Both NC's biggest and smallest fan !

Check out the sign Emma ( daughter of one of my coworkers ) made for the race .

Great job Emma, thanks !

A better race

She finished fourth and ran a much better race than last time and that was very encouraging. She was in a tough field especially with Balooga Bull in there. He's probably the best 2 year old to come out of Assiniboia Downs in a long time.
She was in post position 1 and got off to a bad start.  Looked like she slipped towards the rail and lost some ground. She then showed a lot of speed and almost caught up to Balooga Bull who had taken the early lead.  She was forced towards the rail and that seemed to intimidate her a bit. She slipped to third in the turn and couldn't hold it in the stretch finally finishing fourth .Baloogo Bull won by 8 and a half lengths in a time of 1:11.2 , very fast for 2 year olds in a six furlong race.
What's next  for NC ?

She's running again

  Saturday , 3rd race, Osiris Stakes , post position #1 . She'll be running against the boys and she's the only filly in the field . I'm getting giddy/anxious/nervous already...

New wardrobe

Because Northern Cotton  will be running in some stake races she needs some silks. For most races horses will wear a color corresponding to their post position . For example, number 1 will wear red, number 2 white, number 3 blue,etc... In a stakes race the horse will wear the stable colors. Here's the design we've picked : black with gold stripes down the sleeves and on the back will be a pot of gold with a black Q on the pot. Nice representation of  the 'Quest d'Or Stables' and it should look  pretty cool .
I'm sure all the other horses will be wearing that next year...

More visitors to the stable

Here's my sister Janet with her partner Ron. Why is Janet trying to punch my horse?

Why yes, I do work with horses...

I was watching a yearling auction  live over the Web from Saratoga  NY . Horses were going for 100 grand . That's a lot of money to invest in an animal that may decide "you know...racing is not my thing" .  I did enjoy the gentleman in the nice suit shoveling whatever "droppings"...ummm...dropped and disposing them in a very dignified manner.

Another workout, great ! You said what time ?!?!?!

Bill wanted to know if anyone wanted to join him to see Northern Cotton workout at 6:30 AM.  I wouldn't wake up at that hour to see a Playboy playmate workout, let alone a horse. That reminds me, there was a Miss Northern Cotton in the July 1994 Playboy edition....sorry, my mind was wandering... 

She did very well and we're looking forward to the next race. It's coming up soon , I'll post more details when we're certain .

Revenue rolling in...

By NC finishing fifth we get a cut of the $12,000 purse and it looks like we made around $300   Let's  see, divide that by 6 owners, and I can buy a 24 of beer !  And who said horse racing wasn't profitable...

Some random thoughts on race day

 

• Some of the owners met Friday morning for breakfast. We finalize that NC will run Saturday, second race . Bill figures that she's good in the outside spot as there is no one on her right to bump in to . She's also the last to load in the gate which is good. I order the Western omelet...yum
• No issues for me  falling asleep  Friday night . I hope Northern Cotton is sleeping well.
• It's race day ! Every hour I announce how much time left before post time. Joc is getting the rolling pin out. 
• We eat our hamburgers ( made on the BBQ by moi ) and head to the track. For the first time I'm feeling a bit nervous. 
• We get to the track at about 6:50  and wow, there's lots of cars already  . More people to admire us as we strut to the winner's circle ?
• I see a bridal party. Looks like a marriage will take place in the winner's circle. Sure  enough I check the program and the fourth race is a "Go to the Post" wedding race. OK, I promise not to make any 'nag' jokes.  
• Our friends and family are already there. It's great to see them and I'm happy they came. However there's a part of me that just wants to be alone, kind of take in the moment by myself. It would have been nice if her race came later on in the night.
• I feel a certain amount of pressure that she needs to do well. As if I'm being judged by how she does.
• I don't study the first race at all. I make my 2 standard bets and don't try anything else. Did I win....HA !
• I make my bets early for race 2 . The guy at the track who comments on every horse  says that "there's a lot of money on Northern Cotton"  
• This is unlike any race I've ever waited for. I don't even care about my bets
• Time is just flying by , 2 minutes to post already !
• And they're off ! Not a bad start...she's in fifth but definitely in the race...she's coming up as they head into the turn...I kind of lose her in the turn...they're coming down the stretch and she ain't gonna do it....fifth place
• Disappointment is my first feeling...as if grey reality has set in. I can see that people aren't quite sure what to say, even though I warned everyone that she could well finish last . 
• I talk to Bill. He has some good insights in to what happened. She ran like a green horse . I learn later that Cotton came through fine, no injuries or health issues.  We'll get 'em next time.
• We invite friends over to our place for some drinks. Great way to wind up the evening  as we sit outside on the warm summer bugless night . Fantastic day...

OK, it's a start

Fifth place...

She came out the gate OK and seemed to be making headway approaching the turn. Jockey Janine Stianson said after the race that on 2 occasions she was getting dirt in her face( the horse not Janine)  and she had to hold her up . She then had trouble getting her going again. Going down the stretch she kept turning her head towards the grandstand( the horse not J...OK no more of that joke) . Maybe she was looking for us...

A Bill said, she ran like a rookie. She was the only horse that had never run a race and it showed.

Check out this link if you want to see a replay . Pick July 30, Race 2 , she's number 7 ( outside position) 

http://www.assiniboiadowns.com/race-replays.cfm

 She'll do better in her next race . And hey, Secretariat finished fourth his first time out...