Yesterday was getaway day at Golden Gate Fields, as the Nor Cal circuit shifts to Bay Meadows on Wednesday. After all the rain we have received, the track was very uneven. Pictured left, Jamey walked the track before his entry Purpley ran, finding the surface lightning quick on the rail. There were also some good spots around the 4 or 5 path, but the rest was rather deep. Purpley broke slowly and could not do better than 6th on a track that played to speed horses on the rail.
Despite my
recent illustration of a trainer's occasionally laborious and mundane backstretch tasks, it's not all hard work around the barn. I caught Jamey and Dave lounging in the tack room after morning training had concluded and before the races.
Yesterday was getaway day at Golden Gate Fields, as the Nor Cal circuit shifts to Bay Meadows on Wednesday. After all the rain we have received, the track was very uneven. Pictured left, Jamey walked the track before his entry Purpley ran, finding the surface lightning quick on the rail. There were also some good spots around the 4 or 5 path, but the rest was rather deep. Purpley broke slowly and could not do better than 6th on a track that played to speed horses on the rail. 
Despite my recent illustration of a trainer's occasionally laborious and mundane backstretch tasks, it's not all hard work around the barn. I caught Jamey and Dave lounging in the tack room after morning training had concluded and before the races.
2 comments:
we sleeped in stalls when i trained for ohio and kentucky. we moved lots so wasnt home base. kep moving all time. been hand or trainer lots harder then. but fun.
Jason of Up on the Roof recently said that at one track, maybe Portland Meadows, I don't remember, couches & cots are not allowed on the backstretch and you're not supposed to live back there. I know a few folks who have lived out of a tack room for extended periods. It amazes me how some folks that love the track will forgo creature comforts just to be there. For some there may be no other option when horses is all they know, but that's not always the case. I once heard a hard scrabble hand say, "sure I could sell insurance and have a nice house, but I'd probably blow my brains out from the misery."
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