This is called "Naming Winners," and it's
about a trip that I took out to the Rillito Racetrack
early one morning and got a tour and was
introduced to all these horses and learned
a little bit about pre-race racing at the track.
It was a real nice morning.
"Naming Winners."
This morning, cold air, sun, and dew,
the casual miracle of the 26th morning in February.
I was introduced to Mecca Babbo, Billy Greenhaw, Vicap,
Salty Spud, Salty Money.
I fed them oats, stroked their big muscular jaws,
and felt their hot breath through my shirt,
while Rosie the trainer, with quick, feminine exuberance,
led me from stall to stall, illuminating their strengths
and weaknesses, their beauty and lack of it.
I was learning the language of the stable, the smell
of the track, watching the bright movements
of thoroughbreds and quarter horses,
and I went off light as a jockey into the morning,
naming winners.
Sweet Ruby, Dolphin Song, Camelbane, Mercy Fingers,
Melon Light.