AT THE DERBY

I know one thing about horse racing. I've won money betting on it.

Fellow teacher Mike Gibbons always went to the Kentucky Derby. Mike liked the horses. And the atmosphere. And, I suppose, mint julips. None appealed to me.

One day in the Teachers Lounge, my buddy Will Lee talked me into splitting a two dollar bet with him on some horse. So I invested my dollar. We gave our money to Mike to place the bet at the 1977 Derby. Our horse came in third, which means he "showed" which means we won $6.40 or $3.20 each.

That's the only time I ever played the ponies. I never watch the races. It's the same with the Indy 500 and cars. I'm just not interested.

But when Barbaro went under the knife, I became interested in him. I often wondered why they shoot horses, but read an article about colic and the dangers that poses to the horse. I sure hope Barbaro can make it. That break(s) hurt to watch, similar to Joe Thiesman's compound fracture of his right leg.

Thiesman made it. And if I were a betting man, I'd say Barbaro will be fine, too.