Horseplayer Stories – Either I’m A Genius or An Idiot!

Saratoga – Top Of The Stretch

Horseplayers walk the thin line between Genius and Idiot all the time.  And believe me, I speak from many days of experience.  But, one day in particular stands out in my memory.  It was August 8,  2009 … my son Michael’s 18th birthday and you can probably guess where we spent the day.

Deb and I went up early in the morning to claim some picnic tables at the top of the stretch.  Mike was meeting a group of friends at the track for his “traditional” birthday party and we needed a place for all of them to sit.  It’s the least I could do for him on his birthday you know.

It turned out to be a beautiful summer day at the races, full of sunshine, cold drinks, and good friends.  All was well in the world … except for my handicapping.  I’d like to blame it on the commotion of the day; reserving the tables, talking with Mike’s friends, or maybe too many of the cold drinks.  But, the simple fact was, for 10 races my selections were quite awful.  I could muster no more than a couple of minor cashes, and there was only one race to go.

Neal and Crazy Poppy

I was not alone – Mike’s friends and my good friend “Crazy” Poppy were all having losing days.  The latter was down to his last $25, and he asked me who my top selection was in the final race.  I looked at my sheet, and on the top was a horse named Tutti Va Bene.  He looked at the board and said, “Ah … he’s 19-1 you know.  And you’ve got him on top?”  I replied, “Either I’m a genius or an idiot Poppy.”  He said, “You’re an idiot!  But, I’m going to bet on him anyway.”  So he bet his last $25 to win on Tutti Va Bene.

Michael and several of his friends jumped on board and bet their last remaining dollars on Tutti Va Bene.  All, except his friend Mackenzie, who decided to bet on the longest shot on the board, Our Montana Dream.  Because she liked the name.

Tutti Va Bene ran in mid-pack until the quarter pole, at that point he swung out wide and as he passed us at the top of the stretch he was still in 6^th place but gaining.  Our attention switched to the television screen and we watched as he steadily advanced from 6^th to 5^th to 4^th to 3^rd to 2^nd … to 1^st … winning by 1/2 length at the wire.

We were all screaming and dancing around, and Mike’s friends were thanking me … all except for Mackenzie, who happened to be doing some yelling of her own.  In the excitement of following Tutti Va Bene down the stretch, I hadn’t noticed that Our Montana Dream had finished 2^nd at 46-1 odds, paying almost as much to place as our horse did to win.

I asked Mackenzie, “Did you have it across the board?”  She replied matter-of-factly, “Nooo … I bet him to Win, Place, and Show.”  We all had a good laugh as my son explained to her that’s what Across The Board means.

So, for ten consecutive races I was an idiot. But for one final race I was a genius.  And, that’s one of the really cool things about horse racing, it’s that one race that Poppy, Mike, and his friends still remember to this day.

I found out later that Tutti Va Bene is Italian and translates to “All is Good.”  I like to think of that as my personal motto when I’m at the race track.  All is good!

Click here if you’d like to see the results chart for our 19-1 Tutti Va Bene.

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By Neal Benoit