Jerry Bailey Retires!

[Pinababy69]

Jerry Bailey rode his last race today at Gulfstream Park in Florida. He finished second in a $500,000 turf race on a horse named Silver Tree. He rode for 32 years, and accumulated 5,893 victories.

I used to follow horse racing so closely, for so many years. Lately I've been out of touch with it, and didn't even realize that both Pat Day and Gary Stevens had both retired earlier this year. The sport has lost three great ones in one year. It's sort of sad in a way, I grew up watching Pat Day and Jerry Bailey win so many Kentucky Derbies, Preaknesses, Belmonts and Breeders Cup races. I feel old....

Jerry Bailey will be joining ABC/ESPN as a commentator at big racing events, so that at least is something to look forward to.

Whenever I think of Jerry Bailey, I can't help but think of Cigar and his amazing reign as the dominant figure in horse racing. Thanks for the awesome memories Mr. Bailey......(hey CM, your namesake, he must be great, lol).

[silcnlayc]

I too am feeling my age then, for I started going to the racetrack with my father at 8 yrs old and fell in love with the thoroughbred racing scene.

I watched Jerry Bailey, Pat Day and all those jockeys race for a lot of years and actually have a program signed with a lot of top jockeys retired/passed away from Colonial Downs grand opening in Virginia a long while back.

Sad to see such a great group of pro's hanging up thier whips.

Geez, gonna go check out who is racing today before I miss someone else leaving !

[paul1]

Jerry Bailey rode his last race today at Gulfstream Park in Florida. He finished second in a $500,000 turf race on a horse named Silver Tree. He rode for 32 years, and accumulated 5,893 victories.

I used to follow horse racing so closely, for so many years. Lately I've been out of touch with it, and didn't even realize that both Pat Day and Gary Stevens had both retired earlier this year.

So did I. I used to be SO into it. Reading the Racing Form for hours. Watching replays. Listening to radio talk about it. Of course, I used to live close to Santa Anita.

But alas, I too have mostly lost interest, mainly since I stumbled onto online gambling. I spend A LOT of free time playing poker on the internet. And believe me, it's a lot easier to win at this than trying to walk out of the racetrack ahead.

But I do still hold a place in my heart for the sport. And I am saddened also to see these icons like Jerry Bailey retire. (it's the reality of getting old, I think, what a bummer)

Thanks for the post, Pinababy. I did not know this info until I read your post. Perhaps I will go to the track soon. I'll tell you, there's just nothing so great as spending a beautiful day at Santa Anita and watching the horses. Win or lose, it's a great way to spend the day and I haven't been there in ages. I like to view the paddock and the walking ring and take a look up close at these wonderful animals.

[paul1]

Whenever I think of Jerry Bailey, I can't help but think of Cigar and his amazing reign as the dominant figure in horse racing.

That reminds me. I went to Del Mar that day to watch him lose. I, and about everyone else in Southern California. There were SO many people that day. I remember a friend and myself climbing out on the roof to get a glimpse of Cigar when he was in the walking ring. I was thinking the security guards might say something, but it was just such a HUGE crowd no one said anything. This was like a once in a lifetime event it seemed like. We were witnessing history.

Midway into the race, I looked at the fractions and they had SMOKED the 6 furlong mark in 1:08 and change. It was all over at that point and you could have torn up the tickets on Cigar at that moment.

But it was a great day, though. All kinds of people. A sunny day at Del Mar. The cool ocean breeze. Ah, Del Mar, where the turf meets the surf. I can hear Bing Crosby singing right now. What a wonder place Del Mar is, and I'll never forget that day watching Cigar.

[Pinababy69]

Thank you Silcnlayc and Paul1 for your posts!! I wasn't sure if anyone would care or not.

actually have a program signed with a lot of top jockeys retired/passed away

Hang onto it Silcnlayc. I have a Pat Day Bobblehead Doll signed by Pat Day at Churchill Downs, I've had it for about five years I guess. I don't even have it sitting out, I have it put away where my little one can't get to it.

I used to live close to Santa Anita.

Lucky you Paul. The races yesterday were actually part of the Sunshine Millions. Four races from Florida's Gulfstream, four from California's Santa Anita. Florida breds vs. Cal Breds. Santa Anita looks like such a beautiful track, with the mountains in the background (the Sierra Nevadas?). One of my dreams when I was younger was if I ever won a lottery to travel all over visiting all the different tracks and seeing some of the more prestigious and historical races, the Kentucky Derby being first on my list.

But I do still hold a place in my heart for the sport. And I am saddened also to see these icons like Jerry Bailey retire. (it's the reality of getting old, I think, what a bummer)

As do I Paul. I have such respect and admiration for the jockeys, and such love for the horses. I too stopped going to the track when I started gambling online. Replace one addiction with another I guess. But I do so love it, and like you used to love getting there early and watching the horses. I used to buy the racing form the night before and study for hours also. Imagine....a woman who knows how to read the racing form, lol. I knew which jockeys and trainers were hot, and not. I knew breeding, I knew which two year olds looked the best, Lasix, blinkers on and off, front wraps on and off, certain trainers little tricks, etc. It was like a science to me. More often than not I lost, but man did I hit some good ones over the years, longshot player that I was. I used to love to see a five furlong workout in :59 and change breezing, most times that horse was ready to pop a big one. Ahh, the memories.

I also feel very old knowing that these guys have retired. It was a big part of my life for a long time.....it's like the end of an era, which was the sentiment I guess I was trying to express in my original post. Thank you!!

BTW, if you're from CA, I'm sure you're familiar with Patrick Valenzuela? He won two of the big races yesterday at Gulfstream. I guess he's making another comeback, lol. It is such a shame, he was always one of my favourites as well, with a wealth of talent and unlimited potential....but he just can't stay away from the nose candy. Maybe this time he'll get it right.

Midway into the race, I looked at the fractions and they had SMOKED the 6 furlong mark in 1:08 and change.

Yep, those are suicide fractions for sure in any race a mile or over. Any horse near the front is NOT going to be there at the end, not even a super horse like Cigar. Do you remember which race started Cigar's reign? I can't remember the name of the race, but it is memorable because it is the race in which Holy Bull broke down and had to be put down on the backstretch. He was another awesome horse, who has sired some amazing offspring.

I envy you that you got to see Cigar in person, albeit from a distance. What a lifetime memory to have to hold onto. And Del Mar sounds like another track to add to my list, lol.

Talking about all this has really gotten the mind and the heart going again. Funny I was just saying to someone yesterday how online gaming is great, but how it sort of makes you become anti-social in some ways, and how you don't get out of the house like you used to. I am making a promise to myself that as soon as the thoroughbred season starts up at Woodbine again, I am getting myself there for a day. By myself if I have to....actually I sort of prefer that sometimes, lol.

Kentucky Derby is only 3 1/2 months away, I think it's time to start studying this year's crop of three year olds.....sure would love to see a Triple Crown winner this year. Afleet Alex broke my heart last year. Whew, this is the longest post I've made in a long time, lol. Thanks again Silcnlayc and Paul1.

[spearmaster]

LOL, I miss horseracing too. I used to pore over the Racing Form before going to the track (usually Holly Park) - never did make any big kills though. I even wrote software for analyzing the form of horses in training and in races over various tracks and conditions. My best success, however, came in harness racing, combined with some software to generate various combinations, not unlike for the lotto. I hit 5 out of 6 playing the Pick 6 4 times straight at Los Alamitos - always missing one somehow... and when I only picked 4 on the 5th session, I quit

Also did this analysis, with completely different software I wrote, when I was in Hong Kong - and did surprisingly good with it. Was almost tempted to become a tipster myself LOL.

Here in Thailand, they run wild ponies, so I don't even bother

[Pinababy69]

I even wrote software for analyzing the form of horses in training and in races over various tracks and conditions.

Wow, I'd like to have a copy of that, lol. I have problems writing an email sometimes, never mind software.

I tried playing the Pick 6's and Pick 7's a few times, but without much success. When I can pick one or two off a program, I consider myself lucky. I've never had a huge amount of success with harness racing, although I do enjoy it as well. In the summertime here at Woodbine, they have Friday night racing. Coupled with a few soda pops, a nice way to spend an evening.

Here in Thailand, they run wild ponies, so I don't even bother

Do they ride bareback, or do they use saddles?

[spearmaster]

Do they ride bareback, or do they use saddles?

Never watched it, but I presume they use saddles

As for the software, I lost both versions - and this was almost 15 years ago

[paul1]

Lucky you Paul. The races yesterday were actually part of the Sunshine Millions. Four races from Florida's Gulfstream, four from California's Santa Anita. Florida breds vs. Cal Breds. Santa Anita looks like such a beautiful track, with the mountains in the background (the Sierra Nevadas?). One of my dreams when I was younger was if I ever won a lottery to travel all over visiting all the different tracks and seeing some of the more prestigious and historical races, the Kentucky Derby being first on my list.

Santa Anita IS a beautiful track. Do you know they were talking about tearing it down and building condos not too long ago? The real estate is so valuable in Los Angeles. I think the hills in the background are the San Gabriel Mts. (I think) and on a clear day they are very scenic. On other days, you can hardly see them. They are not very far, but the smog is ridiculous.

You sound a lot like me, Pinababy. I had the same dream when I was younger. Ha! I wanted to visit every track in the country. Sadly, now I'm middle aged and have not been very far. I've been to Turf Paradise in Phoenix, and Portland Meadows. And, of course, most of the tracks in California. And that's it so far. There's still time, I guess. But I wouldn't be surprised if someday there are only a few live tracks still racing, and piping their beem to bettors everywhere. And the local governments are so slow to help the horse industry. They tax it to death.

As do I Paul. I have such respect and admiration for the jockeys, and such love for the horses. I too stopped going to the track when I started gambling online. Replace one addiction with another I guess. But I do so love it, and like you used to love getting there early and watching the horses. I used to buy the racing form the night before and study for hours also. Imagine....a woman who knows how to read the racing form, lol. I knew which jockeys and trainers were hot, and not. I knew breeding, I knew which two year olds looked the best, Lasix, blinkers on and off, front wraps on and off, certain trainers little tricks, etc. It was like a science to me. More often than not I lost, but man did I hit some good ones over the years, longshot player that I was. I used to love to see a five furlong workout in :59 and change breezing, most times that horse was ready to pop a big one. Ahh, the memories.

I also feel very old knowing that these guys have retired. It was a big part of my life for a long time.....it's like the end of an era, which was the sentiment I guess I was trying to express in my original post. Thank you!!

BTW, if you're from CA, I'm sure you're familiar with Patrick Valenzuela? He won two of the big races yesterday at Gulfstream. I guess he's making another comeback, lol. It is such a shame, he was always one of my favourites as well, with a wealth of talent and unlimited potential....but he just can't stay away from the nose candy. Maybe this time he'll get it right.



Yep, those are suicide fractions for sure in any race a mile or over. Any horse near the front is NOT going to be there at the end, not even a super horse like Cigar. Do you remember which race started Cigar's reign? I can't remember the name of the race, but it is memorable because it is the race in which Holy Bull broke down and had to be put down on the backstretch. He was another awesome horse, who has sired some amazing offspring.

I envy you that you got to see Cigar in person, albeit from a distance. What a lifetime memory to have to hold onto. And Del Mar sounds like another track to add to my list, lol.

Talking about all this has really gotten the mind and the heart going again. Funny I was just saying to someone yesterday how online gaming is great, but how it sort of makes you become anti-social in some ways, and how you don't get out of the house like you used to. I am making a promise to myself that as soon as the thoroughbred season starts up at Woodbine again, I am getting myself there for a day. By myself if I have to....actually I sort of prefer that sometimes, lol.

Kentucky Derby is only 3 1/2 months away, I think it's time to start studying this year's crop of three year olds.....sure would love to see a Triple Crown winner this year. Afleet Alex broke my heart last year. Whew, this is the longest post I've made in a long time, lol. Thanks again Silcnlayc and Paul1.

Pat Valenzuela is one of the biggest talents in my opinion. What a shame about his problems.

Holy Bull is one of my all time favorite horses. What a GORGEOUS charcoal gray this horse was. And the MUSCLING on him! He broke down in the Donn Handicap if I remember. I don't remember that Cigar started his streak then, but if you say so I will take your word for it. But as far as I know, without news to the contrary, Holy Bull is still standing.

Another favorite of mine was Cal-bred Best Pal. If you're from back east, you may not remember him. But he was a huge crowd favorite in Southern California, especially Del Mar. And I believe he finished 2nd in the Kentucky Derby in 1991 (?) I quickly found a link just now and here is a picture of the crowd at Del Mar when Cigar was there. You'll see what I mean.

http://www.horse-races.net/cigar/pc8.jpg

I had a great day that day. I still remember the fish tacos. lol They were great and I ate about a gazillion of them, along with a Tecate each time, of course.

Hey Pinababy, I've always wanted to go to Woodbine. Someday, my friend, I'll make it. You take a flight to Del Mar, and I'll fly to Woodbine, and we'll wave at each other somewhere over Kansas.

Good post, nice talking with you.

[paul1]

Here in Thailand, they run wild ponies, so I don't even bother

Ha! Here in California, they've got several donkey races during the summer fair meets. I remember the first time I saw one, I said to a friend, "Hey what's with the ears on that horse?" lol

Of course, out here in the west, harness racing is on its last legs. They only race at Cal Expo now in Sacramento, no longer at Los Alamitos. I remember a day when it was pretty big here. They used to have a good meet at Hollywood Park. I guess it's still big back east.

Los Alamitos runs a mixed card now. Appaloosas, quarterhorses, thoroughbreds. That was my old stomping grounds. Catch the races at night, then head on over to Gardena to play lowball. Ah, the good old days.