NICK'S PICKS, COLONIAL DOWNS, THURSDAY JUNE 28TH

WINNER'S CIRCLE PHOTO TALES

After the "Victim's of Nick's Picks" suite Saturday night, I framed and hung the latest winner's circle photo on my winner's wall located in the hayloft office of the warmest room of my house.  Of the 14 that Jeff Coady has taken that made the wall, several stand out.  There's one with my Board of Supervisors when I was working in Greene County.  To get 4/5th of the governing body in a conservative county to come out to the races was a coup.  Coady's favorite is one with my son Jacob on my shoulders with googles that winner jockey Richard Boucher tossed to him.  Unknowingly to me, he  flipped on the googles, not to be noticed until Jeff printed the picture later that afternoon.  I have several with Bert Allen who gave me a standing invitation to jump in any winner's circle photo on his son's winners usually with new fans I brought to the track.  There is a night photo with "Questa" with Mike and Darla Barone thanks Equibase Bill's horse.  "Derby" Bill makes several on the wall, and in many of the later ones, actually looks at the camera.

My thoughts also drift to the many that got away.  In the early days of "Down the Stretch" co-host K-9 Kenny and I would frequently crash a winner's circle photo, a much easier caper than it is now.  My mind wanders to the thoughts of those winning connections that could identify everyone in their winner's circle photo except for two.  I think were finally passed the statute of limitations.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

It were not  best that we should all think alike; its a difference of opinion that makes horse races.
- Mark Twain

HORSES AROUND...

Last year's Virignia Derby winner AIR SUPPORT worked out on the Belmont Turf Wednesday morning (6/27) with the dogs up breezing 4 furlongs in 48.19.  SILVER MAX, certainly the favorite in this year's Virginia Derby, worked 4 furlongs Tuesday morning (6/26) over the Churchill Downs firm turf with the dogs up in 49.0 flat.