Oct 9, 2005
Well, I tore a ligament in my knee two months ago, and I am just about ready to go back to work. Been on a steady diet of Physical Therapy and Doctor visits and a high tech brace was ordered for me to Gallop in. The brace won’t work, though; not for riding. I don’t know what makes folks think that something that from all appearances cannot possibly work, will work. The doc keeps saying, “oh, you’ll be able to do anything in this brace; it’ll work, it’s very low profile, no interference.
At least I’ll have a brace for the rest of my life. Whether I can ever wear it, oh well.
Money has been very tight lately, but I cannot stress enough the importance of having your own Workers’ Compensation. This has really saved my ass. Yes, there are serious problems with it, and one day I should write a primer for people on it, with as much experience as I have, so others can avoid the pitfalls that I have so boldly stepped into.
It’s not like working; you can’t make the money that you did when you were working, but it beats zero coming in…. In the meantime, I go to NOT work, which is like having a vacation except for the limited physical mobility. I went with Chas to Watkins’ Glen for the Vintage Auto Show and Race, and saw my brother Tim there, and I also went to Keeneland, with Rider Maureen Andrews Just last Saturday, day 2 of the Fall Meet. I had never seen Keeneland before.
For what it’s worth, I’ll share a little about that, but I am off to the track to hotwalk. I may try getting on something easy, if I can find something today, but I’m going to keep it to a minimum until I figure out what to do about the doctor’s directive to use the brace at work. I may wind up using a neoprene wrap for galloping. If I had any regrets to date about my choice of vocation, I’d have to say, “breaking my knee twenty years ago.” It looks like an osselet on an osselet on an osselet.
Keeneland’s a six- hour drive from Mountaineer Park, which wasn’t too bad. She might live only four miles away, but I hadn’t seen Mo in so long I talked the entire trip. I talk a lot to begin with, but this was like a
power chat for me. I didn’t realize I had heard so much racetrack trash, because I don’t spend enough time just ‘hanging around” to hear it. {I mean GOSSIP.} I must have gotten it all from Charles, who hears a lot in the Jocks’ room. I didn’t realize that I had found it so interesting, which I guess brings me down in a way, but one thing about me: I make no judgment on my peers, and I accept the fact that shit happens. The only ones who have to understand it are those involved.
The track is very nice, and all the Kentucky Gentlemen are real Gentlemen. Everyone was so polite it was sugary there. The place was definitely beautiful, although it was so crowded you couldn’t hardly walk without bumping into someone. Funny, at a NASCVAR race you bounce off of drunken people in jeans and t-shirts hollering a being vulgar, and here you bounce off of fastidious, well-dressed drunken people.
I missed going to the barn ar3ea, which I was told I shouldn’t. Maybe another time. The paddock and walking ring were spacious. There was an artist painting in the walking ring. Nobody set foot in the paddock without they were respectably dressed. I wish we would all do that, but you can’t get Mountaineer Folk to wear a coat to the Horsemen’s Ball. It was freezing cold, unbelievably. Oct. 8th. (I waited to finish writing this because my website was down and also got spammed and they spent about two weeks trying to fix it.) There were some fellows playing bluegrass on the third floor, there were paintings, prints and Peb cartoons (originals) framed and hanging everywhere. The gift shops were really cool but there was nothing really worth owning in them. Just some really cute stuff.
We had some Kentucky Burgoo because it was so cold. I didn’t think there was anything truly special about it, but it was hot. I walked to the Jocks’ room with Mo after that, and although I have heard that it’s a really nice one, the women’s’ was very utilitarian. No couch, just a bench and counter and lockers- hotbox, sleeping room. Maybe they were talking about the recreation area, which I would guess was nice alth0ough I didn’t see that. After I left Mo I got so busy walking around and taking in the sights that I nearly missed her race.
She only beat one horse, but at least it was one of the favorites. Maybe it was the soft, giving turf, which tired both horses badly. Anyway, she plans to go back with the horse once more to see if he won’t fire. I got some photos, not as good as I had hoped but at least I got them.
