Keeneland Opening Day a Precursor

Good evening all.  Please be advised that this is my first ever weblog and, although I'm sure you will all agree that it is a journalistic masterpiece, not all of my blogs will be of such Pulitzer Prize-winning caliber.

With that said, Friday begins yet another Spring meet at Keeneland Race Course.  The meet will contain the runnings of great races such as the Bluegrass, Ashland, and Lexington.  Moreover, as long as the weather obliges moreso than last year with its sub-arctic temperatures and blustery snow squalls, the crowds will presumably be large and comprised of attractive, race savvy, deep pocketed, and drunk, very, very drunk fans.

I know what you all are thinking,  how great it is that we have reached this time of year.  Another Spring has sprung.  The Final Four is down to four true goliaths.  Baseball's opening day has finally come and gone.  The cherry blossoms have arrived.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's all fricking great.

What you are all forgetting my dear friends is that Spring is not officially here until May 1, i.e., opening day at the Big T.  You got it, the first day of live racing at Thistledown.  Who needs Grade 1 races that determine whether or not many horses are talented enough or even eligible based on earnings to run in the Kentucky Derby or Oaks?  Who needs top-notch racing at every level when you can see maidens running at Thistle for whopping purses of nearly $13k?  Who needs to watch racing at a track where Sonador won an epic Breeder's Cup Classic race while trained by some little pre-teen blonde chick in a movie worthy of Oscar consideration tantamount to No Country for Old Men?

What we need to do is countdown the days until May 1 when the Big T will launch another year of live racing across the street from a mall that is less than 20% occupied and houses such great upscale restaurants as Wendy's and Auntie Anne's Pretzels.  For the sake of comparison, it is Thistledown, not Keeneland, that can boast an abundance of $4,000 claiming races.  Yes folks, I used to own a horse who ran at the Big T and to this day, I still think he only had three legs.

Finally, I'd like all of you to take your elite Keeneland racing with your great betting races, multi-million dollar horses, pristine track and facility, and gorgeous people and shove it where the sun don't shine.  I won't be able to wake again until my beloved Big T turns on its lights and finally releases their "thoroughbred race horses" from the gates once again at the corner of Warrensville and Emery.  Until then, my winter hibernation continues.

Oh yeah, by the way, APRIL FOOLS!