A Horse By Any Other Name.

<p>Getting back into the swing of things from some time off with the family. Like every year, we were at <a href="http://www.nyra.com/saratoga/">Saratoga</a> for opening day of the thoroughbred horse racing. A tradition in my wife&#39;s family that not only predates us, but its predates my mother-in-law. We a bit of time hanging out in Lake George before returning to the track that Friday.</p>
<p>I&#39;m not much of a gambler, but I&#39;ve come to cherish our yearly trip to Saratoga. For those of you not familiar with Saratoga its one of the oldest horse racing tracks in the states having been established in 1864. (That means its older then <a href="http://www.churchilldowns.com/">Churchill Downs</a> home of the Kentucky Derby.) The track has maintained much of its charm and elegances and the atmosphere is as enjoyable as the races themselves. Its like going to the ballpark (during playoffs) except with a lot more style and class.</p>
<p>Of course the movie <a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0329575">Seabiscuit</a> was being promoted heavily. (It was partially <a href="http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0329575">filmed at the track</a> afterall.) Trailers for the movie were run a few times a day between races and the second race on opening day was sponsored by the movie. </p>
<p>Besides the unique fashion statements usually only found in magazines &#8211; gents in bow ties, white bucks, and seersucker suits and ladies donning large sun hats and colorful summer dresses &#8211; I always enjoy seeing the names given to the horses. While there is a thoroughbred horse naming guidelines and a commission to enforce them, they are more interesting, witty and, in a sense, entertaining then your average animal name of Fluffy, Rex, Butch or even Scooby. </p>
<p>Here are some of the horses that were on the program the two days we went to the track:</p>
<ul>
<li>Rosie Is A Leader (&#8230;of last place)</li>
<li>Tap the Admiral</li>
<li>Captain Fantastic (&#8230;wasn&#39;t)</li>
<li>Save The Profit</li>
<li>Conman Cunningham</li>
<li>Chute The Breeze</li>
<li>Catlike Move</li>
<li>Tap Dancing Kid</li>
<li>First Again (The horse has only come in first once. Finished dead last that day.)</li>
<li>Jo Jo&#39;s Time (Jo Jo must be late a lot because this horse finished dead last.)</li>
<li>Apple Krisp (Had to bet on that one. Showed with a good finish.)</li>
<li>Jet Set Jazz (Too bad the horse&#39;s previous results weren&#39;t nearly as good its name.)</li>
<li>Evening Attire (A winner. After all, every girl&#39;s crazy about a sharp dressed man.)</li>
<li>Bikini Wiggle</li>
<li>I&#39;am a Red Sox Fan (Vied for the lead throughout then fell apart at the end. Kind of like the baseball team. ;)</li>
<li>Withorwithoutyou (U2 fan?)</li>
<li>Hermione&#39;s Magic (Harry Potter fan?)</li>
</ul>
<p>Looking forward to next year already. I&#39;m going to have to break down and buy a seersucker suit and maybe even a bow tie for the occasion. </p>