Take Your Shot

Many times I have talked about playing in contests. I have loved the competition, and the friends you will make will last for years to come. Yesterday, I took a day off work and played in one of the best run contests in the country.

I made the trek to Lexington, Kentucky at about 9:00 a.m. They are about 1 1/2 hours from my home, and I look forward to seeing the facility more and more each time.

With people like Jude Feld and Jim Goodman, the contest is bound to be a success. I started off right by getting there early, and if you were lucky, you would have received a WinningPonies hat as you checked in.... They had all of the information, rules, friendly staff, and one of the best lunches in town. It is the reason that I saw four final NTRA winners playing there. It is worth the drive, or flight for that matter.

The start of the day for me was an 11-1 shot who drew off by ten at the quarter pole. The announcer was calling for second place, when I was gunned down in the shadow of the wire. I was at 16th at one point, and with this crew, that is something. I finished with my head held high. Not a bad day's finish, and what a well run contest.

I saw people that I have not seen since the holidays, and I have made friends over the past 4 years who I have been playing against. This is the best part: when you find others just like yourself who want to do battle, but at the end of the day are the first to shake your hand or give you a big hug. This is the part you can't pay for. A friend of mine said, "I didn't know you knew that many people. It seems like a sub-culture in the game of racing." Well, that it is... And for my money, these are friendships that will outlast the contest by far.