Paying hundreds just

to peep through the keyhole of Hell--

that's entertainment.

Turned leaves flutter

downward, sewer gas ascends--

Autumn in New York

Seriously, how

is it that you take yourself

so seriously?

Do I care about

what stupid people think--well,

I'm here, aren't I?

"Zenyatta has got 

a lot, a lot of ground to make

up," Trevor said;

she did most of it

in the time it took him to

complete that sentence.

It is probably

impossible to silence

all of your critics,

so she converted

most of her doubters and made

the rest… Read full post »

It had to be the most

depressing

bar

I ever set foot in,

and I learned how to

drink

in

Ohio; 

no music was playing

when we walked in,

 just two

old,

haggard

lesbians

loudly threatening

some

absent

individual.

Naturally,

 we closed… Read full post »

OK, not a great day on Friday.  I had the first (Non-Breeders' Cup) race and the third (Breeders' Cup I) at Santa Anita yesterday at pretty good prices, so the day wasn't a disaster, but still not a winner.  I lost $20 when it was all said and done.  Day two… Read full post »

Here are my picks for today's Breeders' Cup races at the Great Race Place, Santa Anita:

 Jockey wager:  with a live mount in nearly every race, how can you go against the country's top jockey Garrett Gomez?  The field might be the only other way to go, considering that it… Read full post »

All politics are

local, particularly

local politics

I must look like a

dentist, 'cause talking to you

is like pulling teeth

Ninth race, Oak Tree

the two coming from off the pace

daughter of Giant's Causeway

at a more than fair 5 to 2

vanquishing the heavily favored four

Take That, Baffert!

  Read full post »

If
after
even
a
very
short
period
of
time
working
with
the
public

you
have
not
found
your
standards
of
acceptable
behavior
… Read full post »

Today, the Belmont

Pick six paid 296--

bet the winners lost!

Yesterday, the rain

and a hot bath; today--so

hot, a cold shower.

I didn't ask for

fries, but the lunch lady gave

them to me anyway

The storm ends shortly

but the rain remains until

I can change my shoes

Talking heads kvetching--

can no one simply offer

congratulations?

Nature being a

prerequisite, haiku must

needs adapt or die Read full post »

Scene: The ninth circle of Hell; the disfigured spirit-bodies of three Lost Souls are cleaning Satan's begrimed toilet with toothbrushes and their own saliva.

 Lost Soul #1:  This is disgusting work, I tells ya.  But, to be honest, I deserve this fate.

Lost Soul #2: Really?  Well… Read full post »

• Class, speed and stamina are all crucial to an animal's success.  Never ignore a horse has that a clear advantage on the field in one or more of these qualties; likewise, steer away from those with obvious deficiencies.
• All things being equal, pick the horse who seems the most in
… Read full post »

They root for him to fail

and revel in his every misstep;

At most we felt the Pyhrric joy

that comes from 'I told you so.'

At high altitude

the number of swimming pools

is kind of shocking

Mother Nature just

asked for it, your honor, all

bountiful like that

  Read full post »

To pull something off

be harder to notice than

you are to ignore Read full post »

The number looks big;

and then you factor in

your obligations Read full post »