Continued..
Saturday 11am ish - get to the track and hit the (free) beer straight away, no rest for the wicked.. Was introduced to Mrs Scavs, lovely woman.. Can't really remember much about the first part of million day except myself, Scavs and 3 of his mates went into a show parlay. 4 of us did the job perfectly but guess who lost all our wad? :-)
I go down to chat to Chuck, Paula, Bob, Barney, Philscki and his wife before the Secretariat and gradually Winchester become a lot more appealing. Then I get to the stage where I REALLY like him, and play him big.. Most of us around the box had him, knew our money was safe turning for home and it was fab.
I then went back to Scavs with a big smile:
Scavs - "What the F**k, I thought you hated Winchester"
Me - " Yeah, well, eh, eh, yeah, I sorta got to like him"
Scavs - "F**k"
I go back to the lads in the Box and tell them that that big French outsider Toque de Queda is growing on me to, especially as 50-1+ is an insult. She ran a huge race for 3rd and could have been 2nd with a bit more luck (apparently, Mr Murtagh, the real Mr Murtagh was a pound or two overweight!!). I think Barney told me that had that French horse won, he probably would have raped me!
!
I really pounded Archipenko in the Million despite his very short price (drink kicking in I think), but saved myself a small bit by having boxed the 3 euros in an exacta. It was a disappointing way the race panned out, but Mendizabal did what all good jockeys do on lone speed.
Oh yeah just before the Million, a few women dropped by Scavs' box - Barb and Bessy.. They were great girls, brilliant fun, but they somehow didn't quite understand me when I called them "savage" - "What, savage? like from the jungle?" Lost in translation I guess!
Actually one of them made about 100dollars where all the rest of us lost money, so not bad. And congrats too to Brian who made a nice killing on the Pick 4!
Went to Gators afterwards for some food and more drink with Scavs' mates and the girls. Had a fun night, had enough to drink. I dont think we got into too much trouble though. I did learn a few new words though from the lads - my fav has to be "tramp stamp"!! Went to bed wrecked on Saturday, ready for Red Sox - White Sox the next day
Sunday 8.30am - up, surprised Im not that hungover ready for breakfast at the Egg Factory. That is the place where Scavs and his mates have breakfast and where the girls from yesterday work.. There were plenty of sore heads this morning. Geoff, one of the lads, gave me a few "Geek Squad" t-shirts that I can proudly wear back home.
Myself and Scavs (who has to wear his Cubs cap!) met up with Barney, Roger and Lucy and headed to US Cellular Field. Great place, I have to say, but we did miss out on a Nick Swisher Bobble head - so disappointed!
Anyway, it was a fab day just sitting in the sun having a few beers, chatting away. Scavs kept saying how if you wanted to visit a real place, you have to visit Wrigley Field, well about halfway through the game with a fair few beers on us, Barney suggested we go to Cubs game that evening against the Cardinals. So Scavs dropped us off somewhere near Wrigley and we went to our 2nd game of the day. It was very much like Fenway, and I have to feel for the woman a few rows down from us who was seated right behind a pole.
Next day, I buzzed round with Barney for it. Met possibly the most beautiful woman Ive ever seen in my life that day in Shoeless Joes, in some NW suburb of Chicago - went to the Red Sox - White Sox again that evening to watch Beckett pitch.. We got a close hand view of these 2 South Chicago women that I had been warned about. Man, they were excruciating to listen to. Just awful.. Anyway, it was great to see Beckett pitch..
Didn't really do much of note the next few days in Chicago and then onto Boston, just relaxed and took it easy. I did go to Suffolk Downs on Friday and had the distinction of winning the opening Pick 3 at Arlington, but actually lost money. I played 2 in the first (they came 1st and 2nd) 2 in the 2nd (they came in 1st and 2nd) and 3 in the 3rd (they came in 1st, 2nd and 3rd) but still lost $1.50.. Anyway, Rosa Grace at Saratoga got me back the money..
So that was about it. I had a brilliant time, was great to see everyone and thanks to all for their kindness and hospitality.. Will see ye again for the Breeders Cup!