And Down the Stretch

As I mentioned earlier in the week, my wife and I will be heading out to the race track on Friday, my first ever visit to Del Mar to watch the horses.  In fact, it's the first time I've ever been to a horse race, so I'm asking for your help.  If any of you have any valuable advice on how to bet the ponies, drop me a line.  Do you prefer to bet based on the horse's color, its number or name or the way it drops its apples while trotting to the gate?  I haven't a clue. 

It should be fun.  When I think of horse racing, I can't help but picturing old Buk standing against the rail, his face red with intensity and drink, hoping against hope that his next horse will buy his next day's fuel.  If you're interested, I'm including a Bukowski poem at the bottom of this post.

For now, more of this:

Chuck Klosterman's new book gets the New York Times treatment.  By the way, doesn't Chuck look a little like Cousin Oliver from the Brady Bunch?  See also:  Klosterman's Book notes over at largehearted.

CNN talks to James Frey about his new book My Friend Leonard:  "There are six tiny letters tattooed on James Frey's arm: S, P, C, D, H and C. They stand for 'simplicity,' 'patience,' 'compassion,' 'discipline,' 'honesty' and 'courage.'"

*Sixeyes chats with singer-songwriter John Vanderslice.

As reported on Pitchfork, Fire Records plans to re-release Neutral Milk Hotel's On Avery Island with some bonus material added.  Related, Mike Doughty (ex-Soul Coughing) does a cover of NMH's "King of Carrot Flowers" on his new EP The Gambler (yes, he covers that song, too).

Check out the new My Morning Jacket single "Off the Record" over at Stereogum.

Most people ignore those emails telling them they have won money in an international lottery; not Pauly D. 

Have you ever wondered what Leon Trotsky's toilet looks like?  His and many others can be seen at the amazing Toilets of the World.

__________________________________________

no. 6

I'll settle for the 6 horse
on a rainy afternoon
a paper cup of coffee
in my hand
a little way to go,
the wind twirling out
small wrens from
the upper grandstand roof,
the jocks coming out
for a middle race
silent
and the easy rain making
everything
at once
almost alike,
the horses at peace with
each other
before the drunken war
and I am under the grandstand
feeling for cigarettes
settling for coffee,
then the horses walk by
taking their little men
away--
it is funereal and graceful
and glad
like the opening
of flowers.

Comments

[Beckie]

My tip for having fun at Del Mar:

Never bet more than I want to lose. Allocate more of your betting budget to DelMargaritas. I usually bet on whatever name catches my eye.
Sometimes I win a few bucks. My husband studies the program 3 days in advance, looks up strategies on the web, reads books, and come race day looses his ass and goes home sober and mad.

[TJ]

If you haven't picked up Doughty's Haughty Melodic, I highly recommend. Too bad there won't be any new, new NMH.

Good luck on the horses. I have no advice except to wear sunscreen.

[Robin]

Despite being from Ky, I would never claim to be an expert at the ponies, but I have found the following things helpful:

1-definitely don't bet more than you are willing to lose.
2-Don't expect to win.
3-yelling at the horses at the rail does NOT make them go faster, but it makes you feel better
4-Since you've accepted you're probably not going to win, go ahead and bet on the horse that has the longest or second-longest odds. Usually there is at least one race per day that the long shot "shows," and the payoff's a whole lot better.

Have fun playing with the rich kids. Let us know how it goes.