Cool. That's something I'm sure he'll never forget. Reminds me a bit of when I was a teen working at Belmont race track in the mid 70s. Got to see up close and pet such racing greats as Ruffian and Forego. Also work with and converse with famous jocks, including Angel Cordero, Jacinto Vasquez, Ron Turcott, etc. I played touch football with hall of fame trainer Allen Jerkens and his stable hands while down at Hialeah. Affirmed trainer, Laz Barrera, once bailed me out and gave me some money while in Florida after I lost my my job there. I was 17 and afraid to tell my folks back in New York that I had lost my job with the outfit I went there with.
Oh, I eventually found another job while at Hialeah, Fla. I worked for the guy who trained Holding Pattern. HP defeated Preakness and Belmont winner, late flying, Little Current, by a nose in the ‘74 Travers. He just barely held on.
1974 Travers Stakes:
Holding Pattern, Little Current, Chris Evert and others battle it out in the slop:
(track announcer Dave Johnson gives the call!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5zFwGjOwvk