The short week of the Spa marathon got off to a rousing start. A hot, humid, storm avoiding weekend which saw about 100,000 fans come through the gate and a 3 day handle of about 52 million. A reminder that the attendance figure does reflect about 5,000 season passes that are counted daily. Sunday's listed count of 36,000 was a joke as it was busier on both preceding days.

Yesterday was a great example of how difficult it is to fill 6 race cards a week as a less than stellar chalk filled card did not offer much opportunity here and a mere 8 mil handle. They did not list yesterdays attendance, I estimate it at 10K with a comfortable afternoon of Uncle Bill wandering from picnic table to picnic table making new friends and eating everything in sight! Some cast off's from Rockingham dubbed him the back yard goat. I believe he feasted on our neighbors peanuts, cookies, pizza and some bacon maple potato chips, REALLY.

Mr and Mrs Banditbeau came into town from Canterbury for their usual week long pilgrimage. It's Richiebee week and I'm told MR Brown will be here for 10 straight days!!! There was a time when Richie wandering into the Spa would make my first task to put the local bail bondsman and Rezlegal on speed dial. However after 40 plus years of BAD living we both have caved into a few health issues resulting in the weight loss of half a jockey between us with Richie the winner in that category by far. Our new menu consists of strawberries and cantaloupe in between beer courses.

Young Fairmount has requested a good behavior waiver when he comes for Travers week. He's heard far too many stories not to beg for an old timers night out on the town with the boys.

The KM barn grabbed another 2 yesterday to start of a mere 6 for 8 and Jason Servis is 6-3-2-1, Irad had 8 winners in 4 days and how about Ricardo Santana with 3 here!!!

The quote of the week comes from Chad Brown when asked what he thought of his assistant of several years Jorge Abreu winning with his first horse on his own on Sunday, " No comment" I guess they didn't part well? This was the first Maine to Spain tout in awhile that bore fruit, he was all over Oklahoma the past 3 weeks and won by 11 as a one of 3, 2/1 choices in a tough heat. The winners circle had a mere 40 close friends and relatives in it!

Personally down a few shekels and I'm wondering how much Jimbo was sweating Saturday night when he snuck off to the Harness track to parly his pick 5 onto Wiggle It Jiggle it at 1/9 when he was parked to a 53 half??? :)

Good luck,

Frank D.