Dat Manager BP

We'll see.

2013 World Thoroughbred Championships

We're just 10 days away from the 30th renewal of the Breeders' Cup aka the World Thoroughbred Championships.  The B Team Syndicate will re-form and, despite our unanimous dissatisfaction with last year's buffet experience in Turfway Park's Homestretch Room, The Old Master of the Turf made the command decision to return triumphantly to its exclusive, crummy-food confines.  It's better than even money that I will duck out of the Homestretch Room at some point and grab a Turfway cheeseburger and fries (which, you might be surprised to read, is really good) for parimutuel sustenance.

The photo above was from my 2012 Belmont Stakes race program, Hyman Roth was entered into a race in the Belmont undercard.  I did not wager on Hyman Roth.  "I know it was you, Fredo!"

You may recall seeing the above photo last November.  It was of The Old Master of the Turf (left) intently observing a 2012 Breeders' Cup race in The Homestretch Room.  By Android standards it's a pretty bad image unless you think of it in terms of Impressionism, in which case the photo is a masterpiece.

Here are two, brief, Breeders' Cup columns from ESPN contributor Jay Cronley who humorously recounts his own, past, Breeders' Cup errors ("Noted") and, next, much as I myself have done over the years, makes a pitch for why you should participate in Breeders' Cup wagering ("Etcetera"), even if only it's a $2 play of the Pick Six.

I always keep in mind those of you who have an interest in horse racing beyond the wagering aspect of The Sport of Kings.  Here is a column from ESPN contributor Amanda Duckworth reporting on the recent Make-A-Wish Day at Keeneland.

While You Were Out... for the past 50 years!

Following the 2005 inaugural re-boot of Doctor Who, the actor portraying the Doctor, Christopher Eccelston, bolted the programme and David Tennant was brought in to portray the Tenth Doctor beginning in November of 2005.  I have been known to be an old skool guy (what's that you say, Phat Daddy?  Reactionary?) in most things culturally, socially, politically and also as it may apply to the world of entertainment.  Being an established fan of the original Doctor Who, I would have been - check that, I was - predisposed to have a bias against the new versions of Doctor Who.  Instantly I was sold.  The first season (2005) exceeded my expectations.  And whereas the Fourth Doctor (portrayed by the inimitable Tom Baker [1974-1981]) had universally been considered as the iconic version of the Doctor, David Tennant's Tenth Doctor has, in my own weighty opinion, set the new standard and in 2006 Doctor Who fulfilled its promise of becoming the best show on television today.

Following are a selection of video clips which will give you a sense of what the 2006 season (or "series") was like:

Series 2, Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace."

Series 2, Episode 4 (conclusion) "The Girl in the Fireplace."

Series 2, Episode 8 (trailer) "The Impossible Planet."

Series 2, Episode 9 "The Satan Pit."

Series 2, Episode 9a "The Satan Pit."

Series 2, Episode 9b "The Satan Pit."

Series 2, Episode 9c "The Satan Pit."

Series 2, Episode 10 (trailer) "Love & Monsters."

Series 2, Episode 10 "Love & Monsters."

Series 2, Episode 12 "Army of Ghosts."

Series 2, Episode 13 "Doomsday."

Series 2, Episode 13a "Doomsday."