The Galloping Hat Rack

Before I get into this, allow me to say I am a big fan of giving to worthy charitable causes. I’ve been a generous soul since childhood– I remember giving my only dollar to the Salvation Army bellringers one cold winter night when I was 6 or 7– but reading a BloodHorse article on Nick Zito’s statement on sharing the big potential payoff should Dialed In return to winning form on Saturday made me blink twice:

“A whole bunch of them” will benefit, the trainer vowed. “It will be all the ones that you guys know like the (Permanantly) Disabled Jockeys’ Fund. That’s all on the record. Myself and my owner are both on board about that. He ain’t saying, ‘Shut up, I need the money,’ so he’s with me. I know I’ll do my part. I’ve got seven preachers I’ve got to give money to and then I have a long line of creditors.

Disabled Jockeys’ Fund, yes. Seven preachers, no. I didn’t realize praying to God for success could be compensated. I sat back and mulled this over a bit, and I don’t think I would have had such a big issue with it if Zito said “the Church” would receive funds. Hey, everyone’s hurting these days, and I can’t imagine congregation donations have maintained their girth in this economy. But to seven preachers in particular? That almost seems hypocritical since horse racing is heavily based off gambling, which I thought was a sin. 

I’m glad Zito and Robert LaPenta intend to share their riches in the event the son of Mineshaft nails the biggest payoff in racing history. I just wish the distribution didn’t seem so seedy.

P.S. I also like how BloodHorse misspelled “permanently” in their article.