Monday, March 22, 2010
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!
Friday, March 19, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Stay Alert Stayed Alert!!
Stay Alert Won! And he is still our horse. Holy Moley Cow. I haven't said that in a very long time. It feels very good. Yes, it was only a $7500 claiming race, but a win is a win--11 other owners are shaking their heads today saying "Will our horse ever win a race?" But not the Heppermanns!! We're dusting off picture frames. And with our continued good luck, we'll eventually figure out how to post the video on You Tube or our website or somewhere. What a deal. This is better than second--and way better than last. Was it the lucky earrings? The two new people who gave me money so I would bet for them? The lucky Irish e-mail somebody sent me a couple of days earlier that I forwarded to two indulgent family members? Or maybe it was just our turn. And now I've got good book material for at least another month. There is nothing like watching your horse win--and I don't have to rely on just memory any more. Thank you, God!!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Stay Alert--Time to Get a Win
Yikes! Stay Alert is running on Thursday, March 4. Here's hoping he is still our horse on March 5. I'm still a bit shell shocked from losing BAt; I don't think I can stand losing two horses in two weeks. We moved Stay Alert up in class, thinking he would go unnoticed. We were wrong--he is the second favorite. Can't those handicappers tell that he is a five furlong horse in a six furlong world? We horse owners are a greedy group--we want to run in cheap claiming races but we don't want our horses to be claimed--unless they aren't hitting the board, of course. Then they can't get claimed fast enough. I'm still trying to figure out how to get a horse now running in $7500 claiming races up to the allowance ranks without anybody noticing inbetween. If I could figure that out, I wouldn't have to sell my book--which will be desperate for a good ending if I lose Stay Alert tomorrow night. Did I ever mention what a tough business this was? To see the Horse Alert that went out, go to http://equinebusiness.biz/ under the News Tab. Hopefully the next post here will say we won--and still have a horse. Till then, your positive thoughts are appreciated!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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!
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!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Is BAt ready for a Capital T?
BAt is running on Wednesday at Penn National--provided Pennsylvania doesn't get another foot of snow. He's ready, we're ready, the picture frame is ready--it is time. Third and second felt really good after coming up empty for a year--and hitting the board always makes me happy and grateful. But we're ready for sheer joy! To get the full scoop, go to the website under the News Tab: http://www.equinebusiness.biz.
Because I've been shoveling snow--no, not as much as several of you--but 7 inches twice in one week--my upper arms are looking very toned. While I have a bad case of helmet hair, I've burned enough calories to justify having a glass of wine in the middle of the day. But I'd give all this up for 70 degrees and sunshine. Where is that global warming when you need it??
Because I've been shoveling snow--no, not as much as several of you--but 7 inches twice in one week--my upper arms are looking very toned. While I have a bad case of helmet hair, I've burned enough calories to justify having a glass of wine in the middle of the day. But I'd give all this up for 70 degrees and sunshine. Where is that global warming when you need it??
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Fun Facts To Know
I'm guessing that everyone who finds this blog gets here through my Horse Alerts or Face Book--and therefore knows all there is to know. In case that isn't true, as promised, here are the Fun Facts to Know:
Horses—we currently have three: BAt, Stay Alert and Cape Town Bay. BAt and Stay Alert are at Penn National with our PA trainer, Mike Salvaggio; Cape Town Bay should be back in training any day now. He’ll stay with Walter. Over the last 10 years, we’ve owned 18; we have 19 Winner’s Circle pictures; we have six picture frames available for such pictures. These frames have been collecting dust since October, 2008. I dusted them over the weekend. While we hope January was not a bellwether month for the stock market for 2010, we certainly do hope January was a bellwether month for the Heppermann stables.
Horse Owners—there are 10 of us who have some interest in these three horses. We had one brave soul join us last year; we had several more throw in the towel. Yes, it was a brutal year. However, with brutal years come tax deductions.
Horse Alert folks—there are 213 of you! You come from 24 states and 5 countries. Most of you live in Kentucky with the next largest contingent coming from Texas and then Missouri. Folks living in Italy (thanks to Eddie the priest), Dubai, South Africa, Switzerland and France have helped add an international flair to these missives. I don’t know our average age, height or weight, but based on anecdotal evidence, we’re all good looking, smart and young—or at least young at heart.
Folks with money in the Heppermann Bank: 5—with much healthier balances than just a week ago!
Websites: We have one: http://www.equinebusiness.biz. It was developed for us by Susan Weiss (one of you) and her crew at Net Tango. Under the various tabs, there are Winner Circle type pictures out there of Trick Lantern, Back Alley Tales, Nobodyknowsbut Ed and Shiloh—in that order. We average about 50 visitors a month—some of whom send us legitimate “Contact Submission” forms looking for equine-related services. There is another group that sends us “Contact Submission” forms requesting stuff in foreign languages. Amongst the stuff I can’t read, I usually can pick out words like Viagra, porn or sex. So far, I’ve not responded to those I can’t read.
Blogs: I have one: http://jheppermann.blogspot.com. I started this after I started writing my book, thinking someone might “discover” me and offer to someday publish my book. There are 14 of you who have signed up to be “followers.” I had hoped that “followers” would be notified whenever I put something out there (which corresponds exactly with when I send out Horse Alerts), but since I am one of those followers, I know that isn’t true. So, I don’t know what the purpose of being a “follower” is. I do know it makes me happy when new people sign up. Maybe that’s the purpose. I’m also guessing that one or more of you could tell me how I can find out how many people are actually looking at it. So far, no one has “discovered” me.
Face book Page: I have one—mainly to get grandbaby pictures, but I have also posted pictures of horses out there. No Winner’s Circle pictures, of course, since those six frames are still in their plastic wrappers, but, someday soon. Thirty-six of you are “Friends.” I have forty more “Face book Friends” of which maybe two or three appear interested in the horses. In the hope that all will eventually buy the book, I continue to put a notice out on Face book when I have a horse running—and link my Face book Page to my blog and website. If nothing else, this is a high-tech operation.
Twitter: Yes, I do that too. 7 folks follow my Twitters. One is my son—he is a courtesy follower since I signed up to follow his Twitters; the remaining six want to sell me something. I don’t know any of them. I deleted the guy who wanted to have sex with me. I didn’t know him either.
The Book: I’m on page 194. It is about the highs and lows of being a horse owner, with musings along the way. It has kept me entertained over the last few months. Perhaps some day it will entertain you as well!
Now you know what I know. It would help my psyche if none of you would suggest that I write a book, develop a webpage, start a blog or Twitter! That said, thanks for your interest—you make it more fun!
Jo Ann
Horses—we currently have three: BAt, Stay Alert and Cape Town Bay. BAt and Stay Alert are at Penn National with our PA trainer, Mike Salvaggio; Cape Town Bay should be back in training any day now. He’ll stay with Walter. Over the last 10 years, we’ve owned 18; we have 19 Winner’s Circle pictures; we have six picture frames available for such pictures. These frames have been collecting dust since October, 2008. I dusted them over the weekend. While we hope January was not a bellwether month for the stock market for 2010, we certainly do hope January was a bellwether month for the Heppermann stables.
Horse Owners—there are 10 of us who have some interest in these three horses. We had one brave soul join us last year; we had several more throw in the towel. Yes, it was a brutal year. However, with brutal years come tax deductions.
Horse Alert folks—there are 213 of you! You come from 24 states and 5 countries. Most of you live in Kentucky with the next largest contingent coming from Texas and then Missouri. Folks living in Italy (thanks to Eddie the priest), Dubai, South Africa, Switzerland and France have helped add an international flair to these missives. I don’t know our average age, height or weight, but based on anecdotal evidence, we’re all good looking, smart and young—or at least young at heart.
Folks with money in the Heppermann Bank: 5—with much healthier balances than just a week ago!
Websites: We have one: http://www.equinebusiness.biz. It was developed for us by Susan Weiss (one of you) and her crew at Net Tango. Under the various tabs, there are Winner Circle type pictures out there of Trick Lantern, Back Alley Tales, Nobodyknowsbut Ed and Shiloh—in that order. We average about 50 visitors a month—some of whom send us legitimate “Contact Submission” forms looking for equine-related services. There is another group that sends us “Contact Submission” forms requesting stuff in foreign languages. Amongst the stuff I can’t read, I usually can pick out words like Viagra, porn or sex. So far, I’ve not responded to those I can’t read.
Blogs: I have one: http://jheppermann.blogspot.com. I started this after I started writing my book, thinking someone might “discover” me and offer to someday publish my book. There are 14 of you who have signed up to be “followers.” I had hoped that “followers” would be notified whenever I put something out there (which corresponds exactly with when I send out Horse Alerts), but since I am one of those followers, I know that isn’t true. So, I don’t know what the purpose of being a “follower” is. I do know it makes me happy when new people sign up. Maybe that’s the purpose. I’m also guessing that one or more of you could tell me how I can find out how many people are actually looking at it. So far, no one has “discovered” me.
Face book Page: I have one—mainly to get grandbaby pictures, but I have also posted pictures of horses out there. No Winner’s Circle pictures, of course, since those six frames are still in their plastic wrappers, but, someday soon. Thirty-six of you are “Friends.” I have forty more “Face book Friends” of which maybe two or three appear interested in the horses. In the hope that all will eventually buy the book, I continue to put a notice out on Face book when I have a horse running—and link my Face book Page to my blog and website. If nothing else, this is a high-tech operation.
Twitter: Yes, I do that too. 7 folks follow my Twitters. One is my son—he is a courtesy follower since I signed up to follow his Twitters; the remaining six want to sell me something. I don’t know any of them. I deleted the guy who wanted to have sex with me. I didn’t know him either.
The Book: I’m on page 194. It is about the highs and lows of being a horse owner, with musings along the way. It has kept me entertained over the last few months. Perhaps some day it will entertain you as well!
Now you know what I know. It would help my psyche if none of you would suggest that I write a book, develop a webpage, start a blog or Twitter! That said, thanks for your interest—you make it more fun!
Jo Ann
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