Speaking Of Sports...

[jerry]

Written by Roger Slocum:
So does anyone out there remember the "Glory Days of ROLLER DERBY"
Have you heard about Lost in the Fog and his current issues concerning a cancer in his spleen? Any thoughts? Barbaro and his continued rehabilitation?
Bay Meadows and Horse Racing in general?

[thw]

Is a hot topic. As an insider I have been lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time out there. Lost in the fog is a tremendous talent and until Bay Meadows raises there purses we will be very hard pressed to see anything of his potential any time soon.
Looking back it reminds me of another one Bedside Promise who came through the ranks at Golden Gate and Bay Meadows. Set the world record for 6 furlongs only to die of a Heart Attack some time later.
As for Barbaro, hes still alive which is a good thing however mother nature would probably have a much different take on this.
Gotta go 10 minutes till post time!

[Roger Slocum]

Many good horses have run at both Golden Gate and Bay Meadows.
Hopefully we will continue to see the likes of them again.
If you are old enough to remember when there was a training track saddled up next to Hwy.101, rather than Condo's. You may remember the sight, as you drove by, of horse and rider blowing warm air out of all four of their nostril's after a good gallop on a cool spring morning.
I am not very religious, but I have a feeling why horses are here and why we were meant to love them. Continue to care.

[Roger Slocum]

So now we have learned that Lost in the Fog is in fact terminal.
Where do we go now from here? Horse Racing will endure.
Many good horse's have had their racing careers cut short do to injury.
Some have lost their lives, lost on the race track, doing what they were bred and loved to do.
The fact that Lost in the Fog has raced for as long as he has with an injury that few horses have ever endured and won in June of this year took incredible courage.
For fans of horse racing you can only think of what might have been.
For those of you who may not be fans, or have never cared for horses, you can only dream.

[Roscoe_Beedle]

Well said. Your words are poignant and heartfelt. Thank you.

[Roger Slocum]

Thank You, You obvisuoly care!
So where do we go from here? Workers give their lives for a race track, as do the horses. Many horses have died at Bay Meadows, many men and women
have died working at Bay Meadows, many who are still alive are still working there now. We can only hope they will continue their work for as long as is possible.
We can all care very deeply about a horse from time to time, but do we ever really care about the people who the horse depends on, ensureing the horse stays healthy and make the next race?
Think now about the groom for Lost in the Fog, I believe his name is Pascual, can you imagine the pain! If you don't know, a groom (if not you) has probably one of the most intimate relationships with a race horse, there every morning to only give care, there at end of day to do the same, sometimes sleeping in the stall
awakened by a soft hoof to a leg, or belly. Then the smell of straw and the smell of coffee only to start all over again.
I urge all who are concerned to arrange a visit to the backstretch (stables)
at Bay Meadows and enjoy the life of horse and human before it is gone forever.

[Roger Slocum]

Should have won in regulation, 3 up with 3 to go.
But didn't close it out, only managed a tie and a play-off with ironically the Cink. 3 playoff holes later still tied I go outside at my in-laws to take a short break and light the coals for dinner.
WOW! as all said looking at the tube, what happenned? A huge downpour and down the sink Cink went.
Tiger, is a walking, talking, golfing, conundrum for all the other golfers who play the game. Just how did he do that? Rain and wind and 8 feet for a bird
and yet another win, four in a row!

[Roger Slocum]

Brother Derek has been resting now for 3 months. He may come back to the races after his lay off not only rested but also fleshed out and ready to challange all of those who are still standing for horse of the year.
The Horse Racing Industry has endured a strange season of injured horses.
Is it time now to re-think the three year old schedule of races?
Whether the Triple Crown should be re-scheduled?
Maybe even the way horses are moved from one venue to another?
Is it possible Lost in the Fog suffered from multiple trips across country?
Or instead of spending 3 months in Florida, might he have been better off hanging out at Golden Gate Fields in his own stable, with his own people?
Has anyone checked out the facility he was housed at in Florida to insure there is no contamination?
I don't know these are only questions? There are no answers.

[Roger Slocum]

So now the end is near.
I first read about this late evening 03/22.
I chose not to write any thing at that time, while wondering how this news may or may not be covered by the newspaper's by the bay.
I was pleased to see it was front page, but strangely saddened that Bay Meadows demise is now front page news? Everywhere!

"Where have you been sweet love of mine said the lips to the wine"

Did no one except those who actually cared enough to work to keep Bay Meadows, or those who took the time to sign the petition hear the hoof beats, or smell the smell.

Did no one see the writing on the wall when the President of Bay Meadows asked for an extension of the CA.
Horse Racing Board mandate? "The President of Bay Meadows", a position bestowed on him by BMLC.
Knowing well this extension would be refused and that it's denial would only speed up the demolition and re-development of Bay Meadows Race Track cries "this is a day of infamy for No. Cal. Horse Racing" No horse
s--t, Sherlock, what did you think was going to happen? The money is there, politicians they share, and developer's lobbyist's are so much aware and we the sheep are left only to stare.

It is amazing that the cost of a mandated up grade to the race track they own will make a multi-million $ scam operation squirm. Yet they found a way out via the CA Horse Racing Board.

So now it is not BMLC who closed Bay Meadows, it is "THEM"! Horse racing itself is responsible for closing Bay Meadows.

How convenient?
And we all must feel so much sympathy for the new Mayor and his continuing cronies over the fact that
San Mateo will now lose TAX DOLLARS, Bay Meadows did not cost San Mateo a dime and now the City cries over lost tax revenue? Hey Mayor tax the illegal immigrant work center, that might help.
And what of the dollars those employed at Bay Meadows will not earn next year? What about the tax dollars lost there EH? Those who are legal and work a legitimate job caring for horses.
The Sierra Club must be proud of the fact that those San Mateo residents who wish to remain on the job will now have to emit even more greenhouse gases as they now commute to Pleasanton, or Vallejo, or Santa Rosa in order to work the racing days San Mateo has enjoyed for 73 years.

While BMLC proceeds on there path of destruction of a historical site I would hope that all horse people
associated with "the track" now move as quickly as possible to greener pastures.
If you are paying BMLC stop paying now and find a new shedrow! If you are working for BMLC find a new job and leave! If you are affiliated with any of the WORKING race tracks in No. CA. make your facilities available!
The Horses are coming, they have no where else to go and BMLC is raising the rent.
Would any of you enjoy seeing BMLC wonder where the Horses went! BMLC deserves what they reap, they have sown the seeds and unfortunately San Mateo may end up being just concrete and all of the fertilizer will be gone.

For all the horse's who have raced at Bay Meadows, for all the jockeys, the trainers, the handlers, the employees.
For everyone who has ever broke their maiden at Bay Meadows enjoying the enthusiasm as the horses come into the home stretch, heading for the wire, screaming come on, come on, go, go ,go ...
I Bid Bay Meadows a sad good bye! there will never be another quite like it.

[St. Clair Baxter]

Let's see gold medal #8 !