Michael Dickinson and Tapit (... and Buddha too!)

[my miss storm cat]

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.

~ Buddha

I don't know why but I was thinking about Tapit and Smarty Jones (first Derby I ever saw) and remembered something I thought was, well, interesting for lack of a better word.

You guys remember this I'm sure... Michael Dickinson walking around the track beforehand, poking his fingers in the ground, presumably to find a path for his horse.

The thing is, I've never seen a trainer do this since.

Do they and I've just never noticed it?

Was it just that he was eccentric?

Did it have more to do with his development of Tapeta (although that would be a strange time to be sidetracked, right before the Derby and all).

Was it as strange then as it seems now?

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.