EXCITEMENT. Is there anything more exciting than a close horse race; maybe especially when you have a little wager. Anyone who goes to the track or knows horse players will have a funny story to relate. Humor, excitement, and horse racing go hand in hand, or hand in hoof if you will. Writing about horse racing is also fun, but only if you have a sense of humor. While my book Zen and the Successful Horseplayer is a serious effort by me to help you at the track; it is also designed so you can have more fun. Here are some quotes from the book which will hopefully get you excited for the Derby which is rapidly approaching.
“Secretariat is blazing along.
The first three-quarters of the mile in 1:09 and 4/5.
Secretariat is widening now.
He is moving like a tremendous machine.”
~~Chic Anderson
(Announcer calling Secretariat’s 31 length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes)
“I never play horse shoes ’cause mother taught us to not throw our clothes around.”
~~Mr. Ed (The “Talking Horse” of the 1960’s TV series)
“I started playing the horses and trying to comprehend the mysteries of the game.
I thought I was searching for great immutable truths.
I thought there must be a set of principles that governed the outcome of races and was waiting to be discovered…
I (eventually) realized that there were no such timeless verities–
but I wish that there were.”
~~Andrew Beyer
“He was as near living flame as horses ever get,”
~~Joe Palmer
(Describing Man o’ War)
“Achieve results, But never glory in them.
Achieve results, But never boast.
Achieve results, But never be proud.
Achieve results, Because this is the natural way.”
~~Lau Tzu
(From the Tao Te Ching)
“I wish your horses swift and sure of foot.”
~~William Shakespeare.
“Losers walking around with money in their pockets are always dangerous, not to be trusted.
Some horse always reaches out and grabs them.”
~~Bill Barrich
Good Luck!
