Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Bookshelf: Horseplayers (Chapter 20)
Horseplayers: Life at the Track (Ted McClelland)
Chapter 20: The One-Eyed Man is King
McClelland closes his book with a summary of his takeaways from spending a year at Thoroughbred tracks in Chicago as a horseplayer, including these two takes:
The day I didn't bet was the day I truly stopped being a gambler and became a horseplayer. There it was: Learning the game had nothing to do with handicapping insights. It was all about licking the Fear of Regret, after you'd been beaten up and cleaned out by the pari-mutuel machine so many times that you finally arrived at an emotional place that allowed you to tell the track, "I don't need to bet. I've lost hundreds of races. I'm jaded. Give me a race I can get excited about, a race where the odds favor me, or the wallet stays shut."
Now, at last, I'd discovered the dark heart and soul of the game: It wasn't about predicting the behavior of the horses. It was about predicting the behavior of the other gamblers and exploiting their mistakes.
IPS 365: Tuesday, December 30 (Day No. 11)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Prepared checks for November 2025 training and boarding bills for Crimson Pine and Tayra at Norton Farm
- Deposited purse checks earned by Crimson Pine
- Prepared RSVP form and check for the 2026 Maine Harness Horseman's Association (MHHA) and Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (MSBOA) banquet
- Visited our partnership's pacers Crimson Pine and Tayra at Norton Farm
- Dropped off our training and boarding checks
- Mailed our RSVP form for the 2026 MHHA and MSBOA banquet
- E-mailed confirmation of our RSVP form to MHHA director
- Texted with a partner about a race at Delta Downs
RSC 365: Tuesday, December 30 (Day No. 214)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Handicapped Africa Cup of Nations games
- Read Soccer in a Football World
- Worked with a director to coordinate the registration of teams for leagues
- Talked with a new coach about potential roles
- Texted with a coach about the upcoming season
- Updated 2025-2026 club directory with contact info for coaches and directors
- Texted with a coach about a potential assistant coach
- Texted with a coach about equipment
- E-mailed club directory to coaches for feedback
- E-mailed pilot 7 v. 7 curriculum to 9U and 10U coaches
- E-mailed a coaching application to a few prospective coaches
- E-mailed potential meeting dates to directors
- E-mailed potential dates for viewing parties at Junction Bowl
- Texted with a club director about spring logistics
- Watched No Reservations: Iceland
Maine Soccer Roadmap: Tuesday, December 30 (Day No. 344)
(This series is the documentation of a 365-day project to help develop more local and regional soccer clubs in Maine, help improve the connectivity among new and existing local and regional clubs in Maine, and cultivate a more purposeful and accessible local --> regional --> state developmental pathway for all of Maine's soccer stakeholders.)
Didn't do any work related to Maine soccer.
Total Time: 0 hours
Total Time: 294.5 hours
Daily Miles: 0 miles
Total Miles: 4,694.7 miles
Related: Now is a Good Time to Reimagine Maine Soccer (December 11, 2024)
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Headlines: Nikola Jokić Likes Basketball, But Loves Horse Racing
One of the most viral videos of Nikola Jokić’s career will likely go down of him being selected in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft as a Taco Bell commercial played on the screen. Another viral video of The Joker has nothing to do with him playing basketball at all. Over the summer, a harness racing event took place in his native Serbia. It wouldn’t have registered on the world stage had it not been for the sight of the three-time NBA MVP openly shedding tears of joy as he made his way to greet the drivers of Dream Catcher, his horse racing operation, helping his horse, Demon Dell’Est, to victory.
Quote, Unquote: André Hueston Mack
.png)
"At this price point, I think this is pretty amazing."
- Sommelier André Hueston Mack in a Bon Appétit review of Evan Williams's Bottled-In-Bond bourbon.
IPS 365: Monday, December 29 (Day No. 10)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Listened to Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast
- Read Horseplayers
- Handicapped races at Parx Racing and Santa Anita Park
- Watched races at Parx Racing
- Handicapped and watched races at Santa Anita Park
RSC 365: Monday, December 29 (Day No. 213)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Prepared for NECSL club interview
- Listened to Call It What You Want podcast
- Listened to The State of the Union podcast
- Participated in NECSL club interview
- Talked with a coach about a variety of topics
- Texted with a new coach to schedule a call
- Talked with our club documentarian about 2025 photo and video content
- Read Soccer in a Football World
- Checked registration numbers for free, 23U drop-in sessions
- Worked with directors to coordinate logistics
- Ordered equipment for new coaches
- Watched second half of Birmingham City FC men's game
- Worked on scheduling club viewing parties at Junction Bowl
- Worked on committee schedules
- Texted with a club director about spring leagues
Maine Soccer Roadmap: Monday, December 29 (Day No. 343)
(This series is the documentation of a 365-day project to help develop more local and regional soccer clubs in Maine, help improve the connectivity among new and existing local and regional clubs in Maine, and cultivate a more purposeful and accessible local --> regional --> state developmental pathway for all of Maine's soccer stakeholders.)
Didn't do any work related to Maine soccer.
Total Time: 0 hours
Total Time: 294.5 hours
Daily Miles: 0 miles
Total Miles: 4,694.7 miles
Related: Now is a Good Time to Reimagine Maine Soccer (December 11, 2024)
Monday, December 29, 2025
Bookshelf: Soccer in a Football World (Chapter 10)
Soccer in a Football World: The Story of America's Forgotten Game (David Wangerin)
Chapter 10: Momentary Insanity
Wangerin bookends his penultimate chapter with the 1999 and 2003 women's World Cups, both hosted in the United States.
In between, he writes about MLS's growing pains in the early 2000s and the failure of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) in the same timeframe.
IPS 365: Sunday, December 28 (Day No. 9)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Listened to In the Money podcasts
- Handicapped and watched races at Santa Anita Park
RSC 365: Sunday, December 28 (Day No. 212)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Didn't do any work related to Rosevelt SC
Maine Soccer Roadmap: Sunday, December 28 (Day No. 342)
(This series is the documentation of a 365-day project to help develop more local and regional soccer clubs in Maine, help improve the connectivity among new and existing local and regional clubs in Maine, and cultivate a more purposeful and accessible local --> regional --> state developmental pathway for all of Maine's soccer stakeholders.)
Didn't do any work related to Maine soccer.
Total Time: 0 hours
Total Time: 294.5 hours
Daily Miles: 0 miles
Total Miles: 4,694.7 miles
Related: Now is a Good Time to Reimagine Maine Soccer (December 11, 2024)
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Soccer Weekend: Sunday, December 28 (Day No. 40)
(This feature will focus on a $1 parlay wager every Saturday and Sunday through the end of May.)
Game No. 1 (12:30p)
Men's Africa Cup on Nations (Africa)
Algeria (-110)
Game No. 2 (3p)
Men's Africa Cup on Nations (Africa)
Ivory Coast (+105)
Pick Success Rate: 59% (46/78)
Total Bankroll: $48.10 (+ 20.3%)
IPS 365: Saturday, December 27 (Day No. 8)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Donated funds to Futures for Standardbreds, an organization that helps retired Standardbreds train for second careers
- Read Horseplayers
- Handicapped cards at Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Oaklawn Park, and Tampa Bay Downs
- Handicapped and watched Woodbine Mohawk
RSC 365: Saturday, December 27 (Day No. 211)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Handicapped soccer games
- Listened to Footwork podcast
- Talked with a director about a variety of topics
Maine Soccer Roadmap: Saturday, December 27 (Day No. 341)
(This series is the documentation of a 365-day project to help develop more local and regional soccer clubs in Maine, help improve the connectivity among new and existing local and regional clubs in Maine, and cultivate a more purposeful and accessible local --> regional --> state developmental pathway for all of Maine's soccer stakeholders.)
Didn't do any work related to Maine soccer.
Total Time: 0 hours
Total Time: 294.5 hours
Daily Miles: 0 miles
Total Miles: 4,694.7 miles
Related: Now is a Good Time to Reimagine Maine Soccer (December 11, 2024)
Saturday, December 27, 2025
Soccer Weekend: Saturday, December 27 (Day No. 39)
(This feature will focus on a $1 parlay wager every Saturday and Sunday through the end of May.)
Game No. 1 (8:30a)
Men's Africa Cup on Nations (Africa)
Senegal (-150)
Game No. 2 (10:45a)
Men's Africa Cup on Nations (Africa)
Uganda (+160)
Pick Success Rate: 61% (46/76)
Total Bankroll: $49.10 (+ 22.8%)
IPS 365: Friday, December 26 (Day No. 7)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Handicapped and watched races at Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Mohawk Woodbine, Oaklawn Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Turfway Park
RSC 365: Friday, December 26 (Day No. 210)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Talked with a director about apparel-related issues
- Composed member update
- Ordered team equipment
- E-mailed member update
Maine Soccer Roadmap: Friday, December 26 (Day No. 340)
(This series is the documentation of a 365-day project to help develop more local and regional soccer clubs in Maine, help improve the connectivity among new and existing local and regional clubs in Maine, and cultivate a more purposeful and accessible local --> regional --> state developmental pathway for all of Maine's soccer stakeholders.)
Didn't do any work related to Maine soccer.
Total Time: 0 hours
Total Time: 294.5 hours
Daily Miles: 0 miles
Total Miles: 4,694.7 miles
Related: Now is a Good Time to Reimagine Maine Soccer (December 11, 2024)
Friday, December 26, 2025
Bookshelf: Maine (Chapter 4)
Maine: The Pine Tree State from Prehistory to the Present (Judd, Churchill, and Eastman)
Chapter 4: Acadian Settlement, 1607-1700
Dr. Alaric Faulkner and Gretchen Faulkner document the French colonization of Maine in the 17th century, particularly the land northeast of the Penobscot River.
IPS 365: Thursday, December 25 (Day No. 6)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Didn't do any work related to the Ivory Pine Syndicate
RSC 365: Thursday, December 25 (Day No. 209)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Didn't do any worked related to Rosevelt SC
Maine Soccer Roadmap: Thursday, December 25 (Day No. 339)
(This series is the documentation of a 365-day project to help develop more local and regional soccer clubs in Maine, help improve the connectivity among new and existing local and regional clubs in Maine, and cultivate a more purposeful and accessible local --> regional --> state developmental pathway for all of Maine's soccer stakeholders.)
Didn't do any work related to Maine soccer.
Total Time: 0 hours
Total Time: 294.5 hours
Daily Miles: 0 miles
Total Miles: 4,694.7 miles
Related: Now is a Good Time to Reimagine Maine Soccer (December 11, 2024)
Thursday, December 25, 2025
IPS 365: Wednesday, December 24 (Day No. 5)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Handicapped races
RSC 365: Wednesday, December 24 (Day No. 208)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Didn't do any worked related to Rosevelt SC
Maine Soccer Roadmap: Wednesday, December 24 (Day No. 338)
(This series is the documentation of a 365-day project to help develop more local and regional soccer clubs in Maine, help improve the connectivity among new and existing local and regional clubs in Maine, and cultivate a more purposeful and accessible local --> regional --> state developmental pathway for all of Maine's soccer stakeholders.)
Didn't do any work related to Maine soccer.
Total Time: 0 hours
Total Time: 294.5 hours
Daily Miles: 0 miles
Total Miles: 4,694.7 miles
Related: Now is a Good Time to Reimagine Maine Soccer (December 11, 2024)
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Bookshelf: Horseplayers (Chapter 19)
Horseplayers: Life at the Track (Ted McClelland)
Chapter 19: Bob the Brain's Big Score
McLelland writes about a handicapping contest hosted by Hawthorne and the dramatic win by one of the track regulars Bob the Brain to qualify for that year's National Handicapping Championships (NHC) in Las Vegas.
IPS 365: Tuesday, December 23 (Day No. 4)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Handicapped and watched races at Hong Kong Happy Valley
- Handicapped a show parlay at Parx Racing
- Handicapped and watched races at Örebro Travbana
RSC 365: Tuesday, December 23 (Day No. 207)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Updated club directory
- Created registration form for the 2026 Frozen 4 v. 4
- E-mailed club contact in Iceland
- Scheduled meeting with league director
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)