Last night Jeff and I double dated at the Northville Downs with Northville Record Photographer John Heider and his date, Dorie. The racetrack is ending its live harness racing season just as Kentucky Derby fever gets under way.
I love living by the track, and I've always been fascinated by the horse racing culture. On Friday night we got a behind-the-scenes tour from Publicity Manager Michael Carlo.
Mike took us to the stables, where horses, vets, state regulatory officials, crew and riders were in the midst of race night.
"We have 93 horses and 12 races tonight. It's controlled chaos," Carlo said.
We met the sparkled and fringed rodeo gal who wrangles runaway horses. We also met drivers, including Art Mc Illmurray, who recently celebrated his 3,000th win.
John and Dorie got to ride in the starting gate truck. Meanwhile, Jeff and I broke even on our bets thanks to Champagne Slammer and JL's Last Dance. We picked them simply because we liked their names (Jeff's initials are JL), and Carlo said there's no shame in that.
"There are a thousand ways to place a bet and a thousand ways to pick a horse," he said.
Northville Downs will simulcast the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, May 2. Doors open at 9 a.m. and the first race posts at 10:30 a.m.
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