What possibly could Black Ruby have to prove, having handed Taz his proverbial 'ass' virtually every time they have raced over the past couple of years? After all, HP has conquered me once and for all by virtue of two hair-splitting handicapping contest victories. With her consistent thrashings of Taz, Black Ruby should be able to rest on her laurels.

Mall, your post reminds me to sing the praises of fair racing. I grew up on the stuff when I was just old enough to bet, the fair being the only game in town where I come from. I have to say, that despite all the jokes and shortcomings, the overall experience compares favorably to what many 'tier one' tracks have to offer. To wit:

You can buy a 32 oz. soda for $1.50.

They have more deep fried but dirt cheap foods than you can shake a corn dog at.

Despite the fact that half the jockes weigh in at 127 to 130 lbs. (thus causing 80% of the horses to carry overweight) can barely drive a tractor mower, much less a horse and are racing for $1,900 to $2,500 purse money, these guys give it their all every time. One rider dislocated his pelvis, went to the hospital, had it popped back in and made it back for the last two races.

With a 1/2 mile bullring, you are always close to the action. I caught a few dirt clods right in the eye.

The payoffs, though wildly unpredictable (the tri pools run around $4,000 in each race), and limited because the starting gate holds only 8 horses, are very generous if you can catch a tri with a horse on top who was not in the first three betting choices; most bettors are betting straight 1-2-3 tris and don't know a tri wheel from a wagon wheel.

You are actually required to do some actual handicapping because: 1) there are no Sheets available and 2) the horses come from a number of 'circuits' -- usually the various county fairs in Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Northwest Canada. Occasionally you'll get a ringer from No. Cal but just try comparing the competition in Lethbridge with Boise with the State Fair in Great Falls.

There was actually no mule racing this year. All Q-horse (300 yards) and T-bred (5 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles). Up to 12 races a day.