Working With Andy Beyer

I was reading a story in the Daily Racing Form by Andy Beyer about a gentleman in Nevada diagnosed with pancreatic cancer trying to beat the odds and live long enough to make it until the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Reading the story reminded me of an episode I had with Beyer in college back in the mid-1980’s.

I was a senior at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.  My best friend, Paul Mooney, and I would make trips to play the races throughout New England when we had the opportunity.  Back in the 80’s there was a dearth of handicapping information out there so you grabbed what you could find and latched onto it.  For harness racing at Lewiston and Scarborough it was Ainslie’s Complete Guide to Harness Racing while for Thoroughbreds it was Beyer’s Picking Winners.

I had just come off of spending a year in Washington, DC spending my “year abroad” at George Washington University and Beyer’s column in the Washington Post was must reading.  While he covered racing from a national perspective he also covered the Laurel/Pimlico scene in great detail.  There were columns on track biases, equine stars and trainers, owners and jockeys.  I couldn’t get enough Andy Beyer and I wrote one of only two pieces of fan mail I ever wrote in my life (the other was to Mel Blanc when I was in high school – quite the combo, huh?).

In my letter to Beyer I told him how much I enjoyed his work in the paper as well as paperback.  I thought that the possibility of following horses every day was my idea of heaven and asked him: how do I get to be you when I grow up?

Beyer’s answer came back hammered out on a manual typewriter and hand signed: “You don’t want this gig.”  Or something to that effect.  I don’t have the response anymore, lost over time in my moves around the country and the world, but I will always remember the advice he gave me:  get a real job and follow the horses in my spare time.  He said that betting horses and writing about them wasn’t easy and that it didn’t pay particularly well, unless you got lucky.

I followed that advice.  I graduated from college, attended graduate school at Maryland (and Pimlico & Laurel) and had a series of “real jobs” until getting laid off this past December.  Thanks to the recommendation of a friend, I picked up a freelance job for the summer covering Canterbury Park for the same Daily Racing Form that Beyer calls home.  His advice is still spot on.  The gig is a lot of fun but I won’t get rich doing it.  However while I’m looking for a “real job” I am living the dream and – technically speaking only – working with my hero while I’m doing it.

I have never met Andy Beyer and the odds are pretty good that I never will.  I tried hard to follow his advice though the years yet when all was said and done, at least for now anyway, I ended up under the same masthead. 

I promise, Andy, I AM looking for a “real job”…unless I get lucky!

I Don't Know What to Expect; Accident Mars Canterbury Card Friday

How's that for honesty? Heading into Tabby Lane's race this afternoon I have absolutely no idea what to expect. If Andy Beyer was handicapping this race he would throw her right out immediately as a horse on the decline. To be honest, I would too. Since shipping north she's been seriously off form and there is no physical reason for it. As a juvenile she shipped from Florida to Ontario to New Jersey and back south again but maybe she got comfy in the five months she was there and isn't thrilled about being north again? We went over every possible angle we could think of and it all left us shaking our heads. So here we go again with what we thought was some class relief ($10,00 Starter Allowance) but turned out not-so-much.

1. Thelifeoftheparty (Rarick/Rivera) - Stomped Tabby by 12 1/4 when Tabs tried Canterbury for the first time. She hasn't run since that date and is using the race as a tune up for the $75,000 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper (I remember having that dream once...). 8-5 in the Morning Line and deservedly so.

2. Clever Thought (Van Winkle/Eikleberry) - Big win at $7500 followed up by a losing a head bob to Alacazar at $15,000. Will want to get out quickly and try and wire this field.

3. TABBY LANE (RHONE/BUTLER)

4. Lilys Shadow (Rhone/Arterburn) -Showed some speed early but faded. To be expected in the first back since late November. Should improve off of this effort and the switch back to dirt.

5. Alacazar (Kirby/Nolan) - As mentioned, a head bob winner last out after being eased the race before. Certainly seems sound as a pound after that effort.

6. Lil Dish (Oliver/Keith) - Runaway winner in a $7500 non-winners of 3 lifetime race last out, her form seems to be strengthening since moving north and should also be competitive in a closely grouped bunch.

If Tabby has shaken off what's been bugging her we certainly have a shot. Canterbury's handicapper mentioned on their website that she's been off form since shipping north and is better than she's showed. Probably the most succinct analysis of her experiences over the last two months. Maybe it's a form cycle issue? It could be between her ears but she shows all the signs of being a happy, well adjusted filly. She galloped like a champ the past two weeks and has show every indication that she is ready to go.

I wish I had sage words or searing insight. She's back on dirt, so that's good. She's going back to six furlongs, so that's good. Dean Butler has chosen to stay aboard her which I appreciate to no end. I can't be at the race due to family commitments in Michigan that day so the odds on her winning just improved again. I wish I had more to go on - all I got right now is hope and a prayer.

Stevens, Nolan, Proctor Hurt in Spill

Speaking of prayers, ours go out to the families of Scott Stevens and Don Proctor who are both still hospitalized after a terrifying spill at Canterbury Park on Friday evening. Stevens mount, Sombre, broke down on the turn for home setting off a chain reaction that took down four of the six horses in the field. Stevens broke his collarbone in two places, ribs, back and suffered internal injuries to several organs as well. Proctor remains hospitalized pending test results on his back. Today's DRF has the latest update. Dean Butler, who as you all know is our top jock, was banged around but able to finish the card and continue riding through the weekend.

Everywhere we look on Facebook and other places we see an awful lot of folks scrambling to help the equine athlete - which is important and long overdue. This accident helps bring into focus how much our human athletes endure to pursue their passion. Jockeys are the toughest, strongest athletes on the planet who are braver than many realize and the spectre of this type of accident hovers over them at all times. Please take some time and visit the Don MacBeth Memorial Disabled Jockeys Fund. There is a lot of wealth and glamor at the top end of this profession, but the majority of riders work very hard and at great risk (does an ambulance follow you around at work?) and only get paid when they ride. A career ending accident can mean a life of poverty and destitution. Visit the website, read up and keep in mind that there is a human element to racing as well.