I was on four different buses today and much joy was brought to my heart. The young pregnant women dragging toddlers with the welfare bus passes, the non-English speaking illegals, and the bums who got on the bus to hustle the fare amongst the passengers once they were aboard made me proud to be a taxpayer. The great joys of diversity made my heart sing.

Anyway, it was nice day at Belmont Park despite dropping some dollars.

Early on I was pissed with the tote board. I understand that time has passed me by but I never wanted to see a cartoon show up front. You can't railrat anymore without the color toys out front. Nobody was there to see it, just some old farts to curse it.



I was caught stooping along the rail. There were no scratches and no winners but I did snag some dry cigarette butts that could still catch some flame.



Down the lane in race 3 the #5 fave BROCK was not going to get by the winner.



I was just happy as a 63-year-old to share the rail with thousands of my fellow rail rats like I did decades ago.



This is IMAGINING going by me down the lane in race 6. We had the horse covered but the price was terrible for the horizontal plungers.

You mean, you didn't come across any of these guy's yesterday?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG8NqUtidIc&feature=player_embedded

50,000 in attendance, or close to it. Punched up the 1970 Belmont with High Echelon and Cappy.

I was 22 and railratting with the old man for the HIGH ECHELON Belmont, Gentleman John Rotz up. That was Derby winner PERSONALITY's stablemate but the big horse got sick and was scratched. We launched a major tap out on that horse and I believe he paid 9/2. 'Twas a rainy day and 41 years ago.

I'd like to know who was taking your picture while you were crawling along the rail

1/8 Pole had just come back from the mutuel windows. He dropped a giggling young woman from the Dominican Republic and grabbed my camera off the bench.

I could be a grandfather again.