I love my job

[sulphurfire]

Only wish I had started sooner.
I started at the Delta Downs racing office last season at the beginning of the Thoroughbred meet. I am already up for the assistant racing secretary position. My only criticisms is I wish I had started this sooner and quarter horse people have the wildest names for their horses. the thoroughbreds First racing date is October 10th, they start shipping in this week and I do entries, sort and work the race cards, stake nominations,and backup for placing.
Before this my experience at the track, besides being a patron, was on the back side back in 92 as a summer job and helping out a few individual friends with their horses through the years..
I was surprised during the quarter horse meet that some of the quarter horse trainers from 92 remembered me. and one of the Jockey agents she's been there forever she remembers the trainers I knew. Even the president of the lhbpa remembers me and he's a thoroughbred trainer.
My first day on the job when I walked up onto the porch and heard the hooves pounding and saw the baby's going around the track in the morning I felt like I had come home.
And each time the meet came to an end felt a little sadness because very few trainers jockey agents and owners crossover and have both thoroughbreds and quarter horses. .
I'm hoping at the end of the Thoroughbred meet there is one if he's ready to retire I'd like to retire into my place to retrain. and the ottb people get more smack on the internet than the off track quarter horse people do regarding what happens to the horses after the races. .
I enjoy working the claiming box at night instead of being upstairs. I get to talk to more people and to me when the claims are being done and horses and moving it means it's a healthy competitive environment. I feel like I almost wasted 20 years working in the banking industry. I'm getting paid better I work with some great people and it's in the industry I love and understand. the only reason I'm up for the assistant secretary position is because the former one has the little one year old and wants to spend more time with him since he's her last child. I was surprised when the racing secretary asked me if I was interested and my coworker said they thought I should go for the position and then when one of the stewards said he wants to see me there I was shocked.
I'm learning a lot and I'm enjoying myself everyday. You just got to pay attention is the biggest thing. and some of these jockey agents are some hot mess expresses we have a few that have just started and they're still learning how to do their job so when I see a horse that's not a proper condition I asked the agent are you sure you want that one to go into that condition. for example trying to put a Maiden into a nonwinner of two race.
Only downfall is I'm not allowed to wager anymore.
Upside is being able to meet some of the big horses I got to bring my granddaughter who's 9 to meet Free like a girl. and let me tell you that the baby girl was so excited. When the thoroughbreds come back if Coal Battle returns to Delta Downs I will try to get her to come meet him too.

[madelyn]

good for you!!