Happy Third Aniversary Turk and Little Turk

The older Turk gets, the more wistful Turk becomes. My post tonight marks the third anniversary of The Turk and Little Turk blog. We've welcomed 20,577 visitors through the front door in those three years or 571 people a month. The individual readers mean an awful lot to me, much more than the meager traffic number represents in the blogging world.

I've become friends with many of you, meet some of you, shared joy and frustrations with you. I've bridged the gap of impersonal computer blogging and made connections with my readers, engaging in a dialog built on the common love of the equine. Horseplayers, whales, bloggers, wannabes, rescuers, journalists: I've been blessed to meet you all and I thank you for inspiring me to write my blog when I'm tired, when work has me down, when the joy is sucked from my bones. Nothing makes me happier than talking about the races, a pleasure that is possible because of the understanding and encouragement given to me by Mrs. Turk, and my apprentice, The Little Turk.

At The Turk and the Little Turk we don't give a hoot about traffic, demographics, Alexa ratings, blog analytics, none of that. The Ol' Turk cares about the real. We define the real as family, friends, new loves, old loves. We don't discriminate, don't judge, don't preach, occasionally rant, but it's always delivered with passion and it's always straight up, no BS. Win, loose, close miss, plain suck, we just say it.

I'd like to thank Geno from Equispace . I found Equispace sort of by accident in September 2008 while I was mindlessly surfing away in O'Hare Airport. It dawned on me as I read his blog that this was something I'd like to try myself. On a whim I wrote a letter to Geno and he graciously responded. The small world that it is, Geno actually lives no more than 15 miles from my house.

In a world full of irony, Geno replaced an inspiration of mine, The Happy Handicapper, Mr. Bob Summers, who passed away about a year ago. Bob was the longtime handicapper at the Buffalo News and his articles were always positive and full of upbeat language and joy. Bob's writings, and his use of a clumsy third person writing style, was an inspiration to me and he is missed, but Geno has carried on the tradition of writing well.

My only goal for this blog is more of the same, but better. I don't intend to ever write a handicapping book, but I'm writing parts of it every blog entry. I consider my writings a work in progress and I work at my craft. As I'm working, I'm doing my best to articulate my thoughts cohesively. I hope you like it, it is for you I write.

I hope to meet as many of you as possible during the Breeders' Cup. Stay positive, add to other's joy, think before you talk, have empathy. Love one another as you would have others love you.

Here's hoping we break 28,000 visitors by year four.

Thank You Friends,

The Turk and Little Turk

Post Race Analysis: Race Day January 10, 2009

Race 9 at Fair Grounds, The LeComte Stakes, G3, at 1 Mile on Dirt for 3YOs.



The bettors sent Friesan Fire off as the favorite and were not disappointed. I was surprised slightly as Indygo Mountain has garnered a lot of hype in the past few weeks. Indygo Mountain faired worse then I expected after leaving the gate poorly and never mounting any drive. I was surprised as well by the strong runs of Au Moon and especially Patena. It was a nice $40.20 exacta, the type of ticket the Turk likes to cash, but it wasn't to be. I'll have to change my stance somewhat next week. The Turk has been handicapping without morning lines, but I don't want to handicap scratched horses either, so I may take a quick peek just for those.

And at the Great Race Place, Santa Anita, Race 8, The San Pasqual Handicap G2, 1 1/16 miles on Santa Anita's version of dirt that sometimes people praise and sometimes people scorn (D. Wayne felt the need to trash it this week)for 4 Yos.



About the only thing the Turk did get say right was that Cowboy Cal was mostly likely in better current form then Well Armed. What I liked most was the fight that Cowboy Cal brought to this one, refusing to surrender the lead. I didn't see Informed or Magnum being considerations, and both had strong races with so so trips. I gambled on Mostacolli Mort, who went off as the fourth pick of the bettors at 6.30. He saved ground, came out of the stretch, but had no where to go. The $1 exacta paid $90.90.

And near and dear to the Turk's heart, Turk went off as the overwhelming bettors choice in the 3rd race at Santa Anita yesterday, still looking to break his maiden. The Baffert owned and trained colt had the win but couldn't finish, taking place money for the second race in a row.