating and racing.
When the races are over, those favored with an invite can watch the Preakness at a party under the Stewards Tower on the course finish line. This gig offers yet another open bar...yeah like I'll need it after 5 hours of Tailgating. Nevertheless, we always manage to persevere and knock back a few last drinks in honor of the events at Pimlico.
The photos in this post are courtesy of Jim Graham Photography...but I did sneak in a shot of one of my Daughter's horse shows.
Sunday will find me back at the helm of my Lacrosse team...coaching the kids in a late afternoon game against Radnor. Cheers and Jockeys up....

Playoff Hockey

Incredible come-back by The Flyers. Last night offered a very exciting game...playoff hockey at its best. For my money, playoff hockey if one of the most engaging,exciting, edge-of your seat events in the sports world. Indeed, last night's game even featured a penalty shot...a rarity.
This has been a wonderful series to watch....Flyers were down 3-0 and have now forced a game 7. I ardently hope we can scratch out one more win to eliminate the Bruins and move on to the Conference Finals. GO FLYERS.
Stay tuned for the Sportsman's pick for this weekend's Radnor Hunt races in a post to follow.

Word Verification

I was just leaving a comment on a blog I have been following: To the Legions of the Lost Ones. The author is a great writer with tremendous style and tone and a great sarcastic bent.
The word verification came up...the word was: "Forskin." I was shocked...and amused...I assume these words are randomly generated by some encryption program...and as we all know they are usually just gibberish. But when it is an actual word...albeit improperly spelled...what are the odds that it would be that particular word.
Certainly, most of the male readers lost theirs shortly after being born...screeching and screaming ,blue-faced and naked on a stainless steel table while some 2nd team surgeon came in the room weilding a scalpel...or perhaps if one is Jewish, they got clipped by a bearded gent in a Yarmulke and a shawl while relatives munched bagels,lox and whitefish and commented on the size of the lads unit or how the cost of a Bris is skyrocketing.
Either way...an odd word and a pre-cognizant buried memory of discarded flesh.

Base Behavior...or You Can Dress 'Em Up But Ya Can't Take 'Em Out

I attended a Phillie's game this Saturday afternoon with my wife and another couple. We had good seats, it was a sunny day and all seemed right in the world.
As I went to fetch beers for the group I noticed a wedding party down on the sidewalk outside The Park. I stopped to watch as they took pictures...doesn't every guy stop to take a gander at the Bride?
I wish I had not. The wedding party was large...8 Bridesmaids and 8 groomsmen. They all wore Black. It was about 4:15 in the afternoon and the men were wearing Dinner Jackets...Evening Clothes are NOT to be worn in the daytime according to all conventional rules of etiquette.But let us forgo that criticism for the moment. Furthermore, whatever rental outfit had dressed these poor guys should be should be shuttered and fined. There was not a proper sleeve or trouser length among the men.We're not talking just a bit off...we're talking it looked like a crew of 2nd grade kids wearing their Dad's Tuxedos.
What was really apalling came as the men assembled for a picture. When the Photographer had them all posed just so...one of these boorish louts turned his head and launched a 2 quart gob of spit into the bushes. Not to be upstaged, another of the elegant groomsmen reared back, and with a Herculean effort, expectorated an equally vile volume of snot and saliva...this time onto the pavement. Several people were watching this display and were all similarly repulsed. One can scarcely imagine what substances came shooting out of these guys once they got to the reception and started boozing.It just goes to show you.....

Willowdale Steeplechase

We are in the heart of the Spring Steeplechase season and this weekend brings enthusiasts the Willowdale meet. This is a great course which is in a natural bowl and affords great views of nearly the entire race. These races have only been run since 1993...so it is a relatively new event. The races take place every year on Mother's day...and the week before the Radnor Hunt Cup and The Preakness. Hopefully Moms and Wives in your orbit are,like mine, OK with an afternoon tailgate as part of the day's homage to Mom.
The day also features vintage cars along with the elaborate tailgating so one can see some really nice arrangements like the one above.
This year I like Vinnie's Boy to win the main race. He is trained by Blythe Miller Davies. Blythe had a great career of her own as a Steeplechase Jockey and I saw her ride many times. Indeed, her brother Chip Miller heard the call "Jockeys Up" more than a few times and their father was an owner and trainer as well....so Steeplechasing is encoded in this girl's DNA and this portends a win. However, the odds on this pick should be very short as Vinnie's Boy will surely be "the chalk."
So, as an alternate I would bet Prospector's Strike.
To compliment the sporting weekend I am going to see the Flyers tomorrow nite...can they dig out of a 3-0 hole? I doubt it...but there is nothing like playoff hockey.
Saturday is another day of coaching Lacrosse. The boys are now 4-1 and having a fun season so far....

Fighting Future

After last Friday's victory by my guy Butler...2 more promoters have called me and we have already locked in 2 more fights. Butler will go 6 rounds on June 25th and another 6 rounds on July 30th. The July 30th card features Derek "Poo" Ennis fighting for the USBA 154 lbs Title. Hence, this will be a very good night to be in the line-up and the fights will hopefully get TV coverage.
As manager, I am working with the Trainer to have Butler's record in double digit wins by year end...then we can get some top flight Promoters interested in signing and continue moving up to the big time purses.

Butler Wins!!

My Boxer Ardrick Butler won on Friday evening. Below is a report from Fightnews.com on the bout. Suffice it to say, as his manager I am thrilled. Stay tuned for update on the next bout...this kid is moving up and The MLS is taking him there.

Butler overwhelms Allen

Ardrick “The Hitman” Butler, of Philadelphia wasted no time in the junior middleweight co-feature. He battered Norman Allen, of Laurel, MD from the opening bell, pinning him along the ropes and unleashing a series of right hands and left hooks. When the ropes appeared to hold Allen up, referee Shawn Clark ruled it a knockdown.

When the round continued, Butler landed a left hook-right hand combination that buckled Allen’s knees, and ref Clark stopped the bout at the :44 second mark.