Category > The Call To The Post
Last night at around 11:00pm CT, the news broke on Twitter that champion mare Zenyatta had given birth to her first foal, a colt by Bernardini. Minutes later, Zenyatta’s official blog posted an entry giving the vital details about the newborn foal and provided a photo and video of the new mother and son. The sweet picture of Zenyatta and her colt went viral in the horse racing world, being reposted countless times on Twitter and on Facebook, with nearly …
Poor Hansen didn’t have a clue he was about to tango with dynamite when he went up against Algorithms in the Holy Bull. Suffering the first loss of his career to the Todd Pletcher-trainee, the White Streak proved his vulnerability, which may account for the full field lined up to challenge him in the Gotham Stakes this Saturday. With Alpha out of town, and no other hometown heroes set to pounce, Hansen may have found the perfect spot to reset …
It may have been a blessing in disguise when Union Rags lost the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November. The then-undefeated colt walked into the tenth post position as the even-money favorite at Churchill Downs, but endured a wide trip throughout and a nearly full field of competitors to just miss being crowned Juvenile champ. The race cemented the class of Union Rags, displaying his stamina and talent over the rest of the field; it also revealed a fatal quirk in …
What last year’s crop of 3-year-olds lacked in consistency, it made up for in the percentage that have returned or soon will be returning to race as older horses. Mucho Macho Man came back at four to win the Sunshine Millions Classic following a tough spring campaign, and seems to be on the road to greater things. And though Shackleford did not run to form in last week’s Donn, shortening up will probably land him back in the winner’s circle. …
The first major bout of the older horse division will go down this Saturday in the Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The $500,000 Donn will pit eleven battle-tested stakes horses against one another in the kick-off for what is looking to be an interesting year. Past winners of the Donn have gone on to claim a series of Grade I races down the road, but this race is shaping up to be one of many times these horses …
If you were on the verge of nodding off over your Racing Form, now’s the time to straighten up and pay attention. February will kick off with a stakes-filled weekend for 3-year-olds, as well as some important older horses. Saturday will see the road to the Triple Crown continue with the running of the Grade III Withers, the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes, and the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes. And while special attention should be paid to …
Last we saw him, the nearly-white Hansen was dropping jaws at Churchill Downs after stubbornly holding on against heavily-favored Union Rags in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Until then, the son of Tapit was thought to be little more than a Turfway wonder—he won both of this starts there like some kind of mythical Pegasus, soaring to win each by over a dozen lengths. Now that he’s proven to the masses he can tango with the best of them, Hansen must …
It’s every race fan’s favorite time of the year once again. Now it’s official—the road to the roses has begun. Fair Grounds Racecourse will kick off its branch of this long trip to Louisville this Saturday with the Grade III Lecomte Stakes, the first prep race for the Grade II Louisiana Derby. Thirteen 3-year-olds have gathered to set off on this course to Kentucky in the hopes to become the first horse to win both the Lecomte and the Kentucky …
Let me tell you a secret about horse racing photographers: Not all of them even like horse racing. Pretty sad, isn’t it, as they are given some of the most intimate, up-close access to our great sport? These are the people who don’t know the names of the horses, don’t follow the race results, and don’t know the difference between an outrider’s pony and Zenyatta. Then there is the other side of the coin. There are racing photographers out there …
Following 2-year-olds is a habit that dies hard. I thought I had made up my mind to stop becoming so invested in them, as in recent years, juveniles have fallen by the wayside before they can step two hoofs on the trail to the Kentucky Derby. But then the stakes races start popping up like dandelions, and you start thumbing through past winners and see the glory they went on to accomplish, and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in …
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Oh, by the way, the “Champaign County YMCA” no longer exists. The official name is now the “Stephens Family YMCA” (the website has not been updated, but check out the latest program guide). And no, it’s not just the name of the building. It’s the name of the organization.
Very inspired Photochops as well….
Props on the new YMCA dig. I think it’s a terrible spot for it, but then again, I’m not well-to-do and I’m not willing to drive 15 minutes at $4/gallon to exercise for an hour.
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/do-loud-pipes-save-lives/1119/ Are you a smoker, too? I feel like I’m just getting recycled arguments.
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/dangerous_motorcycle_safety_myths/index.html “Myth 2: Loud Pipes Save Lives”
Yes, I also love the idea of the downtown! However, the “turds” that ride Harley’s or any other motorcycle have the right to ride their motorcycles regardless of the “loudness” anywhere they want. They are buying gas, hence they are contributing to the motor fuel tax that…
Yup, this was the year I realized there’s no way this is my last CU marathon, even though I’m gradumacating next week.Where else am I gonna get cheered on by 70+ year old heart-of-gold volunteers who smile at me so genuinely I could believe I’m their granddaughter?…
I always have a good, but disappointed, laugh when marathon time creeps up and I start seeing posts on the WCIA Facebook page lamenting race day and how difficult it is to get around town that day. One this year said, “can’t they just go run in…
Reminds me of Total Football (soccer) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Football
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As a liberal conservative, and a person who favors taxes & services ... and also a sense of proportion; I savor the comic potential that still exists in this comments section. I’m pretty sure we can goad more anti-government rhetoric from confirmed progressives and government employees. If…
Did the Crave Truck get a permit to park in city metered spots and city right of way? Or did they just get a permit? The city clerk’s office seems to be a suspect here, but it’s not clear they did anything wrong. Did the Crave Truck…
High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
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@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.