Willow Glen Resident

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Yes, I've been to the
race track many times

Yes, I've been to a horse race, and I've experienced the thrill of winning ("Lost in the Fog is a horse with lots of heart," Sept. 6).

It is a rush, but the other things that go with it are, too. The buzz in the grandstand, the red-jacketed trumpeter (or bugler), the sound of the hoofs on the turf track and the sleek gorgeous animals.

My mother and father were horse race "addicts," and my father even bought a race horse is his later years. They would mull over the racing sheet and scrutinize daily offerings. They would consider everything from the weight of the jockey to the history of the trainer.

One of my fondest memories is of walking down into the paddock at the former Tanforan Race Track in San Bruno with my father before the beginning of the daily races and meeting Billy (or Willy) Shoemaker, one of the greatest jockeys in history. I was only 8 years old, but met him almost eye to eye standing at about 4 feet 5 inches and probably weighing more than him at about 82 pounds. I remember how gracious and how very tiny he was.

The love of horse racing has continued to my sons. Two years ago my son, Ethan, treated me to a day at Del Mar Race Track in San Diego.

With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the mountains on the other, this is so California.

A love of the animals and the excitement of horse racing itself has always been a uniting factor in our family and will be always.

Susan Carothers

Willow Glen

Correction

In the article "Willow Glen Schools' API scores show significant gains for 2006," Sept. 13, it should have read: Iglesias noted Willow Glen Middle School attained the sixth-best growth for any middle school in Santa Clara County, while Willow Glen High School ranked 14th in growth among county high schools.