Belmont Steaks

LIAM HOWLING "NEW YORK, NEW YORK"

Start spreading the news....... It was Saturday, June 11, 2011 and Paul and I were on the way home from NYC. It was only 2PM but we were racing to get home to set up for the Belmont, the last race of the Triple Crown- It was not a summery walking around NYC day as it was drizzly and cool, so we decided to come home after only a 2 hour NYC visit.
Our bets were in and one of us was going to win.  Paul asked, "you watch Belmont Stakes?"   What kind of question is that, I am thinking?   Is he ordering me to watch? I say, "that is the plan, we are watching the Belmont."  No, He says, "to eat"  I now think he must have said  "You want Belmont Steaks?" Good one.
Oh,  how clever, I love the play on words-is that what they call a homophone?  Words that sound alike, are spelled different and may have different meanings like steak/stake.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophone   Paul is homophoning me.
"No,  you misheard,"  he explained,  "not steak/stake."  I said, "you want Belmont snacks?"  Oh, well yeah, I'll take both-steaks (with apologies to veggie friends) and snacks.  Sometimes my hearing loss works out.

With a little teamwork, we got our supplies, steaks and snacks and wine and beer.  Liam had his Kong stuffed toys.

LIAM'S STEAKS

The pack of three was good to go  And we were off!

MY HORSE IS MASTER OF HOUNDS

I had bet Master of Hounds, my Irish horse from the Derby. Liam's pick also-hound bets on hound. Paul had Nehro. The smart handicappers said that one of the following 5 horses would win - Shackleford. Master of Hounds, Animal Kingdom, Mucho Macho Man or Nehro.  We were counting our winnings. I always bet "place" so I know I am a winner, as I have two chances.  Woo hoo.

It was a puddly, squishy muddy track.
Good thing-they did away with the "live" singer and brought Frank back for his iconic rendition of New York, New York. 
New York  Empire State of Mind was booed loudly last year and was not invited back.


Master of Hounds had the #1position, not good. But he just  made the trip from Ireland so this should be nothing. I mean, after a full body scan what is a romp around the track?
None of the top "five" horses finished in the top three. Ruler on Ice won.  Pretty colors. It is just how it goes in racing.  All the top three horses had Long Island connections, which is nice. Some guy even went to Chaminade HS like a friend of ours.
First year in many that neither one of us has won.  Liam was also shut out. He had all his Kong stuffings on Master of Hounds.
Post race, Liam tired of his doggie treats and hung around looking for some steak.

STEAK, I WANT IT, GIVE ME SOME

I explained to him that steak is bad for him, that we ourselves seldom eat it.  He finally gave up and turned his back on us.

NO STEAK, NO PLAYING

 Next Year.

WELL, MAYBE SOME SQUIRRELS ARE RACING

Woof, Woof, New York, New York!!!!!!!!!!!!!