The last several years, the professional element has dropped off. We dropped the elite mile division seven years ago. We tried to build a people's race instead.

I believe we turned that corner several years ago.

I worked him seven-eighths (of a mile) on the 24th and had him shod five or six days ago, and we may have got a nail or two in a little tight. He got a little tender in his feet. For a couple of days I thought maybe he was getting sick because he wasn't himself on the track and he didn't eat up. He's getting better each day, but he's got to do some major improvement for me to run him. But if I do run him, he'll run big.

I'll just remind them where they were seven weeks ago.

About five years ago, we had five teams in the 'A' division, but it dwindled down to two in the spring and just one for this season, ... In the past, we have mixed together divisions because of the number of teams, but if we forced it together (this season, Budweiser Select) may not get to play a single game.

We believe she was murdered on my birthday, Feb. 23, 1999, seven years ago.