SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Will this be the year for a Triple Crown?
During my childhood, one of my favorite things was to watch horse racing with my grandfather.
We affectionately called him “Bumpy,” and he was very good at picking winners. He loved going to a place called OTB, which is short for off-track betting.
He also enjoyed visits to regional tracks down in New York, including Yonkers, Aqueduct, Belmont and others.
Horse racing, that’s one passion my grandfather passed down to me.
But, I haven’t been able to do much celebrating these days because the last time horse racing had a Triple Crown winner I wasn’t even six years old.
I couldn’t point to Bowie, Texas, on a map. I couldn’t string together complete sentences to write a story. I couldn’t even tie my own sneakers.
Belmont Park, located in Elmont, N.Y., has become the place for broken dreams, sullen spirits and bettors pulling out their hair. Elmont is also the home of former Dallas Cowboy and NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde.
This weekend, the Belmont Stakes will run with a 5:50 p.m. Central Daylight Time post time. You can watch the event on your local NBC affiliate or online at NBC Sports Live Extra.
The track announcer is Larry Collmus, although my grandfather’s favorite was Fred Capossela, and his unique call became part of comedian Robert Klein’s routine in 1974.
Secretariat (with jockey Ron Turcotte aboard) holds the course record with a dazzling time of 2 minutes, 24 seconds during the 1973 event.
The field has been set for the race, with American Pharoah attempting to become the latest horse with a chance to win the coveted Triple Crown.
American Pharoah, with trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza, has been installed as the favorite at 2-3 odds.
Other possibilities to win, and break everyone’s hearts, are Frosted (6-1), Materiality (13-2), Mubtaahij (14-1) and Madefromlucky (16-1). The long shot is Frammento at 40-1. Those odds were as of Friday morning, courtesy Odds Shark.
Can American Pharoah pull it off? Read more of this column in the weekend Bowie News.
American Pharoah. (Courtesy photo by Coady Photography)
In its first match since last year’s state semifinal appearance, Saint Jo hosted Bryson Aug. 11 and took a 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 win over the Cowgirls.
The Lady Panthers lost some talent to graduation but have five seniors ready to have a successful season. Savannah Hil, one of the five, got Saint Jo rolling offensively with a four-point serving string, including a pair of aces. Abby Carter’s kill and Kamron Skidmore’s block helped put the Lady Panthers up 5-2 in game one.
Hadleigh Moore added a four-point string of her own to extend the lead to 10-3. Tatum Morman’s pair, helped by a Hill kill, gave Saint Jo a 14-5 lead. Bryson got within five before a Hill 3-pointer, with help by a Carter kill, put the lead back at 18-10.
After an Olivia Johnson kill broke serve, Jordyn O’Neal served up the final five points, with Johnson providing a kill to move things along.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Despite being the smallest school in the Brock varsity classic volleyball tournament, the Lady Indians finished 4th out of the eight teams there.
After losing to the host team in its first pool play match Aug. 14 18-25, 14-25 and also to Class 3A Wall 12-25, 8-25, Nocona rebounded to close out pool play with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over Christoval. Sy Parker had 16 kills and 7 blocks in the three matches. Raylea Bowles had 12 kills, 17 digs and served up three aces. Maddyn Bowles had seven kills and 14 digs while Paige Davis had seven kills and 15 digs. Baylee Thomas added 11 digs.
From the setter spot, Kasi Castro had 20 assists, served up five aces and contributed 14 digs. Leah Meekins added 18 assists and six digs during the three matches.
To open Saturday’s bracket play, the Lady Indians posted a 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over Fort Worth Christian. Castro staked Nocona to a 2-0 lead in game one. Kills by Parker set up pairs of points from Raylea Bowles and Leah Meekins helped Nocona negate an early deficit and take a 10-9 lead.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
County football teams had their first scrimmage of the season Aug. 14 with mixed results.
Forestburg hosted Azle Christian and Victory Christian. Under a new system with new head coach Cori Hayes, the Longhorns looked pretty good in the coach’s eye.
“The first team looked good,” Hayes explained. “Overall we need to work on our pace and blocking assignments and blocking assignments. Overall we looked good for the new regime.”
Forestburg hits the road to scrimmage Newcastle Aug. 21.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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