90 Days: Sunday, November 24 (Day No. 49)

Photo Credit: Jim Neuger

(This is the time of year when the horse racing season for the Ivory Pine Syndicate is winding down, but the soccer season for the Rosevelt Soccer Club is gearing up. Here's a 90-day glimpse of the day in the life of a horse racing managing partner and soccer club administrator.)

Awoke, 6:57a

Attended Sixby Hanover's race, 11:15a-1:45p

Sixby wins! Sixby wins! Sixby wins!

There's an old saying that baseball is such a tough sport because you're considered to be a really good hitter even if you're successful only three times every ten at bats, but in horse racing the magic number is probably earning two wins every ten races.

Yesterday's win was Sixby's second win in twenty-five races this year, it was our tenth trip to the Winners' Circle with Sixby in about 75 races, and it was his first trip to the Winners' Circle since May 25. 

That 184-day stretch between victories makes yesterday's win even more sweet, and I celebrated by drinking a ritual Guinness--the beer that's been part of Sixby's regular diet since he experienced anhidrosis in July 2022.

We've learned so much about the sport since we brought Sixby from Ohio in April 2022 to be our partnership's first pace, and I'm so appreciative of Sixby himself, our twenty partners, our trainer Mike Graffam, our drivers (primarily Nick Graffam and Aaron Hall), and the assistant trainers and grooms at Team Graffam. 

Our partners have consistently been quick to provide their feedback when I've needed us to make a collective decision, and we've shared a good camaraderie on and off the track. Mike Graffam always does well by our horses and has been a steady and patient partner with our partnership, our drivers have always known when to push Sixby and when to wrap him up for next week's race, and assistant trainers Beth Graffam and Chris Hamilton--along with the rotating cast of grooms who've cared for Sixby over the last thirty months--round out the hard-working folks that make up Team Graffam.

Next week will Sixby's final career race, and yesterday's result makes these last couple weeks even that much more bittersweet.

Sláinte!

Asleep, 9:49p