From: Rick Johnson [mailto:rick@rickyjohn.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 9:50 PM
To: 'RedRabbitRacingFriends@rickyjohn.com'
Subject: Red Rabbit Racing Update - Results Of Our 1st Race on Sept 11

 

All,

            It was an idyllic day.  A warm, cloudless sky with a gentle breeze wrapped wide over Arlington Park.  Within, from along the rail to the heights of the Arlington Million room, over 30 friends and family were there to witness Red Rabbit Racing’s inaugural foray into thoroughbred horseracing history.  The 5th race concluded, the 6th now beckoned.   Track announcer Christine Gabriel introduced the new connections of Red Rabbit Racing, now joining the fraternity of Horsemen.  “All the best to the newest owners at Arlington Park – Red Rabbit Racing” she crooned to the admiring smiles of an adoring public.  Looking stylish behind chic sunglasses, all the owners Jean, Peggy, Jeff, & Rick, appeared on the track’s huge Jumbotron seen by the thousands at trackside.

 

            In the paddock, Marion’s Man appeared majestically through the entrance gateway.   Led by groom Luciano, the magnificent beast pawed impatiently – demanding his saddle while hungrily glaring at his 7 competitors.  Trainer Chris Block stepped up, slipping a blue with red diamonds set of blinkers over the 9 to 1 jewel of Red Rabbit Racing.   Next, he fitted the saddle over the proud miler, making sure to cinch the girth tightly - as a horse on the lead at the wire without a jockey, is a sad thing.

 

            Saddled and snorting, Marion’s Man paced.   Suddenly our jockey, France’s own Brice Blanc, appeared for the first time in the red, white and blue racing silks of Red Rabbit Racing.  He was nothing short of resplendent.   Getting his race instructions from Chris, he awaited his leg up - to be mated to the back of the gamefaced equine gladiator.  In the background, the familiar sounds of the bugler calling the horses to the post was heard. At the end of this call however, bugler Bonnie played a short Sousa flourish, in tribute to my father who was watching the race from on high.

 

            The Stage Was Set.     Purposely, Marion’s Man with Brice Blanc astride, disappeared through the tunnel onto the race course to confirm his destiny with racing history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And He Finished Last.  Dead Last.  Not A Mule Behind Him Last.   Everyone In Front Of Him Last. 

 

Hey, we still had fun anyway and we can only go up from here!    Stay Tuned!   Get all the race details at www.rickyjohn.com

 

 

Regards,

 

Rick Johnson

Arlington Heights, IL

 

 

About this adventure…..

Red Rabbit Racing is a family thoroughbred horseracing partnership created in 2004.     The initial investors were the late Richard Johnson, Peggy (Johnson) Lenz, Jean (Johnson) Gallo, Jeff Johnson and Rick Johnson.  We have as goals of this adventure to have fun as a family and take forever before the damn money runs out.

 

The name Red Rabbit comes from the nickname of the late Russell Johnson, who was father to Peggy & Richard and grandfather to Jean, Jeff & Rick.  Horses from our ownership team are trained by the famed Chris Block and run at either Arlington Park or Hawthorne Racetrack.  Stay tuned to all Red Rabbit Racing info at www.rickyjohn.com.   Should you wish to unsubscribe to this newsletter – reply to this mail with the word “Unsubscribe” in the header.     

 

Good Racing!