When it finally looked like I was going to have my first homebred starter, I spent a lot of time and effort thinking about what my silks should be.
Given my 14 years (and counting) as an Army infantryman, it seemed only natural to choose "Infantry Blue" as my base color. For those who don't know, the infantry has a color assigned to it, springing from a tradition that I won't bore people with here. For those who know a former grunt - ask them. They'll tell you the story. And for the @$% I went through to earn the right to wear it - both as enlisted and as an officer - that seemed like a good place to start. I added gold cross sashes (as putting the traditional crossed Springfield rifles would make the jockey look like an NRA advertisement); and three gold hoops on the sleeves for my children.
I spent weeks trying to find the right shade of blue, even going to Home Depot to "acquire" paint chip samples - something my wife pointed out I didn't do when we painted our new house. Finally, I found the right color, went to the silks shop, and pestered the owner until she got it right.
So now, the day has come. This Thursday, my filly, Press Camp, makes her debut in the 5th race at Bay Meadows. I get the official program online and open it up to read the description of my silks:
"Powder blue,..."
The rational part of me says it ain't a big deal. The infantry part of me has a different position on the matter.
Either way, wish me luck.
ARRRRGGGGGHHH!!!!!
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster
Petersd, kudos to you for putting all the thought and tradition into your silks. I think they probably chose "powder blue" as the color description because not many people would probably know what Infantry Blue is. Maybe you can educate them. At any rate, you've got a nice set of silks you can be proud of. Hooah!
Laurie
Laurie
So many pedigrees...so little time. (C)
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Tairaterces
- Grade III Winner
- Posts: 1026
- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 11:27 am
- Location: NorCal
petersd wrote: "wish me luck"
First let me say Good Luck to Press Camp (your jock Octavio Vergera has been winning some nice ones lately). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .and a very safe trip for all.
Second . . . . oh how I hate 2f baby races . . . . . basically it is a QH race for T-Breds. There is no style or grace, just flat out SPEED . . .
T
First let me say Good Luck to Press Camp (your jock Octavio Vergera has been winning some nice ones lately). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .and a very safe trip for all.
Second . . . . oh how I hate 2f baby races . . . . . basically it is a QH race for T-Breds. There is no style or grace, just flat out SPEED . . .
T
"and Secretariat let no one down on the unforgettable afternoon of June 9, 1973, when he ran a hole in the wind"
~Bob Ehalt~
Avatar: Istabraq (Sadler's Wells x Betty's Secret by Secretariat) Champion Hurdler
~Bob Ehalt~
Avatar: Istabraq (Sadler's Wells x Betty's Secret by Secretariat) Champion Hurdler
To Warhorse: Go easy there wiredog. A long time ago, I drew the short straw and was the commander of an HHC for an Air Assault battalion. My entire commo platoon didn't have a complete set of teeth between them, but if you asked how to turn on a SINCGARS radio, they turned into friggin' Rainman.
To Tairaterces: Normally, I would agree with you. But this one changed my mind a bit. First, she's an early January foal and pretty darn big. Second, she has not once come back from a gallop or work without wanting to do more, and in the trainer's words, "tried to eat the plastic out of the feed bucket." Third, both her current trainer and the guy who broke her took great pains to put a good underpinning on her, so she's never come close to shinbucking.
Today I went to the Keeneland sales preview, and watched 2 year olds get yelled at and belted with a whip to try and hit 22 flat. Mine (with Octavio aboard in all her works) has been under stout hold each and every time. The only time she worked in company, she went 23 even while smoking the 2 horse in Thursday's race by four lengths.
I thought long and hard about waiting a couple of weeks for Golden Gate to open and the 4 1/2 furlong races to be carded, but that would require a few more works at a bit longer distance - basically the same work pattern she's on now.
Given they don't allow whips in the 2F races - what's worse? A glorified workout for a $24K purse, or getting smacked around in a sales preview?
To Tairaterces: Normally, I would agree with you. But this one changed my mind a bit. First, she's an early January foal and pretty darn big. Second, she has not once come back from a gallop or work without wanting to do more, and in the trainer's words, "tried to eat the plastic out of the feed bucket." Third, both her current trainer and the guy who broke her took great pains to put a good underpinning on her, so she's never come close to shinbucking.
Today I went to the Keeneland sales preview, and watched 2 year olds get yelled at and belted with a whip to try and hit 22 flat. Mine (with Octavio aboard in all her works) has been under stout hold each and every time. The only time she worked in company, she went 23 even while smoking the 2 horse in Thursday's race by four lengths.
I thought long and hard about waiting a couple of weeks for Golden Gate to open and the 4 1/2 furlong races to be carded, but that would require a few more works at a bit longer distance - basically the same work pattern she's on now.
Given they don't allow whips in the 2F races - what's worse? A glorified workout for a $24K purse, or getting smacked around in a sales preview?
Seems to me you should be less interested in the correct shade of blue and more concerned with the probable adverse effects of running a 27 month old Comic Strip baby down the chute. Doesn't this filly have a half sister by High Brite who broke her maiden early last year, only to disappear a few months later? In spite of what trainers say to their clients (where have I heard this before?), the vast majority of young horses (especially those sired by one paced stayers like Comic Strip) should be developed slowly to maximize their potential. If this is your first homebred to run, I truly hope your military training will help you deal with the deleterious effects this sort of racing has on your filly. My biggest hope, however, is that your filly emerges from the race with a bad case of bucked shins, which will force her to the sidelines for a while. In the long run, she'll make far more money for you as a sound 3yo than a broken down 2yo.
Last edited by Michael on Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
petersd wrote:To Warhorse: Go easy there wiredog. A long time ago, I drew the short straw and was the commander of an HHC for an Air Assault battalion. My entire commo platoon didn't have a complete set of teeth between them, but if you asked how to turn on a SINCGARS radio, they turned into friggin' Rainman.
Yup, that's them. It was hard work then, but it's much easier now with microchips and hydraulics.
And thou fly without wings, and conquer without any sword. Oh, horse. - The Qur'an
petersd wrote:To Warhorse: Go easy there wiredog. A long time ago, I drew the short straw and was the commander of an HHC for an Air Assault battalion. My entire commo platoon didn't have a complete set of teeth between them, but if you asked how to turn on a SINCGARS radio, they turned into friggin' Rainman.
To Tairaterces: Normally, I would agree with you. But this one changed my mind a bit. First, she's an early January foal and pretty darn big. Second, she has not once come back from a gallop or work without wanting to do more, and in the trainer's words, "tried to eat the plastic out of the feed bucket." Third, both her current trainer and the guy who broke her took great pains to put a good underpinning on her, so she's never come close to shinbucking.
Today I went to the Keeneland sales preview, and watched 2 year olds get yelled at and belted with a whip to try and hit 22 flat. Mine (with Octavio aboard in all her works) has been under stout hold each and every time. The only time she worked in company, she went 23 even while smoking the 2 horse in Thursday's race by four lengths.
I thought long and hard about waiting a couple of weeks for Golden Gate to open and the 4 1/2 furlong races to be carded, but that would require a few more works at a bit longer distance - basically the same work pattern she's on now.
Given they don't allow whips in the 2F races - what's worse? A glorified workout for a $24K purse, or getting smacked around in a sales preview?
Whatever color it is officially called...it will look great in the Winner's Circle. Best of luck for a winning and safe race!
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NW Breeder
- Weanling
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:24 pm
- Location: Oregon
Michael says:>>>My biggest hope, however, is that your filly emerges from the race with a bad case of bucked shins, which will force her to the sidelines for a while. In the long run, she'll make far more money for you as a sound 3yo than a broken down 2yo.<<<
That was a disgusting thing to say in public. And an even more disgusting thing to wish on the horse. Bucked shins set the horse up for saucer fractures. I cannot BELIEVE you said that!!!
That was a disgusting thing to say in public. And an even more disgusting thing to wish on the horse. Bucked shins set the horse up for saucer fractures. I cannot BELIEVE you said that!!!
Sorry you feel that way. That is exactly what I think. Bucked shins can be the saving grace for many young horses whose connections don't have the common sense to move slowly with them. It's too bad you're not as outraged at the senseless greediness of 2yo owners who push them beyond what their bodies (and pedigrees) are designed to do.