racingmeridian.com

The boxing world convulsed for the second time in ten days with the news of the passing of the incomparable Arturo Gatti. We come to shower the warrior with praise and affection. Gatti shook the walls, bloodied the ceiling and drank all the wine during the course of a ferocious career. A listing of belts and titles he wore does no justice compared to the visceral high a fan received watching Gatti tear into another bout. Not possessed of the talent of an elite fighter, the pride of Montreal created an even greater status through the tenacious assault of his adversary. His first fight with Mickey Ward remains firmly ensconced in my top five favourite fights of all time. The moment when the tired man exposed his humanity with a tremulous performance against Alfonso Gomez rests among the saddest. My prayers are with the family, my anger demands the perpetrators of this crime be punished. The lion in recess, the king in repose, Gatti deserved a long and comfortable life and his loss leaves a terrible void…of course the word on the street concerning the killing is going to make people very uncomfortable. The initial whispers on St Catherine pegged the killer as someone very close to the fighter…the Meridian offered two plays on racing yesterday; we were a tad embarrassed when Super Child won at Belmont at a paltry even money, but quickly redeemed ourselves with Points of Grace 13-1 romp in the Dance Smartly…we retired to our local for a celebratory drink. I put my head down and raced through the Globe and Sunday’s Racing Form. I forgot it was UFC night. When I put my head up I swear I thought I was on the set of Deliverance. Damn, a little banjo and some moonshine and I would have expected Burt Reynolds to walk in the door…one of the fine attendees grinned at me and asked, “Is that tomorrows Form? Can I see it”? I was honest and forthright in my response, though perhaps my questioning of his capacity to read was a tad out of line, but the bar owner, my pal, gently suggested it was time for the Meridian to call it a night. I was, apparently, “stirring it up”. Wait; did I get kicked out of a UFC fight? Mercy…the Philadelphia Flyers are incapable of getting a top notch goalie (the curse of Pelle Lindbergh?) and the Philadelphia Eagles start yet another season without a top receiver. There’ll be lots of talk about the Eagles this year but bottom line, the team is almost completely dependent on the continued health of Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook…sat down and read numerous articles concerning the Raptors “sign and trade” and, no, I still can figure out the byzantine rules of the NBA cap. Liking the new look Raptors big time, however…I like Elated Moon in the sixth at Woodbine, Prestidigitation in the eighth at Arlington, Jade’s A Pleasure in the first at Fort Erie, Dulhun in the fifth at Fort Erie, and Flashy J R in the final at the Fort…the Prince of Wales, second jewel of the Triple Crown, goes in the eighth and is problematic, to say the least. None of the six competitors has ever raced on the dirt. So, where to begin? My gut tells me Scott Fairlie would not have taken the filly Milwaukee Brew to another engagement with the boys unless he felt she could rebound off her third place finish in the Queen’s Plate. She’s my play, and I’ll use only Eye of the Leopard and Mr Foricos Two U underneath. Throw a small exactor wheel with Flip for the Coin on top of the field as a saver - the colt is on the upswing and, who knows, may take to the Fort Erie sand and loam…Joseph Agbeko surprised fans of the sweet science with a hard fought 12 round decision over the lauded Vic Darchinyan last night. The Seconds Out website pre-fight poll of fourteen “experts” found nary a man picking Agbeko. A rematch should be on order after a night of pugilism at its best…