Life on Thoroughbred “Dirt Tracks”

Equine, Personal 7 Minutes

Folks who follow Thoroughbred racing on TV only see the pomp and ceremony in gorgeous, bucolic settings – IOW, the elites – not the mundane and yes, often seedy, environs of the small, cheap, so-called “dirt” tracks. It is rare for trainers from these small tracks to make the big time. Jack Van Berg was one of them. I worked for him briefly at Ak-Sar-Ben, which, by the way, is Nebraska spelled backwards.

I first began in the early ’70’s at Fonner Park in Grand Island, which has now been incorporated into the State Fairgrounds. Atokad Racetrack (Dakota spelled backwards for the Indian tribe) in So. Sioux City has been closed and Ak-Sar-Ben has been demolished. This was the first race of the season last year at Fonner Park.

The horses are walked to the paddock before every race, where they are tacked up, and a Paddock Judge checks the lip tattoo of each horse. All racehorses have a number tattooed on the underside of their upper lip, which identifies them. He also gives every horse the once-over for any injuries or injection sites. Yes, some of the dirt-track trainers dope their horses. As with any insular culture, there is a hierarchy and most are fully aware of which trainers dope or mistreat their horses.

Usually, it is the groom – the 2nd to lowest in the pecking order – who is at the heads of those horses, trying to keep them calm and focused. Grooms literally live with their horses for every minute of every day within a very transient life. You move from track to track, staying in various places – a hotel in Gr. Island, a rented room in a private home in Columbus, an apartment in Omaha, a hotel across the river in Sioux City.

By the way, if you want to know who to bet on in a race, find a way to talk to the grooms. They know ALL of the inside skinny – which jockey is going to throw which race in order to help a young jockey into the winner’s circle (called a “boat race”), which horse is drugged out of it’s mind, which horse is particularly sore that day, which one is a “machine” horse……they know it all!

Ah yes…..a “machine horse.” I had one of those: Stumpy the Boy, sire named Stumps. It was he who stomped on my bare foot right over my arch (NEVER go barefoot in the shed row) with the sharp toe grabs on his new shoes. I almost passed out and couldn’t wear my boots for weeks but I ran my horse!

This is Secretariat but Stumpy looked exactly like him.

A “machine” is an electric buzzer that jockeys hold in their hands or, if there is a “shakedown” in the starting gate, hide in their clothes. Stumpy would be 15 lengths behind into the last turn, yet end up 10 lengths in front at the finish line! He was THAT fast but it took a shock from a machine to get him moving! Here’s a trick for you: when you see a horse corkscrewing their tail, going round and round, that is often an indication they were just “plugged in.”

Stumpy did NOT like men – he had been hand-raised by a woman; he also hated for someone to stand outside his stall and look at him – with Stumpy, you did NOT dawdle in front of the stall. Walk right in or he would come at you with ears laid back and teeth bared. I put a metal gate on his stall rather than the webbing seen in this picture of a shed row on the backside at Belmont Park.

A groom’s life is repetitive – every single day, there are certain activities that must be completed for each horse and there are generally 4 horses for each groom.

Each horse must be fed at the same time every day with it’s own individualized feed mix, with supplements and medications. In the spring, it is around 6 am; in the heat of the summer, it is 4:30 am. When it is 90 degrees and humid by 8 am, you want your horses done with their workouts and back in the barn early. While they eat, the grooms head to the track kitchen to fill their own bellies, gulp as much strong black coffee as possible, and gossip; back to the barn within an hour or so, often making a stop at the head on the way back since your barn is a long way to walk.

The trainer will have provided instructions as to which horse is to be taken to the track to work-out and which are to be just walked. Most trainers have “hot walkers,” i.e., people who walk the horse around in a circle. Many also have mechanical walkers, such as this homemade one.

Automatic Walker

Some horses are very laissez-faire about this procedure, while others are absolutely terrified. The on/off switch is at the center – if a horse is acting up on the walker, you take your life in your hands trying to get to the on/off switch, all while holding your horse. So, you wait until the open spot comes around, step in and walk along as you connect the snap to your horse’s halter. It takes talent and agility!!

While the horse is out of the stall, you clean the stall, re-bed it, wash the feed and water tubs, and refresh the water and hay. You bring the walking horse in and commence the daily grooming – brushing, clipping, cleaning and treating the hooves, etc., etc. Some horses have their legs rubbed each day with liniment and stall bandages that must be applied carefully – too tight in the wrong direction and you run the risk of a “bowed” (i.e., damaged) tendon.

If your horse has been to the track that morning, about the time you get the stall done, the exercise rider is bringing your horse back and it is now time for the bath. I always trained my horses to ground-tie, i.e., I could drop the lead shank on the ground, say “stand,” and they would stay there while I bathed them. That proved challenging at the Columbus track, since our barn was located just 20 feet from the railroad tracks. THAT was fun!!!! Not really so grand, in truth.

Grandstand at Columbus, NE

Another of my favorites, Z Irish Lover, was indeed, the lover in the stable! Everyone simply adored her – she was a laid back, lanky bay mare, with white markings, who simply loved people – ALL people – but especially children. It is rare, indeed, to find a Thoroughbred race horse who can be trusted with children. Lover was that one! After a race, the horses have to be “cooled out,” or walked and watered until the sweat dries, they are breathing normally and their adrenaline has leveled off. Lover always tried to go down the shed row where the most people were located. She loved the attention.

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Of course, we grooms always wanted our horses to look especially pretty. We would often make our own yarn pompoms, in the owner’s racing colors – Gary’s were Kelly green and white (his last name was Kelley). I would use a white bridle on her, with green and white pompoms in her braided mane and tail, and green or white “rundown” bandages. These are stretchy bandages that provide a little bit of support for their legs during a race. These are bell boots to protect the coronet band, from which the hoof grows (white area at top in pic below).

Coronet Band

There are different classes of races at every track: allowance, stakes, claiming, maiden, etc. I won’t get into the details but will provide a link for those who are interested. The majority of the races on the dirt tracks are claiming races – btw, if the horse dies during the race? Too bad – you just bought yourself a dead horse!

“Claiming Races are when owners can buy or sell their thoroughbred horses. Every thoroughbred horse running in a Claiming Race can be purchased (“claimed”) for a specific claiming price prior to the race. The horses usually have a similar value in price, bloodlines, and age.

A claim has to be put in before the actual race goes off. The outcome of the race is inconsequential once the horse has been claimed. The prices range on a low end of $1,000 to as much as $100,000.

The previous owner receives any winnings if the horse is in the money and the new owner receives the horse. Over half of the Thoroughbred Horse Races in America are Claiming Races, this serves as a way for owners to buy and sell horses.”

https://horseracingbettingknowledge.com/types-and-classes-of-horse-racing/

Lover always ran in stakes races but did not have the skills and ability necessary for the top races. She won repeatedly up to a certain level but was unable to compete above that. Finally, the owner decided to run her in a $15,000 claiming race, thinking no-one would take her for that amount. Lo and behold! She was claimed!!! It was THE hardest day ever for all of us working for Gary.

As her groom, it was my responsibility to take her over to the claiming shed so the owner could take possession. I cried all the way and passed by one of my fellow grooms on the way who was also in tears. I was required to remove her bridle and watch as they put on their own halter. I almost exploded when I saw them put the chain over her nose. There are many methods used to control a horse with a lead shank – usually leather with a measure of chain and a snap at the end. Some horses need this chain over their nose, some under their chin, and some inside their upper lip on their gums, called a “lip chain,” in order to control them. Lover NEVER needed such harsh tactics! I refused to allow them to take her away until they moved that chain!

The only thing that gave me any solace was that she had been purchased for breeding purposes and would never be raced again. Some years later, when my b-Mom was working on the racetrack in New Mexico, she happened to see a young horse on the program whose dam was Z Irish Lover. She bet on her because she remembered me raving about Lover and won hundreds of $$$’s on her win ticket.

I was happy envisioning my Lover romping in the fields with her foal by her side!

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Published by NebraskaFilly

Army veteran (1976-1979), retired with entirely too much time on my hands

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125 thoughts on “Life on Thoroughbred “Dirt Tracks””

    1. Yes, she is truly gorgeous and yes, we know Donald Trump appreciates beautiful women. But I’ll bet dollars to donuts that he appreciates her mind as much as, if not more than, her looks and sexiness.

      Liked by 2 people

        1. His first wife was clearly a very smart lady; Marla, not so much – even then, when I knew next to nothing about him, I figured out she wasn’t the smartest tack in the box. Not surprised that didn’t last long.

          Liked by 2 people

      1. my first concert was a RUSH concert–me! at 16–and i was appalled…LOL…I was a fresh innocent girl–these people were depraved…passing joints and bags of little pills…they didn’t even know me…wanna hit? I turned to my boyfriend and said give me the car keys I’ll go sit in the car…smh

        Liked by 1 person

          1. this concert was a farm arena–no seats–we took his younger brother (my age) and his girlfriend with us.
            afterwards i said no more freaky concerts.
            we did however go to 3 tom petty concerts…those were awesome!

            Liked by 1 person

            1. The most enjoyable for me were the Bull Run concerts, as well as Garth at the Capital Center in DC. I sat on the phone trying to order tickets for HB’s 14th BD for almost an hour. He had originally scheduled 3 concerts – there were so many requests that he added 2 more.

              When I finally got the tickets ordered, he had added the last one at the beginning of the concert series and he wasn’t quite feeling up to par. So it lacked some of his normal energy.

              We still had a wonderful time – I took HB and her BFF at the time.

              Liked by 1 person

  10. for the love of mike…
    he has money and wanted to restore a modicum of free speech…he’s not a savior, but he’s not destroying democracy either…these people are beyond hope

    This deal is dangerous for our democracy. Billionaires like Elon Musk play by a different set of rules than everyone else, accumulating power for their own gain. We need a wealth tax and strong rules to hold Big Tech accountable.

    — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) April 25, 2022

    Liked by 2 people

    1. one tweeter in particular is attacking the tweet because he got Kyle’s name wrong–others are saying he used Carl (instead of Kyle) because that was Swayze’s name in Ghost…dunno…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh, FFS – who cares, for pete’s sake???? I’m anal so I pick up on shit like that but it really doesn’t matter in the whole scheme of things. Interesting the possible connection to Ghost, tho – hadn’t crossed my mind.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. wow I never wanted to punch someone more…
    reading this morning that, when asked about Evan Bishop–the Nat Guardsman who drowned saving the illegals, psucky responded that he wasn’t working for the gov’t at the time, he was working for the state, so the responsibility falls on them!
    what a callous, cowardly thing to say!!!
    if that’s the case, then all the border governors can tell their nat guardsmen to REPEL the invaders not help them in.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. more examples of wasteful spending in the bills quickly passed by congress…an opera about monkeys?
    FTA
    Lankford highlighted the top ten examples of government spending he found most egregious, beginning with what he called President Biden’s “border boondoggle.”

    “President Biden was so determined to leave the border open, he spent (read: wasted) well over $2 billion to not build fencing,” the report reads. “Career professionals at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had studied and recommended the wall system on our border, but Biden paid Department of Defense (DOD) contractors millions a day not to build the wall but to babysit the fence materials on the ground ready to be installed. Then after a year of public pressure, Biden agreed to ‘close the gaps’ in the border fence.”
    Joe Biden

    The report goes on to note that DHS now plans to deploy “robot dogs” that cost anywhere from $90,000 to $150,000 a piece to assist in patrolling America’s border with Mexico.

    Lankford also decried the National Institutes of Health’s decision to award millions in funds to Peking University and the Chinese Center for Disease Control & Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the National Endowment of the Humanities’ move to give $120,000 to two authors who write books on Russian art.

    Other wasteful spending examples included $15,000 in taxpayer dollars toward funding an opera about monkeys, $500,000 to revamp a New Hampshire ski club, $3 million for a fisherman’s co-op in Guam, and the Biden administration’s infamous $30 million grant program offering “safe smoking” kits that would help reduce the risks of smoking illicit substances such as crack cocaine or crystal methamphetamine.

    https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/sen-james-lankford-latest-edition-government-waste-watch-federal-fumbles

    Liked by 1 person

  18. EXCERPT: “While it is certainly no secret that Musk has dangerously set his sights on the Chinese market — Peter Schweizer profiled it in his book Red-Handed while Breitbart News has reported on it multiple times — Jeff Bezos criticizing him for it is probably the most pot-calling-the-kettle-black moment in billionaire history. Not only did his platform, Amazon, censor critical reviews of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s book, a Foxconn factory in China was using child labor for manufacturing Echo and Kindle devices. As Breitbart News reported:

    Over 1,000 students, as young as 16, were drafted from schools, hired by the factory as “interns,” and pressured to work overnight and weekend shifts for meager salaries. Chinese labor laws allow 16-year-olds to work, but not during either night or overtime shifts.

    Student laborers said their work had nothing to do with their studies in school, the ostensible reason they were sent to the factories as “interns.” Nevertheless, their teachers told those who complained, also paid by the factory, that their grades and scholarship applications might suffer if they refused to work.

    Critics of Bezos did not let the billionaire off the hook for his own rank and file hypocrisy.”

    https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2022/04/25/jeff-bezos-trolled-knocking-elon-musk-china-connections/

    EXCERPT: “Didn’t like Chinese President Xi Jinping’s book? Keep your mouth shut.

    That’s what China told Amazon, according to a new report, when the country pushed the bookseller to delete all comments and reviews related to “The Governance of China,” a compendium of Xi’s speeches and writings.

    Amazon complied. It’s another example of a US company bending to Chinese pressure in order to keep doing business in the huge and growing economy. The government edict was delivered two years ago, according to the Reuters report citing two people familiar with the matter, but had never before been disclosed.

    Now, on Amazon sites accessed within China, there are no reviews or star ratings for the book. The censorship demand was made after some reviewers gave the leader’s tome less-than-stellar marks, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.”

    https://nypost.com/2021/12/20/amazon-ordered-to-delete-reviews-of-chinese-presidents-book-report/

    Liked by 1 person

  19. how to hide your involvement in nefarious possibly criminal behavior dem style—use a pseudonym as your official government email account…
    FTA
    Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco’s alleged use of a “pseudonymous email account” may be breaking “clearly applicable laws,” a lawyer responsible for uncovering Obama EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s false identity told the Daily Caller on Monday.

    Monaco, confirmed by the Senate in April 2021 with bipartisan support, holds the Justice Department’s (DOJ) number two gig and in part focuses on the DOJ’s Jan. 6 riot investigation.

    Buried in an early-Monday morning New York Times article about Attorney General Merrick B. Garland was a revelation about how Monaco conducted business – and Washington, D.C., lawyer Chris Horner says it raises questions similar to those asked when he learned Jackson used “alias” email accounts.

    From the NYT:

    Ms. Monaco’s office overcame hiccups, too. It did not play its traditional management role under its predecessor, and she had to ease information bottlenecks. Exceedingly wary about cybercrime, she used a pseudonymous email address. That precaution, normally taken by attorneys general, gave those outside her staff the impression that she was difficult to reach.

    Horner, in an emailed statement to the Caller, argued that Monaco’s alleged use of “a pseudonymous email account is a terribly poor exercise of judgment for a government official.” Horner specializes in open records matters and, in addition to Jackson’s false identity, uncovered other chicanery within the Obama administration.

    “For a DoJ lawyer, well, it doesn’t get better,” Horner said.

    Horner noted that Jackson’s “alias” email accounts ran “afoul of the Federal Records Act,” which requires “that all parties to correspondence be identified.” He suggested Monaco’s alleged use of a pseudonymous email account could pose similar problems.

    “A pseudonymous email account by a government official — let’s say, ‘Richard Windsor’ when your name and position are ‘EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’ — runs afoul of the Federal Records Act requirement that all parties to correspondence be identified,” Horner said, citing one of Jackson’s aliases. “Of course, a pseudonym doesn’t merely obscure one’s identity, like a bcc: would. It goes further by affirmatively misstating the identity of the party. All of which a lawyer, who underwent training when appointed, might know.”

    “It seems the more reasonable, lawyerly approach would be to order an assessment of DoJ cybervulnerabilities and remedy any concerns, rather than break clearly applicable laws,” Horner added, addressing the NYT’s note that Monaco was “wary about cybercrime.”

    https://dailycaller.com/2022/04/25/lisa-monaco-pseudonymous-email-account-law-concerns-chris-horner/

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Gotta love our see-saw weather…..it was only 22 when I got up this morning. Bright sunshine, tho, with some hopes for rain towards the end of the week. Crap…..I’ve gotta mow soon…..sigh….I just don’t GAS any more…..

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Man, I wish I had other options besides DTV w/o streaming…..DISH isn’t much better and I don’t think I can even get it here anyway.

    EXCERPT: “DirectTV reportedly refused to air advertising for the Citizens United documentary Rigged: The Zuckerberg-Funded Plot to Defeat Donald Trump, Breitbart News has learned.

    The refusal is detailed in an April 15 letter to Michael Hartman, who is the General Counsel and Chief External Affairs Officer at DirecTV.

    According to Michael Boos, Vice President & General Counsel at Citizens United, Citizens United Foundation learned on April 5 that DirecTV would not run advertising for the documentary, which details just how Mark Zuckerberg spent $400 million for 2020 election efforts to quash former President Trump and bolster then-candidate Joe Biden. According to Boos, the DirecTV failed to give an adequate answer as to why it was rejecting the ad.

    “When the account representative for the media buy firm inquired as to why, the only explanation given was that the company’s standards and practices department ‘isn’t client facing,’” he wrote, blasting the lack of justification as a “red flag,” which suggests that the ad’s rejection “was a blatant act of censorship” rather than a legitimate exercise.
    ————————-
    Boos pointed out that Facebook allows the Rigged ads — an “ultimate” irony — “while DirecTV and other media entities seek to censor them.” He ultimately wants Citizens United Foundation and its sister organization, Citizens United, to “use all means at their disposal, whether they be legislative, regulatory, judicial or rallying the public in the court of public opinion to challenge and undo DirecTV’s woke censorship policy.”

    https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/04/25/directv-reportedly-refused-air-advertising-rigged-documentary-woke-political-censorship-says-citizens-united/

    Liked by 1 person

  23. The Bee – entire article:

    “U.S.—Chris Wallace’s name started trending along with search terms “unemployed” and “learn to code” when CNN+ shut down this week, but Wallace has voiced a more troubling concern than potential joblessness: his recently-acquired CNN+ tattoo on his lower back.

    “I went all-in on CNN after ditching Fox, but now I’m starting to have second thoughts,” Wallace said in an interview with a smirking Peter Doocy, wincing as he touched the still-tender skin just above his buttocks. “I was sure CNN+ was going to be a hit and that I would soar to new heights of relevance! How could this happen?”

    Sources confirmed that Wallace is looking into tattoo removal services, but has been told a full removal will be difficult as he got the tattoo in solid black ink. He has also asked for his old job back at Fox but was turned down as Fox has a strict policy against anchors having CNN+ lower-back tattoos. The out-of-work newsman is now hoping for a future career on Dancing With The Stars or The Masked Singer.

    At publishing time, Congressman Kevin McCarthy was a few offices over, reportedly looking into tattoo removal services for his “Trump Stamp.”

    Liked by 1 person

  24. More from the Bee:

    Entire article: “U.S.—As Elon Musk inches closer to a deal to purchase Twitter, Leftists on the platform are worried the eccentric billionaire will turn the platform into a place where terrible people post bad opinions and fight with each other all the time.

    “I’m worried Elon will turn Twitter into an awful place, where people say mean things. Can you imagine?!” said Twitter user Xander Piddlewonk. “What if he allows people on his platform who will fight and say terrible things and call each other names and try to cancel everyone? That would be horrible! I just may have to move to Canadian Twitter. Is there a Canadian Twitter?”

    Experts agree that ownership by Elon risks dragging the platform down into an unprecedented cesspool of hate and vitriol and people saying despicable things just to get attention. Even worse, they’re warning of a scenario in which Leftists have to defend their political opinions, Big Pharma has to defend its vaccine recommendations, and Conservative thinkers don’t get silenced.

    “He may even bring back… DONALD TRUMP! REEEEEEEE!” cried Piddlewonk before tearing at his clothing and diving out of a nearby window.

    Seizing the moment, Mark Zuckerberg has invited everyone to move over to the Metaverse, which features robust and progressive content moderation, leading dozens and dozens of people to join.
    ————————-
    Mandy is absolutely triggered by Twitter’s possible takeover by Elon Musk. She attends a Twitter-sponsored therapy session to help her cope.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. The Bee:

    “Florida legislature has revoked Disney’s self-governing status which means that some bold new changes are on the way. Disneyland in California will remain a popular site for human trafficking but the Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL is going to experience a dramatic overhaul.

    Take a look at these exciting changes on the way:

    1) The Hall of Presidents will just have 46 animatronic Donald Trumps: They are the greatest robots, maybe ever. Everyone says so.

    2) Chip and Dale will now reside in separate trees: We can’t let our children be corrupted by cartoon characters having too close of a relationship.

    3) Avatar land will be turned into an IP someone actually cares about like Krull: Wield a sentient weapon and save the world!

    4) Only the original Star Wars trilogy may be spoken of: The prequel trilogy is too perfect to corrupt with human speech.

    5) The only country featured in Epcot will be AMERICA: America is like a highlight reel of all the best countries anyway.

    6) All Disney princesses to be replaced with Melania Trump: Finally, real diversity!

    7) Weird Disney adults who come without kids will be banned: Yessss!!!

    8) Human trafficking is strongly discouraged: And no more kids on leashes, you weirdos!

    9) It’s A Small World attraction to be dismantled by tactical nuke: The area will be sealed off for thirty years.

    10) Johnny Depp’s character will no longer wear eye shadow on the Pirates ride: Will also incorporate ex-wife Amber Heard in a redesigned auction scene.”

    Liked by 2 people

  26. I never paid any attention to baseball plus I was in the middle of all the family BS at that time so this is the first I’ve heard about this.

    Entire article @ BB: “Monday marks the 46th anniversary of the “greatest play in baseball” by Chicago Cubs centerfielder Rick Monday who’s quick thinking stopped a protester from burning an American flag on the field. As the Cubs faced the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 25, 1976, a pair of protesters ran out onto the field in the bottom of the fourth inning with an American flag doused in lighter fluid.

    The pair tried to light the flag on fire using matches they brought for the purpose, but Marine Corps veteran and Cubs centerfielder Rick Monday wasn’t having any of that. Monday bolted across the field and yanked the flag right out from under the anti-American protesters.

    The crowd leapt to its feet in applause and the scoreboard broke out in a message reading “Rick Monday… you made a great play. On the air during the broadcast, legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully famously said, “It looks like he’s gonna burn a flag!” And added, “Rick Monday runs and takes it away from him. … I think somebody was going to set fire to the American flag. Can you imagine that.”

    “If you’re going to burn the flag, don’t do it around me,” Monday said immediately after the Dodgers 5–4 win. “I’ve been to too many veterans’ hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it.” “I don’t know what I was thinking,” added Monday, who spent six years as a Marine. “But I knew what they were doing was wrong.”

    The protesters, a father and son pair who had trespassed onto the field, were arrested. William Errol Thomas was fined $60 and sentenced to a year probation, but his son wasn’t charged since he was an 11-year-old juvenile at the time.

    “It angered me for a lot of reasons,” Monday told NBC Sports on a past anniversary of his iconic moment in history. “First of all, you’re interrupting the game. Secondly, now you’re bringing out a flag, and I was only about three or four years removed from being in the Marine Reserves.”

    Years later, Monday was asked if he was annoyed by the fact that his entire 19-year MLB career is overshadowed by the flag incident. He replied, “if that’s all I’m known for that’s not a bad thing at all.” Monday also said, “It’s a good thing I did get it because I did not want any of my former drill instructors from the Marine Corps to come and say, ‘Hey Marine! Why did you stand there and watch when they ignited the American flag?’”

    Monday began his MLB career with the Athletics in 1966 before joining the Cubs in 1972. He ended his career playing on the field that witnessed his “greatest play,” when he signed on with the L.A. Dodgers from 1977 to 1984.”

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Aw, gee…..mysterious outbreak in 12 different countries of acute hepatitis – including 2 in IL, 2 in NC, 9 in AL. Claims it is connected to a cold virus……yeah, right!!!!! CDC issues “health alert!” SMDH

    Liked by 2 people

  29. Good morning y’all! Rainy today. Enjoyed the opener. My older cousin, who passed a couple of years ago, was a horse trainer. She came up through the ranks since her teen years. Remember shuckin’ stalls with her when we were kids. She was based out of Versailles, KY before she passed from cancer. She had a leg amputated above the knee and still rode and trained. She had started in MD, working tracks like Laurel. Her name was Wendy.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh, wow! She was working in the Big League of horse racing!!!! The only big race I ever attended was the Preakness one year, when I was in the Army. Our tickets were for the in-field and it was just one HUGE party! All the liquor you could want and pot wafting in the air. Man, was that ever fun but crazy!!! I’ve got pics…..somewhere….

      In 2012, after my a-Mom died and I was able to quit my job, I took a road-trip back to VA and came back thru Kentucky on my way home. Visited Claiborne Farms and Churchill Downs, as well as another stop at the Kentucky Horse Park. Versaille is the very center of the Thoroughbred breeding world in Kentucky.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. And corporate medicine made a TON of money when a good laxative would probably take care of the problem!!!! Not to mention some prune juice!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  31. He is dead on-target with this one!!! Psychiatrists are a HUGE problem!!!!! That was very clear to me way back when I got married at 17 and visited with one – my in-laws thought I needed it because of the abuse I experienced. But, then, they thought I was a dumb country bumpkin w/o a brain! He never told me anything, just kept saying, “uh-huh” and asking more questions. After HB went to see one, all of a sudden, all of her problems were MY fault!!!!

    EXCERPT: “A significant amount of the insane and incomprehensible statements and actions we’ve been witnessing around us have their hidden roots in effects of drugs. The celebration of drugs (both street and pharma) took off 50 years ago. It was a planned operation, designed to destabilize and take down societies and nations.

    In fact, much earlier, in the 1950s, the CIA, during its infamous MKULTRA mind control program, was consciously seeking out drugs that could disable populations. This was one of the secret aspects of MKULTRA.

    The result of that plan and that search came to fruition—but not within the CIA. The overwhelming success was transferred to the field of psychiatry, which became the kissing cousin of the CIA—and psychiatry was medically justified (through fraudulent research) and enthroned with official status by national governments.

    Psychiatry IS the official gatekeeper of the mind and consciousness.

    And it is also the dispenser of killer drugs.

    Originally, I planned to boil down and limit this podcast, time-wise, but I quickly realized that, of course, the material and the vital stories were the whole point…and as long as it took, I would tell the tale. In the fullest terms possible. No holds barred. That’s what I’ve done.”

    https://jonrappoport.substack.com/p/my-new-podcast-kill-shot-psychiatry

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Elon Musk just gave $44 billion dollars to the former owners of Twitter that they can now use to end hunger, disease, poverty, war, and injustice.
    Which they will do first?

    — Robert Zubrin (@robert_zubrin) April 26, 2022

    Liked by 1 person

  34. EXCERPT: “The New York Times is seeking to hire a reporter who will cover “right-wing media” and “inhabit corners of the internet that popularize far-right or extremist ideas.”

    The newspaper is searching for a politics reporter with a concentration in right-wing media to report “critically and fairly on people with extremist views.” The job description said it is searching for a candidate to analyze aspects that “popularize far-right and extremist ideas.”

    “The New York Times is seeking an experienced, ambitious and motivated reporter to cover the news outlets, online communities and influential personalities making up the right-wing media ecosystem that now serves many conservative Americans who no longer rely on the mainstream media to inform themselves,” the job description wrote. “The ideal candidate is resourceful, persuasive and prepared to inhabit corners of the internet that popularize far-right or extremist ideas, providing our readers with a critical listening post on those ideas before they achieve wider circulation.”

    “Prerequisites include the backbone to withstand aggressive blowback, impeccable journalistic ethics and the ability to report accurately, critically and fairly on people with extremist views,” the description added.”

    https://dailycaller.com/2022/04/26/new-york-times-reporter-dedicated-right-wing-media-look-like-extremists/

    Liked by 1 person

  35. I see a lot of pearl clutching going on about the WHO and some amendments to some treaty that would force sovereign nations to become subjugated to their medical decrees…
    the line is that their amendments are to a treaty already passed–so the WHO can just do this without additional approval.
    my thinking…IF the WHO attempts this…when we return to the majority in November, congress nullifies the treaty…if they have to approve it, then that means, they can annul it.
    we fight for our freedom!

    Liked by 1 person

  36. EXCERPT: “The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments in a case considering whether the employer of Joe Kennedy, a former high school football coach, violated his First Amendment rights by firing him for praying on the field after a game.

    The case, Kennedy v. Bremerton, considers whether a public school employee saying a brief, quiet prayer alone but in sight of students is protected speech under the First Amendment or counts as “state action.” The court’s conservative justices challenged the notion that Kennedy’s speech could be interpreted as state action given Bremerton School District’s opposition to his public prayers.

    “What if the coach, instead of taking a knee for a prayer, took a knee during the national anthem because of moral opposition to racism,” Justice Clarence Thomas asked. He also argued the prayers could not be interpreted as government speech since the school had condemned the behavior.

    Justice Amy Coney Barrett also argued that Kennedy’s prayers did not violate the First Amendment because he was not speaking on behalf of the government when he prayed.

    “What is perhaps most troubling about the Ninth Circuit’s opinion is language that can be understood to mean that a coach’s duty to serve as a good role model requires the coach to refrain from any manifestation of religious faith—even when the coach is plainly not on duty,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote when the court initially denied the case certiorari in 2019.”

    https://dailycaller.com/2022/04/25/supreme-court-joe-kennedy-football-religious-freedom-first-amendment/

    Liked by 1 person

  41. The family of Grace Shara is now running over a dozen billboards in the FOX Valley area.

    From the Press Release: “Grace was admitted to St. Elizabeth’s for Covid-19 respiratory issues, but was recovering before a doctor began giving sedatives to her.

    Dr. Gavin Shokar, MD, apparently found it so likely she would die from his administration of Precedex – a powerful sedative used in surgery – that he wrote his own do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order on her a mere eight minutes after giving her the maximum dose. When Grace was still alive Shokar then combined Precedex with Lorazepam (another powerful sedative) and a Morphine push within minutes of one another on Grace’s last day to finish her off. A 14-year ICU nurse, Hollee McInnis, delivered the lethal dosage.

    “Each of these medicines, on their own, have an increased risk of serious or life-threatening breathing problems and cardiac arrest,” said a doctor familiar with Grace’s case. “There’s an additive effect when used in combination. To use them like they did in a person with a diagnosis of acute respiratory distress is beyond believable as to intention,” she said.

    A DNR order is legally required to be discussed with family and consented to in writing, neither of which occurred in Grace’s case. Grace was not given a DNR bracelet, which is required by law. In fact, family members were never told Grace had a DNR designation until her last breaths, when doctors and nurses did nothing to help her, despite the family telling them Grace didn’t have a DNR. Apathetic medical staff allowed Grace to die as her sister at her bedside helplessly begged them to revive her, while her parents – who were not allowed in her room – watched her die via FaceTime.”

    https://freedomrockradio.co/news/family-launches-billboard-campaign-claims-pfizer-drugs-and-wisconsin-hospital-killed-their-daughter-grace/

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Do all the horses you groom belong to the same person?

        Does the set travel to the same track?

        I don’t like horse racing TBH because one always hears about the mistreatment of horses.

        I hate how a lot of them are dumped. Just give them a big field.

        Are you as a groomer allowed to bet on the races?

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Yes, you work for specific trainers and care for their horses exclusively, for the most part. Grooms will sometimes help others out, like friends. A friend of my Mom’s only had a couple of horses – not enough to hire a groom and it was just part-time for him. He had a mare scheduled to run and asked me to run her for him and I agreed. Right before I left the stall with the mare to go to the paddock, he comes in and pops her in the neck with a needle. Blood was running down her neck. SMDH – Rol Schall, the paddock judge, was also a mutual friend – he knew exactly what the guy had done and passed her anyway. She ran out of the money and I told him to never, ever ask me to run a horse for him again!!! But, that’s a dirt track for you. The big, elite trainers are better at hiding that shit. None of the legit trainers I worked for pulled that crap.

          Normally, you will stay with the trainer from track-to-track, depending on where they go. The trainer I worked for in Columbus, Dennis, didn’t go to Ak-Sar-Ben – he went to Chicago. Since I didn’t want to go to Chicago, I went to work for Gary Kelley. He didn’t go to Lincoln but Dennis did, so I went back to work for him there. Worked for someone else at Atokad. You get to be known around the track and develop a reputation – if it’s a good one, you never have to worry about being out of work, for the most part.

          Yes, we can bet all we want. I would put a $2 sentimental bet on my horses but rarely bet other than that. Jockeys are a different story, altho they all find a way to do it anyway.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Thanks for that. This is all new to me. Sorry for all the questions.

            If the paddock judge had pointed out the needle mark are they fined for it?

            What % of horses are drugged to run do you think?

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            1. Don’t ever worry about questions, Kea – happy to answer them.

              Yes, if Rol had been doing his job as he should, the trainer would be fined and lose his trainer’s license. I would guess probably a minimum of 90% are drugged in some form or fashion, some acceptable under racetrack vet rules, and some not. For instance, they didn’t allow Lasix back in the years when I was working there. It is a drug used for horses that bleed excessively from the lungs after exertion – “bleeders,” we called them. Now it is legal.

              One of the things that is quite common on all tracks is “freezing” their legs. The horse stands with it’s front legs in a big tub of ice, sometimes for hours before a race. I watched a filly whose legs had been frozen so hard that, coming to the finish line, she broke BOTH front legs and still tried to keep running. She couldn’t even feel the pain. It disgusted me completely and I always refused to participate in it after that. Thankfully, none of my trainers did crap like that.

              Liked by 1 person

  45. Hi!!!! Went for a walk. Chased rabbits.

    Filled up two cars so that was almost $100.
    Went to Aldi and got meds so that was like another $80…

    Yikes!!!!

    Did find a kick ass mirror someone had tossed into the garbage. Its pine and made in the USA. So Yeah!!!!!

    Liked by 2 people

  50. Entire article @ BB: “A U.S. agriculture inspector whose job was to keep disease and pests out of the country pleaded guilty to letting ranchers bypass animal quarantines in exchange for bribes. The inspector received between $40,000 and $95,000 from Mexican cattlemen for allowing them to cross into Texas without incident.

    Monday, 68-year-old Roberto Adams went before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Kazen in Laredo, where he pleaded guilty to one count of bribery of a public official. Adams was a lead animal health technician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture until he left the service in December 2021, after being discovered. He is expected to go before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo on August 3 for a sentencing.

    The case against Adams began on January 8, 2021, when an anonymous tipster reported him to the USDA Office of Inspector General claiming that an inspector was letting cattle with live ticks into the country. By March of that year, authorities spoke with a cattle broker who told them that a Laredo-based inspector named “Roberto” was accepting bribes in exchange for letting cattle with ticks into the country. Investigators recruited informants and were able to learn that Adams was using a secret cell phone to communicate with Mexican ranchers.

    By November, federal authorities obtained a search warrant to go through Adams’ phones and interviewed him. Adams revealed that he accepted bribes in exchange for letting sick cattle or animals with “dry ticks” into the country without quarantines or other measures. A search of the phones revealed that Adams would use a messaging application to coordinate the wiring of funds into his bank account.”

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