Y2KX: Troubleshooting

Tweet It's been quite a week in the world of sports. Coaches being fired for crazy stuff, pro hoopers stowing guns in an NBA locker room, college bowl games ad nauseum and coaches being criticized for pulling their stars and giving up a perfect season. We should be glad we don't have those types of headlines causing trouble for our sport.

In the horse racing world, things are kinda quiet until some of the Derby preps will start revving up in the coming months. As the New Year turns, we're only a scant four months away from the Derby and those prep races can't get here soon enough. Gulfstream Park opens tomorrow with Quality Road making his first appearance since his wacked-out gate showing at the Breeders' Cup Classic. I'll never forget those moments at Santa Anita during the load and the way he freaked at the gate truly unnerved me. Hopefully everything goes well tomorrow in the Hal's Hope (G3) for QR. He fared very well on the GP strip last year winning both the Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Florida Derby (G1). 2008 Prince of Wales winner Harlem Rocker (3-1) is the second choice going a mile for $100K. I would have loved to see these both in the gate at the BC Dirt Mile last November, but alas.

Tomorrow is the 17th anniversary of the best football game I ever watched in person. I remember being in the bathroom at halftime asking the guy next to me if he thought they'd put Gale Gilbert in at quarterback and replace Frank Reich. The energy in that stadium (people were jumping the fence to get back in) during the second half was something I never have ever experienced at a sporting venue. The closest electric moments were both in horse racing: (1) The Big Brown Belmont crowd during the gate load; (2) Zenyatta charging down the lane to win the Classic and (3) Joe Carter's home run to win the 1993 World Series at SkyDome.

I have been contemplating all day pulling my first no-show since I became a Bills season ticket holder in 1987. I miss meaningful January football at Rich Stadium. But there's still a little magic in that old place....