For many people, the lovely red, red robin is the Harbinger of Spring. When we frozen New Yorkers see a robin for the first time after a long, excruciating season of discontent–we practically do cartwheels, for we know that finally–the long siege is over, and Spring hath arrived.
The Harbinger of Horse Racing is none other than Gary Contessa, the trainer whose annual ritual of juvenile shopping at OBS (Ocala Breeders’ Sales) is the sign that Spring is here, and horse racing in America soon will gear up to the fever pitch of Saratoga.
As the Thoroughbred trainer whose ROI record literally is second-to-no one, Gary knows two- year-olds. He knows how to pick ‘em, he knows how to grow ‘em, he knows how to get ‘em onto the track as healthy, happy horses who come in in the money. Translated, this means that Gary knows how to give his owners a fun ride, as they watch their juveniles mature and grow into their careers as race horses.
The first step of this process is Gary’s essential ritual, that of attending OBS–his annual celebration of Spring. This morning on Gary Contessa Racing Stable on Facebook, Gary reported:
“In Ocala shopping for the superstars of tomorrow. This is the highlight of my Spring, and I hope to find some diamonds in the rough…”
( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Contessa-Racing-Stable/497294870309914?fref=ts )
We’re eager to see who he brings home. The 2016 Belmont Stakes or Kentucky Derby victor may be on that trailer—if there’s a future rock star in the book, we know that Gary and his uncanny intuition will find that horse. He’s not in Florida for the sunshine.
