This is going to be a very different Closing Day for us. For the first time, we won’t just be saying goodbye to a rental but we’ll leaving our very own house. Hopefully we can get a chance to get back up here a bunch in the fall. As I’ve always said, while I love the town during racing seasons for all the obvious reasons, it’s an even better place to hang out offseason.

We’ve been getting after it a bit this weekend. Matt and Todd are up from NYC, and our friends Scott and Jane have been making their annual Skidmore visit to drop off their son, Max. Last night, they all came over for dinner along with Dave, Jen, Patrick, Ann, and Andrew. We did pizzas on the Big Green Egg, followed by burgers. Jen and Dave brought the makings for a phenomenal Nicoise salad that we enjoyed under the lights in the backyard. We drank a bottle of large format Shiraz, Mitolo G.A.M 2005 McLaren Vale.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with all these leftovers.

BANKROLL PLAY:

Race 9: $100 to win on #5 EXCAPER. This is a horse I’ve always liked and he looks poised for a big effort. I’m always a fan of the Woodbine turf shippers up here. Let’s get this one in.

RESULTS: -$568.75 after Pearl in the Sand’s horror show of a race cost us $100.