Horse Racing and a Missing Kitten

It's a beautiful day outside - and I have my patio door wide open, as well as the patio window.  Birds are singing, squirrels are chasing one another, Lovey is curled up on the top of the cat tree in the sun, and Nedi is sprawled on the patio, soaking up fresh air and all the activity around him.  I was very sorry to see a notice in the apartment building stating that the grey marmalade tabby kitten I call Simon is missing.  He's about 5 months old now, and the owners have not had him neutered, and have allowed him to roam.  There are so many possible bad outcomes....  I hope someone took him in and has given him a wonderful home, including neutering, shots, and lots of love and toys.
   Besides doing all of my usual morning chores with my kits and the apartment, I've visited and cared for Jasmine this morning, and I've stopped by Lynn's house to water her garden and walk Tess.  I can't figure out why Lynn always puts seed down and then goes away on travels, leaving the garden care to me, on a daily basis...  At least Martine takes care of the garden and yard on Friday.  And I'll pick Lynn up at the airport tonight when she returns from California.  Between then and now, I'll visit both Jasmine and Lynn's house again, continue in my Spring cleaning of the apartment, and, probably, do some more Busey family research...  They are fascinating relatives.
   Four major horse races took place yesterday - two in Meydan, the Dubai Gold Cup and the Dubai World Cup; and the two Derbies I mentioned yesterday.  The Dubai Gold Cup had a purse of $1 million; the winner was Brown Panther, followed by Star Empire, and Ahzeemah  ran third.  In the $10 million Dubai World Cup, the winner was Prince Bishop, with California Chrome running in second, and Lea finishing third.  California Chrome's connections have decided to ship the 4-year-old from Dubai to Royal Ascot in England.  Which race he'll enter has not yet been decided.
   In the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, Materiality continued his winning ways, as the son of Afleet Alex was expected to do.  Upstart, a son of Flatter ran second, and another Flatter son, Ami's Flatter, ran in third.  In the Louisiana Derby at the Fairgrounds, the son of Fusaichi Pegasus, International Star, won impressively for the Ramsey family.  Stanford finished a game second, with War Story four lengths behind him.  Things are gearing up for the first Saturday in May....

Strangers At My Door

Yesterday seemed to be my day for strangers at my door.  At 6:35 in the morning, there was a "Shave and a haircut" knock on my door that had me scurrying to answer it.  That is Bea's knock, and for her to be up, dressed, and at my door at that time could only indicate an emergency.  Imagine my surprise when I snapped the door open, and found what appeared to be a Sumo wrestler dressed in multiple layers of sweats, astride a bicycle in the hall.  I know that my eyes opened wide and my mouth gaped.  He looked just as surprised, and said, "Oh.  I'm very sorry.  Wrong door."  I closed the door immediately, and stood there a moment, but did not  hear him knock on any other doors.
   At two in the afternoon, I was deeply involved in getting information on the Busey family, and there was a loud knock on the door.  I saved what I was working on, and opened the door with an inquiring look on my face, as I wasn't expecting anyone.  There were two females standing there, both in short skirts and high-heeled boots and with make-up that looked as if it had been applied with a trowel...  They looked at me, and I looked at them.  I finally said, "Yes?  ...  You did knock..."  and they started giggling like mad, said, "Wrong door," and left.  I just shook my head.
   At two this morning, I awoke to movement on my patio.  The cats had alerted me, and I knew it wasn't an animal, because they both dove under the bed.  I could see the shadow of a human body on my curtains.  I put on my glasses, picked up my cell phone, and sat up on the edge of he bed.  Then I heard him try to open my sliding glass door.  I took three quick steps to the curtain, and had the phone raised to my ear.  I swept the curtain back, and saw a man in jeans and a jacket, with curly dark hair, struggling to pull the door open.  It took him a moment to realize that I was standing there, looking at him. I began acting as if I were talking to the 911 assistant.  The man's eyes got very large and then he backed up, waving his arms, and saying, "Wrong apartment!  I'm sorry!  I thought this was Sheila's door!"  And he took off at a staggering run...  I don't know if he was drunk, high, or a combination of both....
    A few choice three-year-old thoroughbreds will be racing in two Derbies today - both the Louisiana Derby and the Florida Derby will take place this afternoon.  Everything looks good, working up to that first Saturday in May!
    Enjoy your weekend!
 

A Horse-y Blog

Home again, for a few hours, before heading back to Boo's.  I'll grab Rosie this afternoon and we'll have a doggie day care afternoon while I read my book in the back yard....  And I hope to remember that Tuesday is Nedi's birthday; he and Lovey will get a nice dinner for a special day.
  The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has announced that the Spring Round-up of ponies will be held April 11 and 12 on Assateague Island, as usual.  Pony Penning is held annually on the last Wednesday and Thursday in the month of July.  This year the Pony Swim from Assateague to Chincoteague will be held on 30 July, the Pony Auction will happen on 31 July, and the Swim Back to Assateague will occur on 1 August.
  It's only five weeks away from the Kentucky Derby... Time flies.  Most folks remember Barbaro, the gorgeous bay colt by Dynaformer, who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, but who shattered a leg  in the 2006 Preakness, and was later euthanized.  Barbaro's full brother, Nicanor, became a father for the first time last week, when Kansas Kitty gave birth to a beautiful chestnut filly.  Nicanor stands at Shamrock Farm in Maryland for a fee of $2500.  Lentenor, Barbaro's 6 year-old full brother, began standing at the Indiana Stallion Station for a fee of $2000 in February of this year.  I'm looking forward to seeing their get on the track.
  There were three Derbies run yesterday - the United Arab Emirates, the Florida and the Louisiana - and two Oaks races - the Fair Grounds and Gulf Stream.  I wish I had been able to see all five races in person.
In the fillies races - the Oaks - both winners were superb.  In the Gulf Stream Oaks, In Tune out-dueled House Rules by a head, with Bobby Flay's home-bred America in third. At the Fair Grounds Oaks, Untapable was unstoppable under Rosie Napravnik, and will probably be the bettors top choice in the Kentucky Oaks.  Fiftyshadesofgold finished second, under Mike Smith, with Unbridled Forever in third and Mary Rita in fourth.  In the Louisiana Derby, Rosie Napravnik, again, rode the winner, a small dark bay/brown colt named Vicar's in Trouble.  Mike Smith rode the second-place finisher, Intense Holiday, with Commanding Curve running in third place.  In the Florida Derby, Constitution had a solid win over Wildcat Red.  Betting favorite Cairo Prince finished fourth behind General a Rod. And in the United Arab Emirates Derby, Toast of New York won handily over Asmar, with Emirate's Flyer in third and Giovanni Boldini in fourth.
  I guess I'll be starting out with a new case of Derby Fever soon....