Mike Eaton sent his Dirt Sprinting filly Make Me Clever to a maiden event in Hipodromo Argentino while Channi Ruzzo sent her dirt sprinting colt The Proven One aka “Plato” to a 75k stakes race in Adolescent Acres in California. Meanwhile, a scheduling goof up forced me to stay in Toronto for the week as I anxiously await results. How did it all turn out? We’ll find out soon enough…
AND NOW…SIM Series – Week 3 Episode 3
I awoke early Saturday and after having a light breakfast of Frosted Flakes, orange juice and a boiled egg, I immediately started my drive over to Brampton to meet Chris Simpson and his dirt sprinting colt Acting Up. I was happy to be on the road. I spent the week visiting places like the Hockey Hall of Fame, Royal Ontario Museum, Centre Island, The CN Tower (which Channi has never been past the first floor), and the Distillery District, which I believe I visited on Thursday. The locals at Mill St. Brew Pub and Tappo Wine Bar were simultaneously friendly and hostile. They called me a “homer” for not wanting to drink that much, so I took it upon myself to represent the USA in all its glory and drank, err um soda pops all night with the locals. Mary Weather spent all day Friday trying to call me, but needless to say I wasn’t taking ANY phone calls yesterday.
I pull up to Chris Simpson’s place and notice that he lives in an apartment. Oddly enough, it did not offer horse parking, so I’m not sure where he manages to house his 200+ horses. I’m guessing he uses other people’s farms like Mike. I ring the bell from outside so that he can “buzz” me in.
Chris started his racing career on February 25th, 2008. Compared to the other owners, he is the newest player by far as he is in his 3rd full racing season, fresh off his Junior Player Status. The Dare to Dream (DTD) Program has helped him build a small stable foundation with horses like his dirt router Child Goddess. Like many players his horses are many, but his stars are few.
As we walk into his apartment, Chris begins to express his joy about our return to racing. “Break is so long,” he says. “I can’t wait to enter my horses, especially the claimers since those races fill so quickly. Good thing races split themselves now.”
I bring up my “walk barefoot 50 miles in the snow” story and tell him that when I started my stable back in umm March 2007, the DTD Program didn’t even exist, races filled up as soon as the clock hit 12AM Pacific Time, we only raced once a week, there weren’t as many tracks and circuits and without SIMperior you couldn’t even view when your horse ran last without clicking on each one individually. YES! All 200 or 300 or however many in your stable! He’s not amused or entertained at all with my story. I stop lamenting and ask him what he expects from being on SIM Series.
“I’d hope to learn more about racing,” he says. “Especially how to handle them. There are so many great people in the SIM.”
We continue chatting about random SIM stuff, agreeing and disagreeing on the new features. As he brings them up, I secretly compare them to my “barefoot 50 miles in the snow” sob story. He mentions auto shipping. I remember forgetting to ship let alone even knowing when to ship and having to pull up the SIM map to see how far Cyprus Racecourse really was from California! (Trust me, it’s very far!) He mentions Horse Cemeteries. Though cryptic, I remember Ara Davies campaigning for them while she cremated many of her fallen racers and not being able to give them proper burials. He mentions the Pasture. I remember my farm (Hill Valley Equestrian Center) all mixed up where current racers grazed with retired ones. He mentions the SIMperior Edge and the wealth of information. I remember posting multiple repetitive/smart/dumb/good/accusing questions about stuff including one of the longest forum postings (I believe 159 responses over 11 pages), about the Horse Whisperer (a new addition at the time), ROI (Return On Investment) and whether or not it was an unfair advantage for SIMperior members. I ponder the silliness of it as we continue chatting about SIM 4.0. Oh, the plight of a newbie!
Eventually, I get around to asking about his dirt sprinter Acting Up. He’s a sturdy brown 15.1 hand colt out of Inspired Skye and a mare named Behaving Badly. Acting Up is also a $50,000 Steward Bred auction purchase.
“I expect him to be a small stakes winner,” Chris says. “At the worst, an allowance horse. I’ve entered him in a Maiden Special Weight at Brooklyn Raceway for Week 3 Friday.”
I look at the entry and notice he’s equipping him with lasix, a tongue tie, and hind bandages already. So far only four other horses are entered. We chit chat for a while longer and try to handicap the race. I eventually make my way out as my flight time nears. My semi-vacation in Toronto is quickly coming to a close as I prepare to fly south towards New Orleans, Louisiana to meet Katy Turner and her turf sprinting colt All For Fun.
Chris started his racing career on February 25th, 2008. Compared to the other owners, he is the newest player by far as he is in his 3rd full racing season, fresh off his Junior Player Status. The Dare to Dream (DTD) Program has helped him build a small stable foundation with horses like his dirt router Child Goddess. Like many players his horses are many, but his stars are few.
As we walk into his apartment, Chris begins to express his joy about our return to racing. “Break is so long,” he says. “I can’t wait to enter my horses, especially the claimers since those races fill so quickly. Good thing races split themselves now.”
I bring up my “walk barefoot 50 miles in the snow” story and tell him that when I started my stable back in umm March 2007, the DTD Program didn’t even exist, races filled up as soon as the clock hit 12AM Pacific Time, we only raced once a week, there weren’t as many tracks and circuits and without SIMperior you couldn’t even view when your horse ran last without clicking on each one individually. YES! All 200 or 300 or however many in your stable! He’s not amused or entertained at all with my story. I stop lamenting and ask him what he expects from being on SIM Series.
“I’d hope to learn more about racing,” he says. “Especially how to handle them. There are so many great people in the SIM.”
We continue chatting about random SIM stuff, agreeing and disagreeing on the new features. As he brings them up, I secretly compare them to my “barefoot 50 miles in the snow” sob story. He mentions auto shipping. I remember forgetting to ship let alone even knowing when to ship and having to pull up the SIM map to see how far Cyprus Racecourse really was from California! (Trust me, it’s very far!) He mentions Horse Cemeteries. Though cryptic, I remember Ara Davies campaigning for them while she cremated many of her fallen racers and not being able to give them proper burials. He mentions the Pasture. I remember my farm (Hill Valley Equestrian Center) all mixed up where current racers grazed with retired ones. He mentions the SIMperior Edge and the wealth of information. I remember posting multiple repetitive/smart/dumb/good/accusing questions about stuff including one of the longest forum postings (I believe 159 responses over 11 pages), about the Horse Whisperer (a new addition at the time), ROI (Return On Investment) and whether or not it was an unfair advantage for SIMperior members. I ponder the silliness of it as we continue chatting about SIM 4.0. Oh, the plight of a newbie!
Eventually, I get around to asking about his dirt sprinter Acting Up. He’s a sturdy brown 15.1 hand colt out of Inspired Skye and a mare named Behaving Badly. Acting Up is also a $50,000 Steward Bred auction purchase.
“I expect him to be a small stakes winner,” Chris says. “At the worst, an allowance horse. I’ve entered him in a Maiden Special Weight at Brooklyn Raceway for Week 3 Friday.”
I look at the entry and notice he’s equipping him with lasix, a tongue tie, and hind bandages already. So far only four other horses are entered. We chit chat for a while longer and try to handicap the race. I eventually make my way out as my flight time nears. My semi-vacation in Toronto is quickly coming to a close as I prepare to fly south towards New Orleans, Louisiana to meet Katy Turner and her turf sprinting colt All For Fun.
I'm finally dozing off as Mary Weather calls me and I finally pick up. After complaining about my lack of attention to her previous calls, she tells me the results from Week 1 Friday. Carolyn Eaton’s blue-blooded filly The White Album wins her maiden debut with a 70 speed figure over a talented field. Mean while, at Canada’s Child’s Play Park, Ara Davies’ Time Delay finished 2nd while posting a 55 speed figure in the slop. Both horses perform well. I make an entry into my Blackberry for Week 4; “Call Ara and Carolyn RE: Results and SIM voting.”
As I land at Louis Armstrong Int’l Airport around 5PM, I take in the scenery that is New Orleans. The airport, just like many across the country is decorated with scenes and traditions that are local to the area. I gather my carry on and walk towards the car rental counter. It’s hard to admit, but I’m wearing the same jeans that I’ve worn all week. I made an attempt to dry clean them in the hotel at Toronto, however I realized that it would leave me pants-less for a day. Nobody appreciates a guy walking around public in his boxers! Luckily, I was able to purchase some souvenir t-shirts (amongst other things!) and at least have clean shirts to wear!
I arrive at Katy’s place and notice that she runs her stable without a farm, just like Mike, Channi, and Chris. Her place has a classic feel to it, definitely not suitable for horses. It’s an upgraded rendition of an older home, very New Orleans-ish. As I arrive, I remember my last trip to this historic town. I spent most of it walking around with my college roommates and friends, drinking and flashing my chest for beads. Well, my memory is rather vague, so maybe it was the other way around. Nonetheless it was a great trip, filled with fantastic memories including the wonderful smell of the streets!
I shake hands with Katy while noticing her tired demeanor. She looks strangely at my “CN Tower” T-Shirt which I’m now embarrassed about. Her condition is similar to my current tiredness. However, she has probably been up all night bidding on TBS horses or finding races for her approximately 175 horses, NOT flying across the country and over borders! Her school work keeps her busy as well, not to mention the occasional hurricane that she has to evacuate from!
Katy is also a winner of the Year 21 Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with Divine Comedy and winner of other Grade/Group I races like the English and Irish 1000 Guineas. Her millionaire bankroll and veteran player status is undeniable.
I make myself comfortable in her living room as she begins to speak. “SIM Series seems like a good way to involve myself a bit more in the SIM Community.” She says. “I mean, I spend as much time as I can on the SIM anyways. I’m addicted. What can I say?”
It’s a chilling revelation, one that undoubtedly can be shared by many SIMsters including yours truly. The SIM is like heroine with out the chance of OD-ing!
“I expect All For Fun to be a fairly solid stakes winner over turf,” Katy continues. “He might not be Steward’s Cup potential, but he should be a fun colt to campaign.”
All For Fun is a 16.3 hands chocolate colt out of Knightsbridge Road and Only For A Moment, a Green Dash mare. He is homebred by Katy. I inquire about his whereabouts.
“He’s currently entered at Premium Park in Kentucky. It’s a maiden event for a small 15k purse. I generally don’t start my horses in stakes races.” She says while sighing. “I don’t know. He’s kind of a goofball, so I’m just hoping for a win.”
Her tiredness is undoubtedly showing now, even through her smiles and smirks. I try to speed things up to accommodate her, but we continue chatting. Selfishly, I am itching to go home to Long Beach as well. She tells me about her seldom used turf router stallion Phantom Flames and how surprised she is when someone actually sends him a mare. She speaks fondly of her current crop of stars like Solaro, a turf sprinter/miler and Shady Place, another turf winner. I can see the addiction rolling off her words. It’s a mixture of passion and intensity and a need to schlep around aimlessly in the SIM chatting and wandering, checking out other people’s horses. She is definitely down with O.P.H.!
We eventually get to our farewells. I wish her the utmost luck with All For Fun. Her colt is talented and will get a chance to prove it in Week 3 Friday. Likewise, Chris Simpson’s dirt sprinting colt Acting Up will also debut in Week 3 Friday.
I leave with the sense that the SIM is in good hands. The six players that I’ve met over the last 3 weeks are unique in every way. They run their stables differently. They treat their horses differently. They have different demeanors and styles. In the end they only share one thing in common. Win.
NEXT WEEK on SIM Series:
The pressure is on as all 6 six owners will have debuted their horses. After Week 3 Friday, YOU will decide what to do! Where will you send Ara Davies’ Time Delay and Carolyn Eaton’s The White Album? STAY TUNED…the first poll will be opening soon!
I shake hands with Katy while noticing her tired demeanor. She looks strangely at my “CN Tower” T-Shirt which I’m now embarrassed about. Her condition is similar to my current tiredness. However, she has probably been up all night bidding on TBS horses or finding races for her approximately 175 horses, NOT flying across the country and over borders! Her school work keeps her busy as well, not to mention the occasional hurricane that she has to evacuate from!
Katy is also a winner of the Year 21 Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with Divine Comedy and winner of other Grade/Group I races like the English and Irish 1000 Guineas. Her millionaire bankroll and veteran player status is undeniable.
I make myself comfortable in her living room as she begins to speak. “SIM Series seems like a good way to involve myself a bit more in the SIM Community.” She says. “I mean, I spend as much time as I can on the SIM anyways. I’m addicted. What can I say?”
It’s a chilling revelation, one that undoubtedly can be shared by many SIMsters including yours truly. The SIM is like heroine with out the chance of OD-ing!
“I expect All For Fun to be a fairly solid stakes winner over turf,” Katy continues. “He might not be Steward’s Cup potential, but he should be a fun colt to campaign.”
All For Fun is a 16.3 hands chocolate colt out of Knightsbridge Road and Only For A Moment, a Green Dash mare. He is homebred by Katy. I inquire about his whereabouts.
“He’s currently entered at Premium Park in Kentucky. It’s a maiden event for a small 15k purse. I generally don’t start my horses in stakes races.” She says while sighing. “I don’t know. He’s kind of a goofball, so I’m just hoping for a win.”
Her tiredness is undoubtedly showing now, even through her smiles and smirks. I try to speed things up to accommodate her, but we continue chatting. Selfishly, I am itching to go home to Long Beach as well. She tells me about her seldom used turf router stallion Phantom Flames and how surprised she is when someone actually sends him a mare. She speaks fondly of her current crop of stars like Solaro, a turf sprinter/miler and Shady Place, another turf winner. I can see the addiction rolling off her words. It’s a mixture of passion and intensity and a need to schlep around aimlessly in the SIM chatting and wandering, checking out other people’s horses. She is definitely down with O.P.H.!
We eventually get to our farewells. I wish her the utmost luck with All For Fun. Her colt is talented and will get a chance to prove it in Week 3 Friday. Likewise, Chris Simpson’s dirt sprinting colt Acting Up will also debut in Week 3 Friday.
I leave with the sense that the SIM is in good hands. The six players that I’ve met over the last 3 weeks are unique in every way. They run their stables differently. They treat their horses differently. They have different demeanors and styles. In the end they only share one thing in common. Win.
NEXT WEEK on SIM Series:
The pressure is on as all 6 six owners will have debuted their horses. After Week 3 Friday, YOU will decide what to do! Where will you send Ara Davies’ Time Delay and Carolyn Eaton’s The White Album? STAY TUNED…the first poll will be opening soon!
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