Hope and Miracles!

There was no miracle the night Stay Alert ran--which means we still have a "Seeing the Pope" miracle available to use on Dunraven Pass! Stay Alert is being given away, along with Cape Town Bay. That means all our eggs are in the Dunraven Pass basket. Yes, that is our two year old in layup recovering from a broken leg. But there's hope--to read all about it, get news about my upcoming book, "ROSE COLORED HORSES -- A Year in the Life of a Crazed Horsewoman" and see a picture of Dunraven Pass, go to www.equinebusiness.biz.

Two In A Row!!

We won! We won! Holy, moley cow, Stay Alert won again--and this time without any lolligagging. All our dinner guests cheered him home; everyone who bet got richer; the ear bobs did their job--and have been put away lovingly until the next time; God, St. Francis of Assisi and all the priests who are either betting, eating at my house or visiting the applicable shines in Italy and mentioning my horses by name have all been thanked; and the Heppermann's are grinning from ear to ear. We've no idea what we'll do next with our big, beautiful grey horse--but for at least the next few weeks, I've got great book material!! For all the details, go to website: http://www.equinebusiness.biz. Let me say again, thank you, God!

Stay Alert--Two in a Row??

Stay Alert is running--again! Yes, it is soon, but Mike, the PA trainer said he was ready and maybe could compete at this new level. On paper most all the horses look faster. And so his odds are long but his jockey believes he can go faster longer than he has before, and we're going to find out. After all, it is 2010.

And there are other reasons we might win--unrelated to horse racing. First, I am betting for those who have money in the Heppermann bank, including for the two who were first time bettors last time that brought home a victory. Then, we're having nine people over for dinner on Saturday night, including our parish priest. While I had expected the dinner conversation to compete with Kentucky basketball, now it will clearly be a multi-sport/multi-screen event. This raises some questions: Will the dinner guests revolt if we put the race on our big screen TV while Kentucky is playing? If so, can all 9 of us crowd around our little computer screen to see the race? Will it help that our parish priest is watching with us? And that our associate pastor one of those new, lucky bettors? Will there be holdover blessings from Eddie the priest's visit to St. Francis of Assisi--wherein he mentioned both Stay Alert and Cape Town Bay by name? Are Dad and Mom, the patron saints of our horse venture, still focused? Are the lucky earbobs still lucky? Is it still our year? Our decade? Most importantly, will Stay Alert stay alert? We'll know more by 8:10 Saturday night. For full details, go to the website under the news tab for the latest Horse Alert at http://jheppermann.blogspot.com . Cheers!

Farewell to BAt!

BAt came in second again--which is good--but he was claimed--which is sad. For those new to this game, that means that someone else now owns him. The problem with owning a horse that can only compete at the claiming level is you never know when you may lose your horse at the end of a race. Nobody claims your horse when you want them to--i.e., when they are consistently coming in last. But when your horse is hitting the board, you know it is simply a matter of time. I had hoped we would get to keep BAt until he earned that capital T--but I guess not. As per usual, two more steps and the race would have been ours. Darn. Shoot. Shucks. It is probably worth repeating: Darn. Shoot. Shucks.

To learn more about the highs and lows of owning BAt, go to the website under the News Tab: http://www.equinebusiness.biz/. The long and short of it all is, I'll miss BAt. A lot. Darn. Shoot. Shucks.

So now we are pinning our hopes on Stay Alert and Cape Town Bay. I think maybe we should consider getting another horse!

Stay Alert--Almost

Second. Stay Alert was alert for 5 furlongs--in a 6 furlong race. Blessedly, this was good enough to get second but not good enough to hold onto the 4 length lead he had coming down the stretch. Ouch! Good enough to pay his expenses, but not exciting enough to end the book on a high note! So, we'll keep going--here, on Facebook, on Twitter, on the web, in the book.

I'm like most writers--in constant need of some kind of reassurance that somebody is reading me somewhere. Unfortunately, in the last week I've had folks suggest I write a book, start a blog, twitter, put information out on Facebook and get a webpage. Since I already do all of those things, I'm in a true tizzy. So--instead of giving up--I'm going to give you more information!! Coming soon--"Fun Facts to Know."

In the meantime, to read more of the highs and lows of Stay Alert's race, go to http://www.equinebusiness.biz. Yes, I'll know--and it will make me smile.

P.S. Do any of you know how I can tell how many folks are actually reading this blog?

BAt gets a capital A!

BAt came in second Friday night--so I'll start capitalizing his letter A. And he almost got a capital t. He was way, way behind--and then, after going 8 wide at the top of the stretch--to get around all those horse in front of him--he missed first place by one-half length. Gut wrenching--and exhilarating all at the same time. This is far more fun than last or 5th or even 3rd. And the fact that he has now paid his expenses for a month doesn't hurt either! For full details, go to the web, http://www.equinebusiness.biz. If we keep this up, just maybe my book will have a happy ending after all!

It's 2010--Go Bat!

Bat is running tomorrow at Penn National. None of the horses appear to be destined for greatness, but even at this level, someone has to win. Therefore, in keeping with my new-found optimism, I think he has an excellent chance of hitting the board, perhaps even winning. If he does, I'll go back to capitalizing all the letters in his name again. All of the omens seem to be in order, including wild dreams and money-bags e-mails. For full details, go to http://www.equinebusiness.biz/ and look under the New tab. If we hit the board, I'll let you know. If I haven't updated this post by noon Monday, don't ask!

Closing the door on 2009

Yes, we are still in the business; yes, horses have run and Bat actually came in third a couple of weeks ago. It was in a $5,000 claiming race, but at least I can say we hit the board in 2009. Stay Alert has disappointed us twice, falling dramatically from grace. I haven’t updated this blog because I had grown weary of making fun of my horses, and more importantly, was afraid you had grown weary reading about underperforming horses. But, tomorrow is the start of a new year—and if I’m not optimistic, who will be?!! So, here is the scoop: Stay Alert is running Saturday, January 2, 2010, in a low level claiming race. The particulars hardly matter. What matters is, I think we have paid our "bad luck" dues in full during 2009, leaving open the possibility that 2010 is going to be a whale of a year. And if I'm right about this, there'll be a new post on Monday! If you want to read more, go to our website, http://www.equinebusiness.biz and send me your e-mail. I'll send you a copy of my diary entry for December 31.

I've learned some things over the past few days: Watching your horse come in 5th on a big screen TV isn't better than watching him come in 5th on a little TV. Actually, I think it is worse. So, tomorrow, we're going to go watch Stay Alert run in person at Churchill Downs. Stay Alert is our gray two year old. We hope running a gray on Friday the 13th is the antidote for the broken mirror bad luck hex. We clearly think he is our best hope of using that picture frame that is still unopened. If you want to know more, you can read my horse alert on the website: www.equinebusiness.biz.

Also, I've learned that if I want to do a shameless plug for my son's blog, it helps to get the address right. I've corrected it in my earlier blog--and here: http://itaintmobydick.blogspot.com And no, he doesn't write about horses.

With luck, I'll need you to go out to my Facebook page to see us in the Winner's Circle. And I'll get to Twitter about winning. That would be a new experience for me. I think it is time!

The Breeders Cup will come and go without any of our horses. In fact, all my picture frames are still in their original packaging. Cape Town Bay came in 5th, claiming he could have won it if the track hadn't been muddy. We can now add mud to the long list of things the Bay doesn't like. But, because hope springs eternal, BAT is going to try and claim the picture frame this Sunday. And with more luck than what we had this week, Stay Alert will be running next week. To learn more about any of this, you can go read the Horse Alert at http://www.equinebusiness.biz/. Our cool news is, we entered the 21st century and bought a flat screen TV. So while our horses may be slow, if we are watching them at home on television, by gum, I can see them. And the book continues to grow, fueled more by horse issues than nonhorse issues. That's a good thing. I continue to have no idea if there are more than 14 people who read this blog, but out of gratitutde to you, I'll keep putting stuff out here.

By the way, you might try http://itaintmobydick.blogspot.com/. Yes, that's my son--but he is funny!

Yes, we're still in the business with another shot at a Winner's Circle picture on Friday. It is the slow one, Cape Town Bay, that is running. But "slow" is a relative term. I'm hoping he'll look really fast against this group of non-achievers he is running against. I'm careful not to dis these horses, though, since it is as likely that the Bay will win it as he is to come in 8th. Such is the life of an owner of a slow horse. To see the Horse Alert I sent out to those who follow our horses, go to http://www.equinebusiness.biz under the News tab.

Even though we haven't had a horse run in a while, the book is 28 pages longer than it was the last time I wrote on this blog, and I've talked with one published author and one publisher. The published author gave me no encourgagement whatsoever, suggesting I either write about beastiality or murder and mayhem if I want to be published. Since I don't know much about either and I don't think Ken or God would like it if I tried to become familiar with either, I think I'll stick with horses. I may not get published, but I won't be in jail either. The publisher was more encouraging. Of course, she didn't read any part of my book either. Both suggested I keep writing. So I am, both here and there. The good news--if you're interested in any of my horses--all of them should be running over the next ten days. We're ready!

The Thrill of Victory, the Agony of Defeat

Over the last couple of days, I've reminded myself there is nothing like watching your horse win a race. From the time the starting gate goes up, (assuming he decides to come out and go the right direction), as he makes his way down the back side, picking horses off as he comes around the top of the stretch and then down the stretch, pleading with him to keep on coming or to just hang on, when your horse crosses that finish line first, you have just experienced the best two minutes in sports. Whether it is a $10,000 claiming race or a stakes race, there is no other thrill like it in the sports world. It is why we do this.

No, Cape Town Bay did not win his race Sunday. He came in second last. It has been 11 months and seven days since we have won. Since my short term memory is not what it used to be, I'm glad I can still remember. I'm happier still that I wrote down how it feels to win--so I won't forget why we do this.

If you want to see what Winner's Circle Pictures look like, go to our website: www.equinebusiness.biz I promise I'll put the next one out there, too. It can't come soon enough!

No Breeder's Cup Horse This Year

Ken's and my decision not to nominate any of our horses for any Breeder's Cup races continues to be the correct decision. Back Alley Tales, our three year old, came in 5th yesterday--out of seven. And he was 9 lengths back. These were not necessarily good horses, just horses better than BAT. Being right isn't all that is its cracked up to be.

I'm also now worried about my book--which still needs a publisher. I had hoped to talk about the thrills and agonies, the highs and lows of horse ownership. While I've nailed the agonies and lows, I'm a little light on the thrills and highs. It's particularly important it ends well, I think. I'm up to 98 pages. If there is going to be a balance, the book will be at least 200 pages long. My cash flow needs require that the next 98 pages come pretty quickly. It is clear BAT isn't going to deliver. Maybe Cape Town Bay and Stay Alert will. Stay tuned!

Breeder's Cup Winners--Why not my Horse?

Today, my husband, Ken, and I decided we would not enter any of our three horses in this year's Breeder Cup races--mainly because one of our two year olds came in 6th in a $30,000 claiming race, our three year came in 4th in a $30,000 claiming race and our other two year old just came out of layup. I mentioned the Breeder's Cup solely for the purpose of enhancing the possibility that someone with ties to the horse and/or publishing world would stumble across this blog.

In my first entry below, I noted my skepticism about blogging--but admitted I need all the help I can find locating a publisher for my book--which I have tentatively called "A Diary of a Crazed Horsewoman." It is 75 pages long so far, and other than having no idea how it will end, is coming along nicely. Even slow horses can provide some rather entertaining material. However, as I feared, so far, the only ones to find my blog are my husband, my sister, my daughter-in-law and me--under a different name. Try as I may, using all the good search words in my first paragraph--and my last name--I never could get by blog to come up in Google, either.

I'm going to let my Horse Alert folks know about this blog on Monday, hoping that at least 5 out of the 210 or so will actually come look out here and help swell my numbers. That said, I have no idea if it matters if my blog has 4 followers or 200 followers.

I did find out yesterday that in addition to the 7 people who follow me on Twitter--none of whom I know--I have a new follower who wants to have sex with me. No, I don't know him either. I'm still waiting for that first person to come through our website posted below who wants something other than porn or Viagra.

Do you think this is how Julie--in "Julia & Julie" really got started?