Happy Birthday today to the contemporary master Mistah David Hockney, who turns 84 today. This famous painting depicts Nichols Canyon Rd. from top to bottom, and much of the vegetation remains intact — always those La-La Land Italian cypress trees, the sky-reaching palms, the various desert succulents, etc. The roadway itself has more stop signs along its length nowadays, though. Who knew all those years ago we’d have such daily familiarity with all this? Who knew!
Another of Hockney’s famous Los Angeles themes: swimming pools. Again, who knew that we would be able to appreciate in real life, every 24 hrs. in summertime, what he was trying to convey here. It’s all pretty much the way he paints it.
We encountered him by chance one day at the eye doctor a few years ago, in one of those tall, impersonally colorless medical towers near Cedars-Sinai that stand in opposition tonally and conceptually to the usual Hockney subjects. He had thick glasses on, helped around by a companion; maybe Hockney’s eyes had just been dilated. Those eyes, preserve them! They were still necessary, signaler of the initial impression. Of course, he saw what he saw in his mind’s eye, more than what the rods & cones & optic nerve delivered to his visual cortex, and his fingers applied the necessary flourishes. But he still needed the eyes we all had, all the same. Though stooped and shuffling, his presence remained awe-inspiring, yes.
Gratuitous Horse Racing Tweet of Your Day:
Shilling again for the biggest open pace of the summertime. Probably the main reason is that our dear, departed father started enjoying the chariot racing even more than the gateway flat-racing drug later on in his years. It was fun to watch, as long as there wasn’t a tearaway quick-leaving winner prevailing by a city-block margin. When the whole field had a shouting chance inside the last quarter-mile, and the noses were hitting the wire like in a blanket-finish turf race for the Thoroughbreds, that was good action right there.
BestLine Racing Society Recap:
A couple of post-press-time connections to report from last night’s (Monday’s) late action: At Assiniboia-St. James, Man., #2 Russian Pearl (.282 Win Prob / 2.55-1 Fair Odds / 3.26-1 Premium Odds) polished-off the Race 3 win at $8.50 — granted, this was 2¢ shy of the $8.52 premium price; however, we could not blame you if you decided to leave this pair of pennies as a Tribute Upon The Altar of The God of Doing Business Via The Parimutuels. We report, you decide! At New Cumberland, W.Va., #4 U So Money Baby (.200 / 4.00 / 6.00) ran to that billing in Race 7 at $18.80.
As for today (Tuesday), some of the races went like this…
At Bensalem Twp., Penna., Race 3 went to #5 Dudley Dickerson (.326 / 2.07 / 2.68), who won it for The Three Stooges at $9.40. In Race 6, #3 Gavichi (.252 / 2.97 / 3.76) gave his best, upset his rivals at $18.60; completing your winning $106.60 exacta was #4 Captivating Cara (.198 / 4.05 / 6.07), with the premium price on that comboa (comboa!) being $53.16. In Race 9, #5 Summer’s Gift (.360 / 1.78 / 2.33) provided warmth & sunshine from the winner’s circle to her backers at $13-even.
Across to the other end of The Keystone State for Race 4 at Erie, where #2 Gotham Gray (.334 / 1.99 / 2.59) and #7 Hope She Comes (.257 / 2.89 / 3.67) combined on your winning $24.60 exacta whose premium price was $24.19.
BestLine Racing Society Nightcap:
Assiniboia again…
Strongshots
Longshots
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