My dad was a self-proclaimed horse trader from Oklahoma, that moved to California in search of fame and fortune. Well, not really, I mean about the fame and fortune.

He learned the trade of carpentry and even built the house that I was raised in, here in Sonoma County.

But his passion was horse racing.

If you went to any race track in Northern California back in the '50, '60's and '70s, whether it was Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields or any of the fairs, you might have run into my dad.

He didn't go everyday, but as often as he could.

So why in the world would I suggest you might remember my dad?

I'll start here.

Back in the day, you had to go to a specific window for making a wager. There were individual windows for $2 win, $2 place and $2 show. There was even a window for a $2 combo, and so on. I mention this only to give you a reference point for how things were.

So where was my dad?

He was the guy standing over near the $50 window. There was usually only one of them, almost always located at the very end of the wagering windows, so he was easy to spot.

Dad always wore a cowboy hat that had a slight tilt to one side. When he was in his element, he sported a wry smile, accompanied by a partially closed right eye, almost like a wink, that told everyone that knew him, he was having a good time. He always donned a pair of bibbed overalls, to go with his Stetson hat, long-sleeved shirt and boots. Never did understand why they called them a pair of overalls? OK, that's another subject.

Dad wore overalls because of the convenience and security the multiple-pocket bib offered, right below his nose. He used these pockets for four things. First was his wallet, so someone couldn't pick it. Second was his glasses. Third was his pocket watch and its fob. And the remaining pockets were for betting tickets.

So now do you remember him?

Dad made it his business to know as many people that had something to do with horse racing. Before the big bettors would arrive to make their wagers at the $50 window, he would head to the paddock area and talk to trainers he knew after they saddled their horses.

I remember R.L. Martin, who still trains at Golden Gate Fields, was one of his favorites. Dad would sometimes give a trainer a pocket knife or pocket watch - things he collected and eventually sold at swap meets and gun shows - all in hopes of gaining a little edge on how that particular horse might do in the next race.

He would just saunter up to a trainer and ask him what he thought of his horse. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

Now do you remember him?

Then it was time to get serious, and off to the betting widows he went. First he made a wager reflecting the sound advice he gained by talking with the trainers.

But then came his speciality.

He bird-dogged the guys that bet for other people in the know. These guys would do the betting for the trainers, jockeys and owners that didn't like tipping people off if they liked their horse.

Some of the $50 windows around Northern California tracks had a wooden partition or little side wings for privacy, often looking like a voting booth. Some of the $50 windows even had a security guard standing by. That didn't seem to stop dad, and many times he would end up sitting in the guards chair just to take a load off his feet.

Dad would slip in behind his target as they moved to the betting window. He would get up as close as he could, and lean in, trying to hear ore see the number announced by the unwitting victim as he called it out to the mutual clerk behind the window. Dad would then spin out of line and head back to his spot. Then, when he had a chance, he would go and make a bet on that horse, usually at the $20 window because the lines weren't as long as they were at the $5 and $2 windows.

Now my dad's got tickets on two different horses. And he wasn't done yet. You just never knew who was going to try and slip in late with the for-sure winner.

Sometimes dad would end up with tickets on three or four horses. It would always seem like he had the winning horse, but how much he spent on getting that winning horse was anyone's guess.

Now do you remember him?

When I started attending the races at the Santa Rosa Fair meet, my dad quickly recruited me and my buddies to bird dog or place a wager for him. This allowed him to stay on watch and never have to leave his post.

He would just stand there and would kind of nod at someone, and off one of us went to get in line and see what horse the guy was betting. If we could tell dad how much the guy bet, all the better. Then after divulging the information to my dad, and with only a minute to go, my buddies and I would scatter, hoping to get in a bet for ourselves.

I remember more often than not, I would comeback and my dad would say, 'well did you get him,' meaning did I bet the winner. I would shake my head and tell him no. I bet the horse he told me to bet and it didn't win. Then he would explain how just at the last minute so-and-so came up and he bird dogged him and . . . well you know the rest, he made a killing.

I remember thinking to myself as I walked away disappointed, and usually broke, damn those long lines at the $2 windows. If I could have only stayed longer before the race started, or had more money to bet, I could have gone to the shorter lines.

My dad died in 1984 after a long battle with cancer.

Like everyone that has lost someone, I just wish he could have stuck around longer. He would have got a kick out of riding with me to the fair and actually parking, just up from the grandstand, for free. He would have loved sitting with me up in the press box while I finished my handicap for the next day's newspaper.

Now, when I'm doing my horse racing blog at home, I often look up at the numerous winning race photos I have hanging on my computer room wall and I realize how lucky I've been.

There in most of the photos are my wife, my son and my daughter. Yes, I'm a father too. And yes, my son also loves the sport. The photos include our close friends and partners and other well-wishers that wanted to get in the picture with us. But there is someone missing in every photo. Some one who would have given anything to have been there. My dad wasn't in any of them.

He would have loved to have been in the winner's circle with one of the horses I co-owned. We even won twice at Santa Rosa. He would have been so proud.

So, now do you remember him?

No, you probably don't, but I sure do.

I miss you dad, happy Father's Day

Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby in a runaway. He came up a little short in the Preakness Stakes. A decision on who rides him in the Belmont Stakes might come right down to the wire.

The deadline is Wednesday to enter the 141st Belmont, to be run June 6 at Belmont Park. Chip Woolley, the trainer of Mine That Bird, on Thursday said he would be willing to wait fairly close to then if that's what it took to secure Calvin Borel as his rider for the final leg of the Triple Crown.

"I'm going to give Calvin as much time as possible to ride Mine, and keep him from losing two mounts," Woolley said Thursday on a national teleconference. "He won me a Derby. I owe him the opportunity, if possible. I don't want him sitting on the sidelines."

Borel is a man in demand. He rode Mine That Bird in the Derby, then chose to ride the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, in which Mine That Bird finished second under jockey Mike Smith. Smith has to be at Hollywood Park on June 6, which gave Borel the opportunity to potentially get back on Mine That Bird, pending the decision on Rachel Alexandra.

There has been no official word yet from Jess Jackson, the majority owner of Rachel Alexandra, as to whether Rachel Alexandra will run in the Belmont. If she runs, Borel would ride her. But if she does not, Woolley wants Borel back on his horse. So, Woolley does not want to get peevish and give away the mount to someone else prematurely, even if it means waiting a few more days.

Woolley said he doesn't care if Rachel Alexandra runs. Except for one thing.

"As much as anything, I'd like to have Calvin," Woolley said.

Woolley said he made no equipment changes with Mine That Bird between his two races earlier this year at Sunland Park and the Derby. "The exact same: D-bit and a tongue tie," Woolley said. "He's compliant to what you want out of him. The main thing is just to ride him with patience."

Mine That Bird is currently training at Churchill Downs. He returned there from Pimlico following the Preakness. Woolley said he went back to Kentucky, rather than straight to Belmont Park, because of the way Mine That Bird trained at Churchill Downs prior to the Derby.

"He got a little rattled at Pimlico. I knew he had trained well here," Woolley said from Kentucky. "The horse is doing super. Today he looked as good as he has since he's been here."

Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby in a runaway. He came up a little short in the Preakness Stakes. A decision on who rides him in the Belmont Stakes might come right down to the wire.

The deadline is Wednesday to enter the 141st Belmont, to be run June 6 at Belmont Park. Chip Woolley, the trainer of Mine That Bird, on Thursday said he would be willing to wait fairly close to then if that's what it took to secure Calvin Borel as his rider for the final leg of the Triple Crown.

"I'm going to give Calvin as much time as possible to ride Mine, and keep him from losing two mounts," Woolley said Thursday on a national teleconference. "He won me a Derby. I owe him the opportunity, if possible. I don't want him sitting on the sidelines."

Borel is a man in demand. He rode Mine That Bird in the Derby, then chose to ride the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, in which Mine That Bird finished second under jockey Mike Smith. Smith has to be at Hollywood Park on June 6, which gave Borel the opportunity to potentially get back on Mine That Bird, pending the decision on Rachel Alexandra.

There has been no official word yet from Jess Jackson, the majority owner of Rachel Alexandra, as to whether Rachel Alexandra will run in the Belmont. If she runs, Borel would ride her. But if she does not, Woolley wants Borel back on his horse. So, Woolley does not want to get peevish and give away the mount to someone else prematurely, even if it means waiting a few more days.

Woolley said he doesn't care if Rachel Alexandra runs. Except for one thing.

"As much as anything, I'd like to have Calvin," Woolley said.

Woolley said he made no equipment changes with Mine That Bird between his two races earlier this year at Sunland Park and the Derby. "The exact same: D-bit and a tongue tie," Woolley said. "He's compliant to what you want out of him. The main thing is just to ride him with patience."

Mine That Bird is currently training at Churchill Downs. He returned there from Pimlico following the Preakness. Woolley said he went back to Kentucky, rather than straight to Belmont Park, because of the way Mine That Bird trained at Churchill Downs prior to the Derby.

"He got a little rattled at Pimlico. I knew he had trained well here," Woolley said from Kentucky. "The horse is doing super. Today he looked as good as he has since he's been here."

Monday morning my wife Pat and I headed off to the post office to purchase the commemorative Seabiscuit stamp.

After buying 10 pre-stamped envelopes, I asked the lady behind the counter if she had a stamp stating that this was in fact a first-day edition. She smiled and told us that the only post office that could do that would be in the home town of the honoree.

So off we headed to Willits, approximately 80 miles from our home.

Once we arrived, I purchased 20.

Besides the beautiful stamp of Seabiscuit, the envelope was stamped with:

IN HONOR OF AMERICA'S LEGENDARY CHAMPION RACEHORSE -

SEABISCUIT -

First Day of Sale, Ridgewood Ranch Station, May 11, 2009, Willits, CA 95490.

There was also a triangular stamp stating;

Seabiscuit: Heritage Foundation, Willits, California, Ridgewood Ranch.

It was well worth the trip and I can't wait to share them with some of my special friends and family.

Seabiscuit Stamped Envelope (44 cents) (See above)

Walter Mondale, former Vice President of the United States and U.S. Ambassador to Japan, and his wife Joan, member of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, led a special first day of sale ceremony at noon, on Monday, May 11, for the new commemorative US Postal Service stamped envelope of America's legendary racehorse, Seabiscuit. The Mondales will be joined by Winifred Groux, USPS San Francisco District Manager, and a San Francisco Bay Area woman who met and petted Seabiscuit in the winner's circle.

Hosted by the Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the US Postal Service, the special, by-invitation-only ceremony took place at the horse's historic home and final resting place at Ridgewood Ranch in Willits.

The Mondales will mail a stamped envelope to Pimlico, MD for it to be showcased at the racetrack's annual Alibi breakfast for Preakness jockeys, trainers, owners, and media on Thursday.

Seabiscuit raised the hopes and spirits of a beleaguered nation during the Great Depression with a series of unlikely victories. The stamped envelope commemorates his legendary win at Pimlico in 1938 against Triple Crown winner War Admiral, whom the stamp also features. The race drew 40,000 spectators and was broadcast by radio to President Franklin Roosevelt and 40 million other listeners across the country. Considered a West Coast underdog, Seabiscuit inspired America with his awe-inspiring win against all odds. Howard "Gelo" Hall of Baltimore, who witnessed the Match Race as 10-year-old and has been a fixture at Pimlico ever since, also will get a signed note from the Mondales.

Nearly two years ago, the Mondales paid homage to the great racehorse when a classic, life-sized bronze sculpture of the equestrian giant was returned, unveiled, and formally dedicated at Ridgewood Ranch. Mrs. Mondale and the other Stamp Advisory Committee members recommended the stamp as a tribute to Seabiscuit's legendary feats.

Nestled in the oak and redwood-studded ranchlands and mountains of northern California, Ridgewood Ranch was where Seabiscuit was nursed back to health after a serious injury. Seabiscuit's recuperation set the stage for an electrifying blaze-of-glory career finish at Santa Anita Park that captivated Depression-era America.

Each year, hundreds of visitors stream to northern California to see the beautiful landscapes and buildings that constitute Seabiscuit's legacy. Many of the historic buildings remaining from the Howard and Seabiscuit era urgently need repair, and preservation efforts must be completed soon to preserve and protect Seabiscuit's legacy for future generations of Americans.

ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE

Sunday's news of two owners plotting to keep the Kentucky Oaks' winning filly Rachel Alexandra out of the race by entering their horses is preposterous.

Because of a maximum of 14 horses can run in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness if more than 14 were to enter the $1 million race, there is the potential that Rachel Alexandra, who has to be supplemented to the Preakness for $100,000, would be excluded.

Owners of Mine That Bird and Pioneerof the Nile, the Derby runner-up, said on HRTV that they would enter lesser horses in the Preakness to try to keep Rachel Alexandra from running. Both owners - Mark Allen and Ahmed Zayat - later Sunday reconsidered and said they would not enter other runners.

"My decision to enter Indy Express in the Preakness was strictly business," Allen, who owns Mine That Bird with Dr. Leonard Blach, said in a statement, "but after consulting with my dad and Doc Blach, I have decided to withdraw Indy Express to prevent any further misunderstandings. Their advice to me was just to do what's right, because arrogance and greed isn't right.

"So we'll meet everyone in Baltimore, ready to run."

This is horse racing for goodness sake. If you don't want to run against a certain horse than scratch yours. Allen and Zayat should be ashamed. These guys are in the wrong business.

HIGH RESOLVE SCARES OFF THE COMPETITION

Chuck Dybdal of the Daily Racing Form reports that trainer Greg Gilchrist, who was a happy camper last week until he entered his talented sprinter High Resolve in the $75,000 Raise Your Skirts Stakes for Saturday, and the timing was perfect as prep for the Grade 1, $350,000 Princess Rooney at the Summit of Speed at Calder on July 11.

Although High Resolve is based at Golden Gate, she had never run there. She still hasn't.

High Resolve was the only entrant in the Raise Your Skirts, and the race was canceled.

There were 11 runners nominated to the race, but only one other, Princess Susan M, was based in Northern California. Judy Patootie and Elletelle were expected to come up from Southern California, but they were apparently scared off by High Resolve.

Five of the Raise Your Skirts nominees wound up running instead in a Hollywood allowance sprint last Thursday, including the top four finishers, Coco Belle, She's Cheeky, Ashley's Kitty and Foxy Danseur.

Golden Gate racing secretary Sean Greely said that the filly and mare sprint category is very light in Northern California and that he needed help from Southern California to fill the race. He said he could understand why Southern California-based runners didn't want to pay entry fees and ship north to run into a filly that would likely be odds-on.

Gilchrist, however, saw the cancellation of the stakes as another indicator of a decline in the number of races for the region's better horses.

"You can't run off all your good horses," he said.

Several Northern California trainers now also keep a string of horses in Southern California, among them Jerry Hollendorfer, Art Sherman, and Brian Koriner.

Gilchrist now has to go to Plan B with High Resolve and find a way to get her to the Princess Rooney.

"This was the perfect race for her," he said. "It would have been nice to walk her over to the track 100 yards from her barn to run her for the first time."

High Resolve worked five furlongs in a brisk 59.80 on Sunday, the second best of 62 workers on the day.

Among her options next out are a pair of $100,000 six-furlong sprints on May 25 - the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs or the Valid Expectations at Lone Star Park. Gilchrist is also thinking about the $50,000 Washington State Legislators at Emerald Downs on June 7, but that race, won last year by the Gilchrist-trained Victorina, has a purse of only $50,000 and is run at 6 1/2 furlongs.

"Six furlongs is right for her," Gilchrist said. "If she has to go farther, she's not as comfortable."

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS NOTES:

Jockey Roberto Gonzalez, who suffered a broken vertebrae in his neck and broken left ankle in a spill two weeks ago, said that doctors are predicting a full recovery for him.

Golden Gate's first Sunday Spring Concert attracted 6,210 fans on Mother's Day. No one hit the pick six and there will be a $16,913 carryover heading into Wednesday.

Leading jockey Russell Baze added three more winners Sunday and seems well on his way to another 400-win season with 160 victories in 2009. He also had riding doubles on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Leading trainer Hollendorfer saddled a pair of winners on Saturday and Sunday.

NO POSITIVE STEROID TEST AT DERBY OR OAKS

According to Jeffrey McMurray of the Associated Press, Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby without the help of anabolic steroids, and for the first time in the 135-year history of the race, officials have the tests to prove it.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced Monday that blood and urine
tests given to the top four finishers of the Derby and Kentucky Oaks were clean of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

"I am very pleased by the results, which give a clear indication that Kentucky's intensified efforts to make certain those associated with thoroughbred racing are doing the right things, is having an impact," said Lisa Underwood, executive director of the racing commission. "The results also say to a watching world that the safety of horses and riders as well as the integrity of the sport is uppermost in our minds."

DERBY TRIAL WINNER WON'T RACE IN PREAKNESS

Derby Trial winner Hull will not race in the Preakness and instead will run in the Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6.

Barry Irwin of co-owner Team Valor said he expects the pace of Saturday's Preakness to be too much for Hull, who is unbeaten but has had only three starts. He didn't start as a 2-year-old because of shin problems.

Irwin told the Lexington Herald-Leader the Preakness would have been Hull's first at such a distance and that he wasn't comfortable with the speed that would be in the second leg of the Triple Crown. The Woody Stephens is 7 furlongs, while the Preakness is 1 3/16 miles.

Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form and the Associated Press contributed to this report.