Preakness Saturday

It's grey and overcast here - the clouds are hugging the foothills, and I can only see the bottom 50 feet of the first Flatiron.   Hopefully, the rain that is falling around the area will manage to help the fire fighters up in Poudre Canyon; that wildfire has spread to almost 8,000 acres, and is about 45% contained.  It turns out that a man was camping there in the Poudre Canyon, and the wind over-turned his alcohol-burning stove.  He tried to put the fire out, then fled.  He has been ticketed, which has a cost of $350.00, but as the state has had to declare an Emergency Disaster, there is talk of holding him responsible for damages done by the fire. 
  The forecast for Pimlico is sunshine, and officials are hoping for a good turnout of fans and revelers.  Coverage will begin at 2:30 on NBC Sports Channel, then switch to NBC at 4:30 (EDT).  I am still  sticking with my picks - I'll Have Another, Cozzetti, Tiger Walk, and Optimizer.  I still fear Bodemeister might shoot to the front and slow down, making it difficult for the closers to get into gear.  If Bodemeister can do that, he might be unbeatable today.  But I'm pulling for I'll Have Another.
  The Boulder History Museum opened a new exhibit yesterday - it's called Chief Niwot: Legend and Legacy.  There are no known photographs of our Chief Niwot (which means Left Hand in Arapaho); there are photos in existence that capture the images of his brother Neva, and his sister Snake Woman.  Niwot was an exceptional man - he spoke at least seven Native American languages, as well as English, and Coyote French.  He grew up near trading posts, and knew well the ways of the white settlers.  Niwot and his band of Southern Arapaho lived peacefully in this area, following the buffalo, which formed the basis of their subsistence and played a key role in their culture. When gold was discovered in the mid-19th Century, fortune seekers flooded the area, as did settlers. Niwot, who had learned English from his brother-in-law, a white trader, sought to make peace with the newcomers, hoping to share the land. He was mortally wounded in the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864. After that, the Southern Arapaho were sent to Oklahoma, and the Northern Arapaho were moved to the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.  If you are interested, I highly recommend going to the exhibit, and the perusal of two books:  Chief Left Hand by Margaret Coel, and Halfbreed: The Remarkable True Story of George Bent written by David F. Halaas and Andrew E. Masich.
   My kits and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!