Penal colonies and Empires

John McCririck has a few bland comments about Australian racing in anticipation of this year's Royal Ascot meet.

Concerning the raison d'etre for this blog (I don't know how to make the hat on top of the e), the racing partnership I was hoping to form is not progressing as quickly as I hoped. How hard can it be? You start a blog and millions of people read it and out of those millions, thousands must be clamoring for a piece of this half-baked idea. Doesn't this kind of thing happen all the time? We go pick out a horse and the next thing you know we win the Triple Crown. I mean, come on...

I found this guy out on the east coast who was putting together his own partnership and has in fact done this before so that immediately makes him Charlie Wittingham in my book. Seems decent enough of a chap and was willing to put up with my incessant questions. Apparently, and I don't know if you've heard, we are in a recession-no really, it's in all the papers; most people find it impractical to spend thousands of dollars on a pastime that may or may not drop dead at a moments notice. His partnership was moving along just as slowly but a friend of his who owns a few horses was looking to claim a horse at Churchill, Amoss is his trainer, and bring him to Arlington when Churchill finishes its meet.

This being one of those moments when the clouds break enough for that heavenly light to spotlight on you and the mysterious chorus of angels sings in the background, I jumped all over it. I fully expect this to fall through but its fun to have something to look forward to. The five or six people that had expressed an interest in joining my partnership might also be invited to join, although I don't know if they will since they only agreed to join with me to get me to shut up. They might see this as their spotlight moment to bail...you sure you're o.k.? O.K., see ya.

Updates to follow, I'm sure you're all breathless with anticipation.

I threw Empire Maker up there just for the cheap play on the name. Euro 2008 beckons...