Crossing the finish line

As one gets up in years one has a tendency to check the obituaries each morning. Last week the N.Y. Times had two racing greats side by side. On the right they noted on the passing of Carl Hanford a trainer of the great horse Kelso. Entering the Racing Hall of Fame he said "I'm here because of one horse and one horse only." Kelso was a gelding and because of his inability to breed he ran into his ninth year and was probably the greatest horse of the 1960s decade having won the Jockey Gold Cup five times and a three time winner of both the Woodward Stakes and the Whitney Handicap. Back then many of the stakes races were "weight for age" and as Kelso was running against younger horses the stewards would often assign him heavier weights. The three year old horses running in the Triple Crown races in May/June were all assigned 126 pounds. What was impressive about Kelso he could win carrying 136 pounds which included the jockey Eddie Arcaro plus some metal in his saddle bags. He retired at age nine when his owner, Allaire duPont, would ride him on fox hunts. At age 26 he made a ceremonial visit to Belmont Park and died shortly thereafter. On the other side of the page was the obit of John J.Kelley a marathoner winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon. So here we had two great runners crossing the finish line together.
tjs
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Philly Favorites

These are a few of my favorite things...Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Pepper Pot, Scrapple (don't ask the ingredients - just as you wouldn't watch sausage made), Tastykakes and the Cheese Steak.  The founder of Geno's Steaks passed away last week. In 2005 he posted a sign "This is America. When ordering please speak English." He reminded critics that he did say "please" - and nobody gets refused. In 2003 he received a favorable review in the N.Y. Times by the eminent gourmet, R.W. Apple, Jr. who described the cheese dissolving into a runny sauce. And this was Cheez Whiz from an aerosol can! In 1967 when he opened he charged thirty-five cents - currently it cost $9.00 - with or without the onions.
tjs
Next - Crossing the finish line

Hurricane Alley

Today I would like to offer thanks that my family, friends and loved ones survived the most serious hurricane to come thru the East Coast in many years. Some minor damage plus some inconvenience  is better than what it might have been. Having lived in Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey I am familiar with the geography involved. There will be flooding and considerable clean up effort. Let's pray for all those folks who were not as fortunate. North Carolina took the brunt of the storm which may have lessened the effect on New York. I support both Bloomberg and Gov. Christie  on the tough calls they had to make.
tjs
Next - Philly Favorites

Where's Waldo?

NEWS BREAK.......

They can't seem to locate the Libyan dictator - the newspapers spell his name with a "Q" - a TV station spelled it with a "K" - GOOGLE spells it with a "G" - if they can't spell his name correctly it's no wonder they can't find him. And with a $2 million bounty on his head! Spelling was always my strong suit.
tjs
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Job Security

Walter O'Malley was the long time owner of the Brooklyn Dodger (later Los Angeles Dodger) franchise. While he may have given some of his stars long term contracts, his practice with his managers was to offer only a one year contract, subject to yearly review and renewal. Most of the managers had no problem with his idiosyncrasy - Leo Durocher had eight years - Walter Alston stayed on for twenty-three years - and Tommy LaSorda put in eighteen seasons. But the one fellow who had a problem with this year to year routine was Charley (Chuck) Dressen who served from 1951-1953. It seemed that Dressen's wife was unhappy with the uncertainty of it all and provoked her husband to ask for a longer term. This did not sit well with O'Malley and Dressen was gone after three seasons. Of course, it didn't help Dressen since he was at the helm on October 3, 1951 when the Dodgers lost the NL pennant to the rival New York Giants in a playoff that featured Bobby Thomson's famous home run. There is a moral here for all to see.
tjs
Next - Funny or Punny

Believe it or not

The following excerpted from Eagle Blue No. 32 - May 12, 2006 -
-I had a young fellow working with me on the booking desk in Philadelphia - call him Joe B. He had a quick mind and wit and excellent interpersonal skills. A family situation dictated he take a leave of absence to rescue a relative's failing gas station. With his excellent work ethic he soon had the station in the black working twelve hour days. The station was on the edge of the city but his home was in New Jersey which made for a lengthy commute. One of his steadiest customers was a drapery company who gave him all the service and maintenance on their several vans running up a tab of several hundred dollars and then disappearing. Phone calls were futile and he brooded about his loss on the long drive home. One evening on returning home his wife announced that "there was a drapery man here today and he gave me an estimate on new drapes and left his business card." Bingo! It was the "welsher". (Again paraphrasing Bogart's line "of all the homes in Delaware Valley he had to walk into mine." Joe instructed his wife to order the drapes, when they were hung to give the man a check and "call me at work." - after which Joe stopped payment with  his bank and waited for the call which shortly came. "Mr. B. there seems to be a problem with that check your wife gave me." Pause. Joe said "Do you know who I am?" Mr. Drapes answered "Oops, I guess you got me." Joe said "I guess we're even PAL" Justice was served - sometimes it takes a little longer. Also, don't mess with a guy from South Philly!
tjs
Next - Job Security

Vacations

With Washington, D.C. empty, President Obama has gone up to Martha's Vineyard for a brief vacation with his family. Bill Clinton enjoyed his summer breaks also at the Vineyard. It is a lovely area - I once put in there on a schooner and spent several days on the beach. Bush 41 preferred Kennebunkport, Maine. Bush 43 liked to chop wood at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.  Ronald Reagan liked to ride horseback at his ranch in California. Ike was satisfied hanging out in Gettysburg Pa.  Richard Nixon was not a wealthy man and he  sought refuge in Key Biscayne, Fl. at his friend Bebe Rebozo's place.  Nixon used to walk the sand in his street shoes but he did like to deep sea fish. There is a story how these islands around Cape Cod were named. It was said that the King of England had three daughters - Elizabeth, Martha and Ann. He asked them to choose which island they wanted. Elizabeth the oldest chose the Elizabeth Islands - Martha chose the Vineyard. There was only one left and  "Nan took it". As an aside my wife and I honeymooned in Nantucket - they say as the sand washes up on the eastern side that some day you will be able to walk to Europe. Don't hold your breath.
tjs
Next - Believe it or not.