Many of you are not Facebook friends with me, so I'll let you in on a little secret. I enter a whole new age bracket today.
As for what that five-year bracket is, I will let you figure out for yourself. While you work out what to get me, I thought it would be a chance for a reflection on my three favourite racing animals since I threw myself into the deep end of racing.
So here they are, in no particular order:
Beaudiene Holmes
I had a very small share in this Holmes Hanover pacer in the middle of last decade. ''Beau'' had no gate speed, no sprint, not a huge amount of heart, and an inability to do any work in a race. Yet, he produced a great three-wide run to win at Ascot Park on January 12, 2006. Beau didn't enjoy the step up to the one-win grade and was eventually sold to New South Wales, but I'm grateful to him - and trainer-driver Kirk Larsen - for at least providing me with one win as an owner.
The Red Express
This is a special inclusion for my good mate - call him AG - who had an obsession with this Grant Laursen-trained gelding. Any time the chestnut would line up, AG had his hard-earned pizza delivery money on him - particularly if it was at Riccarton. Considering 11 of his 18 wins came at Riccarton, that often meant AG won. And since he was a generous fellow, the beers would usually be on him. You get the picture why The Red Express is on my list.
Applaud
Sometimes you just have a horse who is your cash machine and Applaud was that horse for me. Trained by Lynn and Justin Smith, she trotted her way to six wins from 54 starts, but I only seemed to back her on the days she won or placed. She paid $34 in March 2008 after paying $9.90 at Oamaru the month before and I was on both times. I convinced a workmate to have a bet with me when she had a run at Motukarara in late December 2009 and home she came again at $7.40.
Happiness is the truth
Well done to Wingatui apprentice Sigourney Kelly for her first winning ride at Riverton yesterday. She produced a patient ride on Pharrell in a 1600m maiden to win by 4 lengths. Judging by the name of the horse, it is a safe bet to say she will be as ''happy'' as Pharrell Williams after that effort.
Lazy fiver
You'd think a 15-horse trotting field at Rangiora would produce a good dividend for a winner. Perhaps that's why I'm not a bookie, as last week's selection Doctor Bones won, but paid only $2.40. A win's a win though. Throw your hard-earned on Britt Ekland (the horse, not the actress) in race 8 at Te Rapa tomorrow.
