[mick]

Back in the bad ol' days of Kentucky racing, one of our favorite angles was to play incoming shippers who had shown just a little something at out-of-state tracks. Sometimes we didn't even need that because we knew those horses would be juiced to the eyeballs and run their lungs out after they got to the bluegrass. The flip side was to make sure you didn't play them when they shipped out, especially to a NY track where they have always been strict about race-day meds.

True story. About fifteen years ago, I was at Kentucky Downs with two friends, Lee and Buzz. (Buzz was an RDSS user but now has returned to playing poker.) There was a Maiden Claiming race on simulcast from Churchill.

One of my first tosses was a 5YO, New Jersey bred, FTS that had a couple of slow works at a Southern California training track. Buzz tossed him too and the horse went off at more than 50-1.

We watched in amazement as that 5YO, New Jersey bred, FTS pulled away from the field and won easily. What was even more astonishing was that our friend Lee was on his feet and cheering.

Buzz and I turned and said in unison, "You bet that horse?"

Lee just shrugged and said, "There's a reason they shipped him here, fellas. After all, they run Maiden Claiming races in Southern California."

Lee had $20 to win on him, plus the exacta, trifecta and superfecta. He didn't have enough pockets for the money.

It's not that bad anymore. Kentucky has gotten serious about race-day meds but I remember those days and as result, I seldom play the local tracks, with the exception of Keeneland which is about as spotless as a track can be.

Tim's right. It's happening. I saw a race at Finger Lakes recently that defied all explanation. And puzzling performances at Parx are rather commonplace. But what can you do? I don't want to give up the game. I like it too much. I just hope I catch enough of those suspect winners to make up for my losses.