Good luck had just stung me

 To the race track I did go

She bet on one horse to win
And I bet on another to show
The odds were in my favor
I had 'em five to one
When that nag to win came around the track
Sure enough, she had won (R. Robertson)

i was lost in thought the other day when Cripple Creek came on my ipod shuffle.....suddenly i was thinking about "Larry the Legend" ....winner of the 1995 Santa Anita Derby......at first i couldn't remember how Larry fared in the Kentucky Derby ....and then i kinda, sorta remembered that he scratched before the race because of an injury.......so i had to look it up ....and i was correct.......the article i found said he was poised to be one to the top 3 favorites in the Derby before being scratched a week before the race because of a chipped bone in his knee......i researched further and learned that he returned to racing, but never really regained his form and he retired from racing in 1997.....he lived in peace on a farm for retired race horses and passed away in 2022 at the age of 30.......in the 95 Santa Anita he was 3rd choice and went off at 5-1...and paid $13.20 .......i had him that day....$20 to win, $10 to place and $5 to show..........I was in the Bally Bunion and i watched the race with Charlie Jensen......it was April 8th 1995.

you might be wondering where i am going with this one......so i will explain.....the day prior i called my parents down the shore from work , and when i was talking to my Father i told him that my co-worker Angelo had given me a tip on Larry the Legend.....not insider info, just a guy that was a very very good handicapper and had given me many wins over the years......so i told my father to place a few sheckles on Larry...........and so from the payphone in the back of the Bunyon i called my parents again to see if my Father had indeed bet on Larry.......it was then that i learned that my father had died of a heart attack about an hour or two prior.... no cell phones back then, no way anyone could reach me, no way anyone would think to have called the Bunyon...........in the aftermath i did ask my Mother if he had ever placed the bet......and she had her own acct, but had access to his OTB acct and confirmed his final bet was $5 to win on Larry the Legend.......tomorrow will be 31 years , but somedays it feels like 100.