This Is Us- UIC Town Square

[nijinsky]

Name/nickname:
Paul/nijinsky/horses4courses


First time at a race track: Arlington Park as a youngster in the 60s


Big wins/narrow misses:
I'm a grinder, but quite a few 4 figure hits - no 5 figure hits - yet 

Narrow miss making the NHC final in 2014. Online qualifier with close to 2000 entries.
In first place going into to final race of ten. Top 5 qualify for Vegas. Last race was a 10 horse
turf allowance at Del Mar. Four of the ten were short enough odds they wouldn't hurt me.
Two horses I gave no chance to, so I could eliminate them. The four remaining long shots
could beat me - I had to choose one. Needless to say, I chose the wrong one.
Bejarano beat me on a 20 something dollar horse - finished 7th....ughhhhh....still hurts.
I will make the Big Dance in LV one day - top of my bucket list.


Favorite track(s):
Saratoga, Del Mar, Leopardstown, Galway


Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s):
Chad Brown, Art Sherman, currently no favorite rider
but I was a huge Lester Piggott fan in my youth and Chris Mccarron in the US.


Tracks you've been to:
Close to 20 tracks in Ireland. I grew up there between 1968-1986.
Leopardstown and Phoenix Park were the ones I frequented most. I love them all, though.

In the US, I've been to Arlington Park, Del Mar, and Golden Gate Fields.


Anecdotes: My grandmother in Dublin, Ireland, used to send me with her small bets
to the bookmaker (legal) up the street when I was 10 years old. Not long afterwards,
I was given a present of the annual UK/Ireland Flat Racing Form Book (a thick, Bible-like, manual)
and it's been horse racing for me ever since. It's been a wonderful ride for 50 years now.

[nativol]

Name:  Todd Mitchell (TMitch)

First time at a track:  Late 70’s when my parents took my brother and I to the track and let us pick one horse in each race...instantly hooked.  I was about 8-9 years old.

Favorite Track:  Keeneland

Favorite Trainer:  Chad Brown

Favorite Jockey:  Bill Shoemaker

Tracks:  Keeneland, Churchill, Delta Downs, Turf Paradise, Oaklawn Park, Tampa Bay Downs, Turfway, River Downs (Belterra)

Famous Quote:  “I fart in your general direction...your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.”

[jacckk8]

Grew up 20 minutes from Saratoga ..Troy.
Dad took me to track when I was about 9.. 1957!
Gave me $2 and I picked my first horse and he won. My Dad gave me the $8.60 .. that was like a $million then! Hooked right there!

Eventually after college moved to Saratoga and then VT for 30 more years. Now retired in Sarasota Fl

Favorite horse.. Secretariet ..
Favorite Jock.. Angel Cordero. .. lost every time I bet him. Lol
Best win .. stopped in an otb in Glens Falls .. had 4 dollars in my pocket. Played the same all favorite pick 6 for fun.. needed samyn on the green in the last.. and he won! Trip paid $1700! Shocked! All favs! Best horse related win,,,this year when I won close to $7k when finishing 9th in Vegas in the HPWS out of 428!

when at the track I play 2-2,double every race.,regardless of odds!

Fav track. Saratoga.. been too Saratoga. Green Mnt. Belmont.. Pimlico Churchill Arlington Gulfstream Finger Lakes Tampa Lonestar

Also owned race horse in 70’s at Saratoga harness. Fun

I have a 1950 “program” from the spa by dad used that day .. A keepsake of two things I loved!!

Been to the spa every year for last 40+. Meet the boys there..

Jack

[hezethebest]

Jul 13, 2018 9:21:48 GMT -5 bitowisdom said:

Mr Harris was a fine handicapper for The Daily News. He past away at the young age of 93 in 2016. Russ Harris was probably responsible for mega sales of that worthless Newspaper. He was a very good handicapper and along with the sports page, were the only endearing qualities of the Daily News...But, that is just my opinion. May Mr Harris rest in peace.

[hezethebest]

I knew Russ very well and saw him occasionally at the NY tracks and all 4 times that I made the finals of the World Series of Handicapping at Penn National in the 90's. I always had to earn my way to the finals by finishing in the top 15% of a qualifier round that cost $375.00 or so while Russ was always 1 of the 35 invited "professionals" from the industry who got to participate in the finals for free. Russ was a very nice man who I often asked when was he going to retire since I wanted to throw my name in the ring to take over his gig when he did. As we advanced through the 90's the age of technology made it possible for guys like Russ to start working from home so he hung in at the Daily News a lot longer than he would otherwise been able to. I don't think he went to the track much the last 10 years he worked. I've had some pretty good (and bad) days handicapping over the years including giving out the first 6 winners of the Saratoga Sunday card to the condo boys and anyone else who listened on the day after the Travers last year. The "cold" pick 5 alone paid $757.00 for 50 cents so they weren't all chalk. While I felt pretty good about that and have had 7 or 8 top picks win before on an 11 race card, Mr. Harris did something once that I don't think will ever be duplicated. He once gave out all 9 race winners in the NY Daily News on a card at either Belmont or Aqueduct, I don't remember which but it was one of the NY metro tracks. As a pro and often having to do your work 2 days before publishing that was an amazing feat to accomplish, winning prices notwithstanding. Russ was indeed a very consistently good handicapper. R.I.P. Sir!

[johnnybattbd]

Name/nickname:John J Barile - JohnnyBatTBD
First time at a race track:Can only guess...Aqueduct 1961 (mas or menos)

Big wins/narrow misses: Idk but favorite bet ever made was a $200 DD on an $11 probable, both legs won going away

Favorite track(s):Delmar, Tampa

Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s):Perhaps William Bradley and Samy Camacho

Tracks you've been to: Sar, Bel, Aqu, Mon, Atlantic City, Garden State, Laurel, Pim, Churchill, Tam, GS, Hialeah, CRC, Ruidoso, Portland Meadows, Delmar, Meadowlands, Mountaineer.... a few more I'm sure

Anecdotes: As a little boy, I went to take a leak at Aqueduct and I thought I was being assaulted by a black man in a white jacket....but it was the Valet who came in to clean the seat for me......

[camehome]

I was at the track that day!

[turffan]

Name/nickname:
Turffan, because, well ...


First time at a race track:
Probably 1965 at Green Mountain Park in Pownal, VT


Big wins/narrow misses:
  A few thousand on a Pick 3 at Monmouth 7-8 years ago;  too may narrow misses to mention


Favorite track(s):
  Keeneland and Saratoga


Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s):
Whoever brought in my last winner;  Asmussen, Mott, C. Baker, Calhoun, Englehart


Tracks you've been to:
Green Mountain, Suffolk, Rockingham, Northampton Fair, Great Barrington Fair, Saratoga, Delaware Park, Keeneland, Finger Lakes, Parx before it was Parx; numerous harness tracks


Anecdotes: Loved the Old Saratoga setup when there were no picnic tables and they walked horses around the trees instead of in the paddock;  Got the see Secretariat up close that way as a 2 year old as well as Affirmed and Alydar among may others  And it was FREE, if you can imagine that with the current NYRA schmucks;  Also, was in the infield a number of times including for the 1978 Affirmed vs Alydar meeting in the Travers (which next year will be the Zippy Chippy Travers instead of the Runhappy Travers).

[Badactor]

My new YouTube page... DELL YOUNT

[spanky126]

Hey Gooch...did you forget to mention your trip to the Lone Star State? I'm hurt. Well, ok, I can understand how a Man of the World could forget Amarillo...lol...we did throw back a few shots and have some laughs tho...

[frangooch]

Sorry, Spank. When you pushed me down the flight of stairs, I must have hit my head and lost a few cells. Either that, or malnourishment from eating peanuts and drinking whiskey brings early onset dementia.........

I will mention here that I have been to see you in Amarillo TWICE. See: "Definition of insanity"....

[spanky126]

Wow, how did I miss this comment? Not sure what the statute of limitations are on filing a lawsuit for "shoving" a 60+year old Californian down in another man's sunken den (our home is so 70's). I'm quite sure if said individual is a left coast liberal Democrat he would have a better chance of the San Francisco 49ers winning the Super Bowl than conviction on this matter! But give it a shot Gooch...ya never know! 

[phlierfreak]

didnt throwing back a few shots lead to the sunken den fall?

[roamin]

Hi, my name is Tom. Been fully retired since April. Love getting into contests and betting on the ponies. Live near Monmouth Park and have been going to the tracks for many years. Was a trucker for 50 years and was happy when there was a track running at the time I was near by. Made sure I stopped for a few races. I recently came across upinclass and it looks good to keep coming back. I recognized a few names in here. So I will be here for a while. Cya, Roamin

[tenfurlongs]

Welcome to UpInClass Tom!

TW

[bobtailnag]

Name/nickname: “Mike” - Middle name

First time at a race track: 1944 or 1945 – Too young to remember. Dad was baby sitting

Big wins/narrow misses:Huge miss – 2000 BC Pick-3 (Spain) – Caressing – War Chant, After telling someone to bet everything Lukas put on the track I didn't put Spain on the ticket. It paid $109,XXX.XX

Favorite track(s): Keeneland of all the ones I visited

Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s): Baffert - jockey Dave Gall

Tracks you've been to:Fairmount, Cahokia Downs, Arlington, Prairie Meadows, Hoosier Downs, Kentucky Downs, Ellis Park, Churchill and Keeneland.

Anecdotes: 1967, we huneymooned in San Fran. Pat's grandfather, retired Br. General Frayne Baker, was living on the 17 mile drive close to Fort Ord and we were invited to stay with them for a couple days. It's just a helicoptor ride for about 20 minites. On the ride back to their house Pat asked him, “Grandpa, what should Mike call you?” He replied, “He can call me by my name”. She said, “Frayne?” He replied “General”.

[nickydags]

Name/nickname: Nick

First time at a race track: 1978- I was 3 yo. By the time I was 8 I could read the form!

Big wins/narrow misses: Biggest Win was a 28k 50 cent pick 4, I singled a 40-1 shot in both the pick 3 an 4 sequence, hit both, pick 3 paid 6k for 50 cents. Saratoga.

Favorite track(s):Saratoga, Belmont, Del Mar, Santa Anita

Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s): Bobby Frankel was my favorite trainer. I don't have a particular favorite jockey. All time (Gomez, Antley)

Tracks you've been to: Saratoga, Del Mar, Santa Anita, Delaware Park, Sportsmans Park, Belmont, Aqu, Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Green Mountain

Nice to meet everyone! I am also the Director of Business Development & Media Relations for Past The Wire.

[UpInClass]

Welcome to UpInClass! Always nice to meet new folks.
Please take a moment to introduce yourself to the group.

May your next wager be a winning one!

Dell Yount.

[UpInClass]

UpInClass Horse Racing Forum ... upinclass.proboards.com/

Join the community and enjoy the conversation... You're Invited!

[tenofswords]

Name: Anthony
First time at a race track: 1971, Belmont Park
Biggest win: Danzig Connection in 1985 Belmont Stakes
Favorite track: Aqueduct
Favorite trainer/jockey: Gilbert Puentes, Ruben Hernandez
Tracks I've been to: Aqueduct, Belmont, Meadowlands, Parx, Green Mountain
Anecdotes: Attended the Display Handicap every year from 1978 through 1991. Also nearly froze to death at the 1990 Breeders' Cup.

[turbine]

Name: Bryon
First Time at Track: Sometime in the mid 70's at Commodore Downs (Erie PA)
Favorite track: Saratoga by far
Tracks I've attended: Commodore Downs, The Meadows, Churchill, Pimlico, Saratoga, Tampa Bay

Anecdotes: The whole Saratoga experience has peaked my interest in the horse game. I drive up with GAM to join in the revelry at the condo and the "blankets at the track" with Hooper, Hezethebest, jacckk8, among others
Still a novice but learning a lot with the posts from others

[1hooper]

Good to see Bryon on board. A classy addition.
Hooper

[turbine]

Wow classy. That word is not usually synonymous with my name!! :-)

[jeffthebaker]

Name/nickname: Jeff "The Baker" or Cupcake

First time at a race track: Late 60's Santa Anita Turned myself into the Lost and found

Big wins/narrow misses: To numerous to count, picked 5 out of 6 a couple of times on cheap $2.00 tickets

Favorite track(s): Santa Anita

Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s): Ron McAnally, Eddie D

Tracks you've been to: Santa Anita, Hollywood Park (R.I.P.), Del Mar, Turf Paradise, Los Alamitos, Golden Gate, Pomona

Anecdotes:

[papabear]

Name/nickname: Mike /// IronMike or Papabear

First time at a race track: 1977 as a young boy at Woodbine.

Big wins/narrow misses: I'll Have Another Derby win and Tri .... My best Contest was a 4th for $3k in the Woodbine Challenge.

Favorite track(s):Saratoga

Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s): I've interviewed most of the terrific folks around WO. Mark Casse and Emma-Jayne Wilson are probably my favorites.

Visited: Woodbine, Calder & Saratoga. Plus most of the harness tracks in ONT. (Hanover, Grand River, Western Fair, Mohawk, Greenwood(gone now), Georgian, Kiawartha, Orangeville(gone) and Flamboro). I've had several visits to QH-track Ajax Downs.

[nan53]

Hi, Nan53 here.
Live in SC, but originally from Albany, NY, where going to Saratoga racetrack was "The August Place To Be" in the summer, before they increased the # of racing days. Went with family and friends from 1973 to 1997, when we moved. Remember how great it was in the early days...you could access and picnic in the infield, where it almost seemed you could run with the horses. It's a beautiful place, but way too commercialized now. It's where I fell in love with Secretariat - and it seemed as though Cordero would win just about every race! Biggest single win was with Personnel Director, @ $75.
Other tracks I've been to are Turf Paradise & Yavapai in AZ, and those cool, rinky-dink ones at county fairs.
I admit I wasn't initially into horseracing, but living with my semi-crazed gambling husband - "bitowisdom" - all these years has drawn me to the sport. 😉

[hrhobby]

Name/nickname: GOOCH

First time at a race track: The Meadows, Washington Pennsylvania

Big wins/narrow misses: If I had a nickel I would be a millionaire

Favorite track(s): Keeneland (By FAR the most beautiful track I have ever visited)

Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s): Too many to list

Tracks you've been to: I travel for work on a regular basis and if time permits I will visit any track(s) that are in the area I am visiting. I'm guessing my count at this point is close to 40 tracks (BOTH Harness & TBRED since I like to play both)

Anecdotes: I'll share one of my favorite quotes: "FIGURES DON'T LIE BUT LIARS FIGURE"

Thanks for the acceptance into Up In Class & looking to have some FUN

[cerveza]

Name/nickname:Hi, my name is Chris and I live in Pensacola, FL these days

First time at a race track:When I was about 9 or 10 my Aunt took me to Rockingham Park, but I really got hooked in the late '80's while living in San Diego. Practically lived at Del Mar during the meets.

Big wins/narrow misses: I was living in Phoenix in '96 and dating a girl who was a poker player. She asked me to take her to get her nails done one afternoon and while I waited I stepped across the street to an off-track spot I knew. Bought a $6 super ticket at Turf Paradise that hit with a 50-1 shot in 2nd. Paid $3,500. My girlfriend and I hopped on a plane to Vegas 2 hours later and got married.

Favorite track(s): Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, NZ

Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s): I don't really have a favorite trainer or jockey. Anyone who's hot, I guess.

Tracks you've been to: Going to try and do this chronologically - Rockingham, Del Mar, Bay Meadows, Santa Rosa (Cal Fair), Caliente, Turf Paradise, Prescott Downs, Yavapai, Arlington Park, Lone Star, Turfway Park, Ellerslie (NZ), Avondale (NZ) Wanganui (NZ), Moonee Valley (AU), Flemington (AU), Tampa Bay Downs, Suffolk, Aqeuduct, Fairgrounds

Anecdotes: Oh so many - one of these days I'll share my story about Mr. Frisky

[1hooper]

Cerveza,I have to hear the Mr Frisky story.
My father's cousin was the underbidder on him when he went through the sales.
Hooper

[mhorse555]

Jun 26, 2018 12:25:13 GMT -5 tenfurlongs said:

On the old website we used to have a thread entitled “Resume”, or something like that, where members could introduce themselves briefly, from a horse racing perspective. I always enjoyed reading the “bios”, made it more of a community, knowing a little backstory and such. I thought we might try to build a new thread like that. Suggestions for how to structure it below. I'll jump in first.


Name/nickname:the MAYOR

First time at a race track: la downs

Big wins/narrow misses: 255.00 win bet at bay meadows and a 1865.00  dime at CH

Favorite track(s): delta downs

Favorite trainer(s)/jockey(s): ortez brothers

Tracks you've been to: la downs..delta downs..Remington..lone star...SA...sam Houston..EVD...los al...blue ribbon downs...gulf park...daytona

Anecdotes: