Pick a Derby horse, already (Nerd Edition)

I don't care how let down you feel after seeing Sn4tchbuckl3r's Second Chance #1. If you had any hope that ironic use of leet in a webisode title would yield hilarity, you deserve your fate. It's time to put Mario Kart aside (you know the Wii Wheel sux) and pick a fucking derby horse before you're consumed by GTA IV tomorrow. WHAT!?! No. You're not. Right now? Sweet mother of WoW, you demented nerdling, you've got GameStop line passes to buy it at midnight? God help you.

Good luck, bad luck

Lost photos, DQ'd cinches, and bad beat stories are a dima dozen in this game. Occasionally one is worth repeating.

My dear friend, horse racing enthusiast, music junkee, and all around wonder-girl Kes is in New York while on military leave. She's busy going to every indie concert she can at night, and spending a few of her days at the track. On one of these she nailed an impossible pick 3. With a small ticket she singled a horse at 17-1 that resulted in a payoff well into four digits.

She knew immediately what to do with the windfall. A band, She & Him, Kes's been touting to me since long before their first album came out in March were playing a small venue. She blew her mutuel take to be within panty flinging distance from the performers.

The show is tonight. Was tonight. It's postponed due to illness, but she has been assured her tickets will be honored at a later date. Chances are she'll be back in Iraq by then.

Local protests, Bay Meadows jockey colony notes

In San Francisco today we did not see the chaos and instability seen in Paris and London when the Olympic torch passed through those cities. No, here we are professionals. We protest like no others.

As Bay Meadows kicks off another race week, we may yet hear protests from trainers unable to secure the services of their favored jockeys. There are several regular jocks that will not be riding on upcoming days for various reasons.

Last Friday morning Pedro Flores and the bug boy Rojas head north to Emerald Downs, following Leslie Mawing who left the previous week. Luis Martinez and David Lopez have not yet returned to riding after spills. Beginning on Sunday April 13 three more jockeys will be unavailable, each serving a three day suspension. Bobby Gonzalez, Omar Figueroa, and Inoel Beato were each given days by the stewards. In the event of a full field, you may see some names that don't often grace the form.

photo courtesy of racehorse owner Alex

Quote of the day

You have no passion for the game. None. I have 10 times more passion than you could ever hope to.

--Tom "Bomber" Doutrich
Bay Meadows Racing Secretary addressing yours truly
4/7/2008 10:48 am PDT

Pic of the day (LOLcats edition)

Everyone's favorite internet meme, save rickrolling (old people: google it), has finally come to the tote board brad blog. Gitch yer lolcats on.