They say it's
the sport of kings.
I have royal
memories of being
at Santa Anita and
Hollywood Park with
my dad and brother.
As kids, we watched
some of the best horses
and jockeys in the world.
The jocks were our
tiny heroes, gladiators
in silks riding tremendous
beasts.
Dad taught us
how to bet and study
the horses.
He called it
doping the form.
I liked the show bet.
I still cashed the ticket, as
long as the horse didn't
do worse than third.
My heart still gallops when
I think of those Southern
California afternoons.
Dad used to say, don't ever
gamble what you can't
afford to lose.
I live with my brother
now in Iowa.
Dad is long gone, and so is
the shoe, our favorite jock.
There are new jockeys on
the scene. New horses.
We drove to Des Moines, to do
some off-track betting on
the Kentucky Derby.
The pageantry is decadent.
The hats and mint juleps.
Someone sings a beautiful
version of, My Old Kentucky Home.
It was truly a sublime scene.
Now, we have to
figure out how
we are going to pay
the rent.
-
Author:
Thomas W Case (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: June 19th, 2024 11:06
- Comment from author about the poem: https://booksie.chainletter.io/i/thomaswcase888 Here is a link to my recently published limited edition book, Rise Up Collected Poems and Short Stories.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 38
- Users favorite of this poem: aDarkerMind, Teddy.15
Offline)
Comments7
you are a class act Thomas.
of that there is no doubt.
Thank you, kind sir.
Good write T.
Thank you.
lol ah how wonderful to live on the edge though! I bet all amounts of money on the pure facts the surrounding nostalgia of all the old was worth losing a horse race for as you so cleverly said on your last line. Superb 🌹
Thank you, Teddy Those are wonderful memories.
You brought my Dad and both my brothers to me in this brilliant write. We all watched the horse racing on tv every Saturday afternoon and on many occasions visited Epsom, Ascot, Newbury and Newton Abbott race courses. Wonderful days out. Fabulous poem Thomas.
Thank you Cassie—such great memories. I'm glad it stirred some in you too.
The trouble with gambling is if you win the first time you believe you can win every time and so end up not being able to pay the rent.
Andy
thanks, Andy.
Love this, Thomas. Really captured something. Can almost hear the horses hooves and the cheering crowd. But, I only know of the Kentucky Derby from the our pal Hunter S Thompson. 🙂
Good old Hunter. Thanks, Tom. Great memories.
A fun read my friend hope you got a roof over head.
LOL. THANK YOU.
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