Call to Post on video

I was able to capture the trumpeting of the Call to Post yesterday and thought it would be neat to post here.

Click the go arrow to hear it.

Go Big Brown !!!

Sigh... what a day!!! Cinderella at the Ball !!! Here we are in New York... we've come to see Big Brown be the 13th Triple Crown winner. It's the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes. They have predicted crowds of 150,000. We are so blessed to not only have box seats in the Club House above the winners circle, but parking right next to the clubhouse in the Owners and Trainers lot. All compliments of Belmont Park as a gift to Ansel.

Gib and Amber arrived late last night. We met this morning for breakfast at a classic diner up the street from the hotel and then headed out to Belmont Park. It was pretty slick (easy) driving there... we didn't head out there until mid morning, hoping to miss the heaviest traffic.

When we got to the front doors of the clubhouse, we were greeted by several UPS employees in their "browns" back dropped with a "Big Brown" truck. I made Ansel, Gibb and Amber pose in front of the truck... then a couple came along, and the guy had on a RED SOX cap... I smiled... after all we were in the heart of Yankee territory... I offered right away for him to go stand with his girl and I'd take the picture... he inquired "really"??? I said sure... only because of the hat... I saw three others later in the day and made sure I thumbs up'd them with a hardy "GO SOX"!

The greeting in picture above, "UPS welcomes you to the Belmont" was on the floor as you entered into the Clubhouse before you went through the turnstyles. We made our way to "our box" through a maze of people... and there we met Tim, pictured here with friends.We knew there would be another handicapped person sharing the box with us. (It was very interesting that his name was "Tim"... I thought to myself when we were introduced) He was a very charming and intellectual person who was obviously very ill. (Cancer I assume) he told me he was seriously ill, was very weak, could only stand for very short spells. He said he didn't have any family, was living in an assisted living center, and spent a lot of time online with other race horse fans. He had many friends who stopped by to meet their online chat room buddy in person. The day was very hot... 96 degrees, I'm not complaining... I have been longing for it for some time after our especially long and cold spring in Oregon. One of the big mistakes I made yesterday was not getting all the souvenirs purchased that I wanted... by the time I got there today all of the booths were sold out of anything Big Brown. Gibb and Amber spent the day as true race fans, choosing their pics and placing bets. Our box had it's very own video monitor, the idea being that we slide our credit card in it, and place bets right there from the box with out having to get up an go get in line. But we never got it to work, and had to place bets the old fashioned way by walking to the windows. Amber tried to teach me how to place bets... funny I've been around horses all my life, and have never bet on a racehorse until today.

Gibb and Amber studying the Daily Racing Form.
This is all I have the posting I have energy for tonight more later... I have lots more pictures. and a bitter sweet ending to the Big Brown adventure.