LAST YEAR THRU A CLOSE FRIEND WHO I USED TO WORK WITH, BEFORE HE RETIRED,WAS MY MOST ENJOYABLE MEMORY IN HARNESS RACING. MY FRIENDS, BIG PHIL AND LARRY WERE PARTNERS OF SWEET LOU. WE TRAVELED TO MANY OF AS I CALLED HIM (THE BIG HORSE) RACES AS A TWO YEAR OLD. WITH OFCOURSE GREAT SUCCESS. PHIL ASKED ME IF I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THE BREEDERS CROWN WITH THEM. AS MUCH AS I DID WANT TO, THE TIME OFF FROM WORK AND THE MONEY HAD ME WORRIED, BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE I WORKED IT OUT AND FLEW UP TO TORONTO WITH LARRY. I AS THEY WILL TELL YOU I WAS NEVER IN DOUBT OF THE BIG HORSE WINNING IT ALL.
WE GOT TO THE TRACK, SAT DOWN AND HAD DINNER AND CARRIED ON AS SWEET LOU JUST JOGGED. I HAD MET RONNIE, HIS WIFE DIANE, MIKE, MARK (WHO CALLS ME MEAT) JOE (JJK) AND YOU WILL TRULY NOT FIND MORE CLASSY PEOPLE. I FELT LIKE I NEW THEM FOR YEARS.
PHIL AND LARRY HAVE BEEN IN THE GAME FOR AWHILE AND PUT BACK ALOT INTO THE SPORT. AS I ALWAYS TELL THEM, "THE DUE DILIGENCE WILL PAY OFF" AND I THINK IT HAS.
CONGRADULATIONS TO RONNIE BURKE FOR TRAINER OF THE YEAR, SWEET LOU FOR 2YR COLT CHAMPION, AND FOILED AGAIN AGED PACER.
BEEF
