Big Brown Goes for a Big Run!

Borrowing a line from a well known package and logistic company, “What can Brown do for you?” The answer,..Big Brown, can run like a scalded dog.

Big Brown is the name of the horse that was draped with the blanket of Black-Eyed Susan’s in the State of Maryland on Saturday afternoon for winning the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes. The horse race of a mile and three sixteenths run annually on the 3rd Saturday of May in Baltimore, Maryland.

The owner and trainer received the Woodlawn Vase, from Maryland Governor O’Malley, for winning The Preakness Stakes. The best political line of the year came from the Governor as he presented the trophy. “I’m a Big Brown fan.” An easy call after the horse runs the race.huh Governor? Being fair and balanced the horse, the owner and the jockey are all from Maryland so the Governor was genuine in his excitement.

Big Brown ran a great race. It was great to watch a talented athlete go for a run, then a jog, then a high step across the finish line. There appears to be plenty of run in that horse based upon the performance today.

The excitement around Big Brown is that there just might be a chance for a winner of the Triple Crown. The name triple-crown, wins three major races or crowns, The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Winning all three has a guaranteed bonus for the owner, trainer and jockey. Affirmed was the most recent Triple Crown winner when he completed the sweep in 1978. That is 30 years ago.
The Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and Jockey, Kent Desormeaux were very excited about the success of Big Brown. We are all interested to see the results of the Belmont Stakes race that will be run June 6. Could this be the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years?

The Amazing Race

I absolutely love the Amazing Race. Lieber and I talk about trying to enter the contest all the time. Wouldn't it be great to race around the globe. It looks like fun.

On the other hand. There could be a few challenges:
1. Asking directions. I am lucky my spouse has a geography minor. She can read a map with the best of the land navigators. This keeps the getting lost and having to ask directions to a minimum.

2. Language barrier. I have a hard enough time mastering the English language. (Evidenced in this blog.) It cracks me up to watch people, Americans, try to communicate with people who speak a language foreign to our own. You know...a little slower and a little louder, until they understand.

3. Separation from Sweet Tea. You see it every week. The participants get sent to some exotic land that doesn't have the basics of food, American food. Sweet tea is an example. I have lived overseas so I will try the local fair. But, in my more advanced age I have begun to appreciate the fine things. Sweet Tea is my favorite drink and you just can't get the good stuff everywhere.

4. Wife wanted to know who would be her partner.....this is a potential area of conflict.

5. Decision Making method.. How do the team members not decide in advance to use a decision making method? You know, the potato method, one-potato, two-potato. Flip a coin, or pick a number. It just cracks me up to see the what do you think, now, what do you think while the other teams are shooting by.

We continue to consider trying to get on the program. Please leave comments about what you see the greatest challenges would be for you to join or once on the Amazing Race.