as per Cowboy stirring the horse memories ...
i suppose that the sport lends itself more to majestic parlance than any other athletic endeavor out there ... there's a certain inescapable lyrical romanticism to all the color and pageantry - yeah, even railbird cigar chompers pop a certain Runyon-esque charm ... it's a crooked and filthy game, but it's breathtaking at it's core - no other place on earth i'd rather spend a balmy Spring afternoon than Old Sandy (Beautiful Belmont Park).
the Derby/horse threads were mainly an exercise of nuts and bolts deconstructing of all the disseminated info - tons to pore over - from works to PPs to prep vids, etc ... handicapping's adherence to these factors can be a miserable task, as quite a large number of experts fall flat time and time again.
upon my first extensive thread on the Derby preps, wik and i fell in love with the same horse, an honest/grinding type who we felt would consistently punch the clock and put his work in ... not the flashiest, nor the fleshiest - but definitely the motor we both loved. his description of the horses (aniscules), his insight into every last facet of the game - was poetry. i have spent many years around the game - ingesting sooo much info, hanging over a ton of rails, losing myself in books dealing with strategy and alternative 'capping - and those tomes that championed the more gorgeous and altruistic bent of "The Sport of Kings" ... and Dale hit all those notes all by his lonesome - right here on this board - encapsulating all of the infuriating wonder of it all - his work in those threads was nothing short of dazzling - a deft 'capper, a salty gambler ... yet also a wordsmith who painted such remarkable thoughtscapes - his involvement in the industry years ago may have jaded him quite a bit, but he never lost sight of the incredible spectacle - and he shared all of it. it's a shame that those threads, much like the sport, are/were niche, at best. some of his most compelling moments lived inside of them - perhaps i'm being a bit too partial ... but i'll always appreciate how his unique spins on a subject i thought i had thoroughly exhausted always seemed as fresh and vibrant as the sunrise i'm now enjoying.
this PM exchange - upon me spotting him for the '21 Derby:
Footballguy
Apr 29, 2021
i have no way to bet. i thought a friend had an acct to bet fb, but he doesnt
Footballguy
Apr 30, 2021
wikkidpissah said:
i have no way to bet. i thought a friend had an acct to bet fb, but he doesnt
i got your back - gimme what you'd like to do with a $50 budget - i'll pop it at the winderrs tomorrow ✌
[IMG alt="wikkidpissah"]https://forums.footballguys.com/data/avatars/m/30/30452.jpg?1659477712[/IMG]
Footballguy
Apr 30, 2021
mighty sportin' of you, skeezix! when i got a shot this long and make bets this rarely, i'm all nose, clyde. $50 to win on Helium.
have NO electric financial instruments but, if it dont hit, shoot me an addy and it'll be out first post.
hope my enthusiasm doesnt cost you an extra level of dough in exotics or anything. it's a true stabberini. when the pps came out, i set out looking for a clouds guy cuz i think this class is ripe for Upset. thought it was gonna be Brooklyn Strong (cuz the Wood was a total onceover for him, never asked), but i rewatched the TBD and, if the fig's a 93, the 6-wide trip makes it a 98 and, carrying it further, if Casse could train him up to that in March, he can make it rain in May and have a fresh aniscule for the Trail. Leparoux knows the circuit, so.....
thx again, pal-o-mine
- as i said ... poetry ^

Priests n' Pagans
First Saturday
Big Al
PS - excuse these quote boxes below, cannot edit them out ... if anybody else can, much obliged.