Category > The Call To The Post
If you were on the verge of nodding off over your Racing Form, now’s the time to straighten up and pay attention. February will kick off with a stakes-filled weekend for 3-year-olds, as well as some important older horses. Saturday will see the road to the Triple Crown continue with the running of the Grade III Withers, the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes, and the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes. And while special attention should be paid to …
| Last we saw him, the nearly-white Hansen was dropping jaws at Churchill Downs after stubbornly holding on against heavily-favored Union Rags in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Until then, the son of Tapit was thought to be little more than a Turfway wonder—he won both of this starts there like some kind of mythical Pegasus, soaring to win each by over a dozen lengths. Now that he’s proven to the masses he can tango with the best of them, Hansen must …
It’s every race fan’s favorite time of the year once again. Now it’s official—the road to the roses has begun. Fair Grounds Racecourse will kick off its branch of this long trip to Louisville this Saturday with the Grade III Lecomte Stakes, the first prep race for the Grade II Louisiana Derby. Thirteen 3-year-olds have gathered to set off on this course to Kentucky in the hopes to become the first horse to win both the Lecomte and the Kentucky …
Let me tell you a secret about horse racing photographers: Not all of them even like horse racing. Pretty sad, isn’t it, as they are given some of the most intimate, up-close access to our great sport? These are the people who don’t know the names of the horses, don’t follow the race results, and don’t know the difference between an outrider’s pony and Zenyatta. Then there is the other side of the coin. There are racing photographers out there …
Following 2-year-olds is a habit that dies hard. I thought I had made up my mind to stop becoming so invested in them, as in recent years, juveniles have fallen by the wayside before they can step two hoofs on the trail to the Kentucky Derby. But then the stakes races start popping up like dandelions, and you start thumbing through past winners and see the glory they went on to accomplish, and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in …
In late December of 2009, I entered a new face into my Equibase virtual stable with the following note: “2 year-old filly had a rocket up her ass in the Hollywood Starlet.” That may sound a little crude, but watch a replay of that race, and I dare you to disagree with me. The race was my introduction to a filly who would go on to become one of my very favorites, Blind Luck. I have yet to see another …
If you were too preoccupied with a bounty of turkey and pumpkin pie to pay attention to the races this past weekend, you missed out on some nice performances. And unlike the recent string of bad news plaguing the racing world, the outcomes of these stakes can be seen as signs of good things to come for the new year.
Someone is going to earn enough cash this Saturday to make it into the Kentucky Derby. Yes, it’s that time of the year again for that crazy profitable race, the Grade III $1 million Delta Jackpot Stakes. Ten lucky 2-year-olds have lined up to take a stab at the early riches in the hopes of sealing their bid for the Road to the Roses. 2011 marks only the 9th running of the Delta Jackpot; in its brief history, no winner …
The lights have been turned off at Churchill. The purple banners have been taken down. The hardest-knocking of war horses have been shuttled off to retirement, never to see another race track again, and a handful of young horses remain to run on to greater things in the new year. Another Breeders’ Cup has come to an end after a celebration of champions and a windfall of upsets.
And now it all comes down to this. With the Horse of the Year title on the line, all that’s left is a single race. Just one final test before one of these horses takes the crown in what is sure to be the race of the year. The Breeders’ Cup Classic has become a sort of championship of the last horse standing, with so many defections to develop over the past few months. What’s left of the best horses …
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Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Why do I have the feeling we struggle to break 45 in at least one more (maybe 2) games this season? With a little perspective, both MSU and Wisky are among the top 5 in Kenpom’s defensive rating scheme.
My first thought was, “What the hell is Brad Miller doing at our game?” Of course, he now plays for the Timberwolves. Man, I miss him in a Bulls uni—even if we don’t need him as much this year. It’s cool that he’s saying hi to his…
Ya, I felt the same way. The question I was asking in the game was, “what’s wrong with DJ?” He’s repeated his second major shooting slump in as many years.
It’s no wonder we are having a problem recruiting solid players for our athletics programs - Look at what we have to compete with! http://deadspin.com/5879065/whatever-youre-doing-with-your-life-its-not-as-awesome-as-the-athletes-in-this-recruiting-video
Never the subject of your articles, but at the risk of boring the flock once again: the real recruiting outrage continues to be this system that exploits the sons of these working class families to make big money for the likes of the incompetent, 1.6 million-salaried coach.…
dAn insightful article, Rob. Barring an very expected turn around, I think the odds are better than not that Weber will be shown the door at the end of the season. We really haven’t played good team basketball for the entire season. The results despite almost completely…
Did it look like they were having fun? If you’re playing a game and you’re not having fun then regardless of whether you’re winning or losing then you’re not doing it right. When the Indiana fans stormed the court against NorthWestern, as asinine as it may’ve seemed…
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Nope. It’s the back (east) side of Urbana Tire Company at 202 S. Vine. How much is a hug and kiss worth? Do I have to take them all at once or can I break it up?
FACT: Silverfish feed only on carbohydrates, such as starches and sugars. They will not consume proteins or fats (the main materials from which human beings are constructed). THUS: That was not actually a human waiter we were conversing with, but rather a lifelike simulacrum created from semi-digested Fruit Loops.
nice fishnets you’ve got there, dan!
is that illini auto on main?
The geniuses at the News-Gazette site have it all figured out. This happened because we don’t have the Chief!
Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.
Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com
Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.
Love CSR. Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy. Sticky Bun is pretty nice.
If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.
HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)
We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…
Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha
just confirmed: there will be white russians served. the art abides.
big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.
There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847
Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…
I love the Guitars
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The geniuses at the News-Gazette site have it all figured out. This happened because we don’t have the Chief!