LOUISVILLE -- Friday morning: There was the menacing flash of lightning at 5 a.m. Then another. There was a low growl of thunder. It was more like background noise. No sharp claps.
Not another one of those mornings, I was thinking. Walking around the backstretch, ducking for shelter where possible, feet getting wet and muddy and wondering if the computer in my backpack was going to be too damp to function. Besides, it is Oaks day, which is not quite as big as Derby day but still well attended.
It is 10:30 a.m. now and so far there has been no rain. It is still hazy, but the sun has made an appearance and it is warm enough to make a jacket unnecessary.
Talked to a few people including former jockey Sandy Hawley, who is here for Woodbine Entertainment. He kind of likes Court Vision as a horse to put in triple wagers on the Derby. He was closing third in the Wood Memorial won by Canadian-owned Tale of Ekati.
Had a nice chat with Bennie Stutts, Jr., who trains Smooth Air in the Derby. He's just happy to be here. Nice change from talking to some of the big trainers who look like they are on a corporate golfing jaunt.
Refreshing is a word that comes to mind. That also applies to Charles Fipke, who owns Tale of Ekati.
He was asked who is mentor was when he got involved with thoroughbred racing.
“I didn't really have a mentor,” he said. “The thing that really inspired me and has always inspired me is Secretariat. It won the Belmont by 31 lengths and I just think he was like an awesome role model. I eventually did get a mare by Secretariat.”
Asked about drawing the No. 2 post position in the field of 20: “I was devastated when I found we had 17th on the post draw. We had 17th pick and got post two and we were very delighted with it.”
He said the reason for his good fortune was in his wallet and he produced a five-leaf clover from one of the compartments.
Someone asked him how many horseS he has in training: “I don't like commenting on the horses I have because I think the more horses you have the less intelligent you are. Like I'm a moron.”
Then he said, “I think I have about 30 horses in training.”
