Originally Posted Saturday, May 4, 2013
"Unlike most of the others in the press box, we didn't give a hoot in hell what was happening on the racetrack. We'd come to watch the real beasts perform. . . thousands of raving and stumbling drunks. . ." (Hunter S. Thompson).
I set goals for this weekend. Today I am to weed some jasmine patches and pull potato vines out of the ground around the hedges. I also am to go to the nursery and buy some plants to pot and place around the deck. It seemed such a fun and good and productive idea when I set this goal. I am to do this after I go early to the gym. But this morning, all I want to do is go have breakfast at the greasy spoon and come home to read. I am lazy. And the jury is out. I'll let you know tomorrow what gets done. You probably are already setting odds.
Speaking of setting odds, today is the running of the 139th Kentucky Derby, and the big story is Rosie Napravnik, a twenty-five year old woman trying to become the first ever to win in this race. She will be atop Mylute, and surely everyone will be pulling for her. I know I will. You must pull for someone and I know nothing about horses, but I always watch the Kentucky Derby, often from some wonderfully appointed bar. I've watched it from the bar overlooking the ocean at the Breakers in Palm Beach on many occasions. I've watched it from the original Bradley's there, too, the once famous speak easy and gambling establishment owned by a longtime horseman. What a wonderful bar that used to be, one of the best. I've watched from Lillian's in Gainesville, Florida when it was the only bar of it's type in town, back when Harry Crews used to have the barber's chair reserved for himself only. I've watched it from other renowned bars as well, all gone now. And I have to say, the Derby is usually a very exciting race.
I don't know why, though, they don't have a special jockey's league for women. In basketball they have the WNBA. In MMA fighting, they have a special women's division. It really isn't fair to men to make them race with women who have every advantage. They are naturally smaller and lighter. They begin riding when they are young. Every girl of means has a horse and learns to ride from professional trainers. Nope. It is just not fair.
But this Rosie Napravnik is young and beautiful and talented and I will bet all my money on her. If you were one of those who watched the Nick Nolte/Dustin Hoffman series called "Luck" on HBO for the one season it was on before they cancelled it because horses were injured in making the show (which we soon learned was just the basic truth of all of horse racing), you will know that Kerry Condon played a female jockey, Rosie Shanahan, and I'm certain she was based on my new favorite. I am in love with both of them. Yes. . . all of my money.
If you are anything like me, you will be watching the race from somewhere, and if you have a lick of sense, you will forego any mint julep that is offered you. There is no more vile drink ever concocted. I once had the owner of a famous cafe make mint juleps for the race. He was not allowed to sell hard liquor, so he gave them away at race time. It was my first and last julep. Still, there will be fools who are not wise enough or strong enough to admit that the drink is ridiculous. If you must, just take the bourbon, and if it is available, make it Wild Turkey. Nothing I've ever experienced has ever been so good at starting a fist fight.
Oh, if I am going to do my yard work, I had better quit putzing around here. There is much to do and a day to spend wisely. There is nothing like the thrill of a beautiful lawn. I couldn't be happier.
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