AFTER 26 STAKES WINS, FAN FAVORITE BEN'S CAT RETIRED By Frank Angst

t @BH_FAngst

For King Leatherbury, Ben's Cat's final stakes win will always be the memory that's front
and center; the day the dark bay gelding seemingly did the impos- sible.

Leatherbury, the breeder, owner, and trainer of Maryland- bred Ben's Cat, decided this week that the 11-year-old gelding—a 26-time stakes winner—had given his all on the track. Racing Hall of Famer Leatherbury said the son of Parker's Storm Cat will be retired to the Kentucky farm of Chris Welker, a fan of the horse.

While Ben's Cat's racing days are over after he failed to place in his three starts this season, there will be plenty of memories for fans and Leatherbury, who immediately flashes to last year's Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
In that race Ben's Cat reached the quarter pole of the five- furlong test 6 1/2 lengths behind four-length leader Rocket Heat and three other rivals. Ben's Cat began to rally along the rail and at the sixteenth pole jockey Trevor McCarthy edged out the game 10-year-old, who then closed determinedly and surged between Spring to the Sky and Rocket Heat to claim victory by a neck.

"At no time in the race did he look like he was going to win," Leatherbury said.

***COMPLETE STORY ON BLOODHORSE***

             

         ~~ MEOWZA STARK ~~
IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY (?)
ONLY CRIMINAL TYPE AND REAL QUIET
MANAGED TO GARNER SO MANY AWARDS

YOU CAME ~ YOU RAN ~ YOU CONQUERED ~ WITH AN AMAZING RECORD
                                     

*DISTORTED HUMOR
*FROSTED WHISKER
*CAIXA ELTRONICA
*CRAFTY PROSPECTOR
*SUPURRR SATURDAY
*RISEN STAR
*RACE OF THE YEAR
*COLT OF THE YEAR
*C0-HOTY
   

    I ONLY WISH I COULD AFFORD TO SEND A TROPHY FOR ALL AWARDS
BUT TIMES ARE HARD ~ MONEY MOSTLY GOES TO MY HORSE, CAT & DOG
               

YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING MOST WOULD WISH FOR
               ONLY YOU MADE THAT WISH COME TRUE!
                                         

                                             

            2016 MEOW MIX AWARDS NOW COMPLETE! 

           


GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE 2016 MEOW MIX AWARDS
     COMING TO YOU FROM THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS
  WHERE OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS "ALL FELINE -&- FABULOUS"!

                               




WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT OUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES
        FOR THIS YEAR -- FROM THE LION KING ~ MUFASA ~

                   


BEFORE WE BEGIN THE AWARDS PRESENTATIONS
PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE RED CARPET
WHERE WE WELCOME  **THE SHINING STARS OF 2016**




    SUNGLASSES MAY BE NEEDED WITH SO MUCH
SPARKLE ~  BLING ~ BEDAZZLED ~ GLITZ AND GLAM

               


         ~ THE POST PARADE IS STARTING ~
A HUSH FALLS OVER THE CROWD AS ALL EYES ARE NOW FOCUSED
          ON THE RED CARPET AND THE 2016 PARADE OF STARS

LEADING THEM OUT IS OUR CURRENT HORSE OF THE YEAR:
                                    ~REAL QUIET~

HE IS FOLLOWED BY:

CATALINA ~ 2015  SUPURRR SATURDAY CHAMPION + 2014 CO-HOTY

CRIMINAL TYPE ~ HOTY 2014, 2013 / 2011 + FROSTED WHISKER

RUFFIAN ~ 2014 BOTS CHAMPION

TIGER DANCER ~ REPEAT WINNER OF THE DISTORTED HUMOR AWARD

CIGARSHOP ~ LOST IN THE FOG WINNER

DUSTY ~ 2010 HOTY

POST TIME MIKE ~ 2015 CAIXA ELETRONICA TROPHY

BLUNNY ~ 2015 RISEN STAR RECIPIENT

PEEPTOAD

JOHN HENRY

STARK

OAKLAWN CAPPER

RAVEN

A STANDING OVATION AND THUNDERING APPLAUSE AS THE
    STARS EXIT THE STAGE TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEWLY
                  CROWNED 2016 AWARD WINNERS

           


**A SPECIAL MOMENT OF OBSERVANCE**

LIFE IS A JOURNEY OF PEAKS -&- VALLEYS ~ HIGHS AND LOWS

WITH THE HIGHS OF YEAR END AWARDS CAME
THE LOWS OF LOSING TWO OF OUR SHINING STARS

JOHN HENRY:  WITH US FOR SO MANY YEARS
ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN WITH A KIND WORD FOR ALL

CRIMINAL TYPE:  3 TIMES HOTY ~ FUNNY AND CLEVER
A MAN WHO HAD VERY LITTLE BUT WHATEVER HE HAD
         HE WOULD SHARE WITH SOMEONE IN NEED

TWO SHINING STARS WHOSE BRIGHT LIGHTS WERE
EXTINGUISHED WAY TOO SOON WHO WILL BE GREATLY
     MISSED EVERY TIME THE STARTING GATE OPENS

   

  *******************************


FOR OUR FIRST AWARD OF THE EVENING: ~ ''DISTORTED HUMOR'' ~
DIRECT FROM WONDERLAND, -- THE CHESHIRE CAT --
WHO HOPEFULLY  WILL ARRIVE WITH MORE THAN JUST A SMILE!

                 


THIS YEAR WE HAVE A DOUBLE AWARD AS BOTH RECIPIENTS
HAVE DISPLAYED CLEVERNESS ~ IMAGINATION WITH A DOSE
OF TWISTED WIT TO EARN THE TITLE OF DISTORTED HUMOR!

ONCE AGAIN -- TIGER DANCER --IS A 3-PEAT WINNER
ALONG WITH NEWCOMER, -- STARK --
  WHO ADDED HIS OWN BRAND OF WIT

~~
                                 




           OUR NEXT AWARD IS: ''THE LOST IN THE FOG''
                 


HERE TO PRESENT THE TROPHY IS -- SCHROEDINGERS' CAT --
              WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE VISIBLE?

    ~~~


THIS TROPHY IS BASED ON A VARIETY OF QUALIFICATIONS
WITH THE MOST COMMON ONE BEING:  WINNING WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF $$
THIS YEAR'S WINNER IS: ~ RUFFIAN ~
GAINING A VICTORY WITH $51.80

A VERY CLOSE RUNNER UP AWARD GOES TO ~ CIGARSHOP ~ WITH $51.90
                                       ALMOST A DEAD HEAT!

    ~Can Someone Spare a Dime~



OUR NEXT AWARD IS: THE GOLLUM ~ AKA THE PRECIOUS
...THE RING BEARER  FINISHING 4th MORE OFTEN THAN ANY OTHERS
         A GOLDEN RING INSTEAD OF A TROPHY IS THE PRIZE

TO PRESENT THIS AWARD PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE
FROM AUSTIN POWERS ~ MR BIGGLESWORTH ~
WHO DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCE,  LOST ALL HIS HAIR!

   


THE RUNNER UP WITH 11 GOLDEN RINGS IS:  ~REAL QUIET~

THIS YEAR WE HAVE A RUNAWAY WINNER
WITH A WHOPPING 17 GOLDEN RINGS --> ~BLUNNY~
FROM THE BEGINNING,  HE SEEMED TO HAVE
HIS EYE ON THE ''PRECIOUS'' WEEK AFTER WEEK
AND WILL TAKE HOME THE COVETED PRIZE!

~



OUR NEXT AWARD IS:  THE BRIDESMAID OF THE YEAR
AS THE NAME IMPLIES,  FINISHING RUNNER UP THE MOST

TO PRESENT THIS AWARD PLEASE WELCOME ~ TOODLES GALORE ~
WHO USUALLY IS SEEN HANGIN AROUND WITH TOM & JERRY
AND IS ACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING ''2nd FIDDLE'' TO THEM!




A DEAD HEAT FOR RUNNER UP WITH 11 BRIDESMAID'S GOWNS:
          RUFFIAN ~ CRIMINAL TYPE -&- BLUNNY

THE WINNER, HAVING HUNG UP 13 GOWNS IS ==> CATALINA





OUR NEXT AWARD SOME MAY NOT CONSIDER TO BE AN 'HONOR'
THE CAT HOUSE TROPHY (FILLYS ONLY)
IS ACHIEVED BY FINISHING LAST MORE TIMES THAN ANY OTHER

TO PRESENT THIS AWARD, PLEASE WELCOME ~TONY-THE-TIGER~
WHO PERSONALLY THINKS THIS TROPHY IS GRRRRREAT!

     


THE RUNNER UP THIS SEASON IS LAST YEAR'S WINNER ==> RUFFIAN
  HAVING TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN THE CAT HOUSE 11 TIMES

OUR WINNER, THO NO RELATION TO TONY IS ~TIGER DANCER~
WHO DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY WITH THE CHIPPENDALES 12 TIMES

   



THE MALE EQUIVALENT TO THE CAT HOUSE AWARD IS -- THE DOG HOUSE
PRESENTING THIS 'HONOR' WILL BE SOMEONE WHO IS VERY USED TO
LAYING AROUND DOING NOTHING BUT EAT, DRINK & NAP! ~GARFIELD~!

               


WINNING THIS AWARD FOR THE 4th YEAR IN A ROW
IS THE ~MASTER THIEF - CRIMINAL TYPE~
    WHO WON THE KEY 17 TIMES
AND BY NOW PROBABLY HOLDS AN INTEREST IN THE MORTGAGE!

   
       
               


OUR FINAL AWARD -- BEFORE A BRIEF INTERMISSION WILL BE:
                           THE GOLDEN GOOSE
          ACHIEVING THIS 'HONOR' IS NOT EASY AT ALL!
IT MEANS RUNNING ALL DAY -&- RETURNING WITH AN EMPTY PURSE
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE ~ ~ ~ THE ALWAYS STYLISH
                    ~PUSS IN BOOTS~

           


WITH 1 GOLDEN EGG  ==> CRIMINAL TYPE -&- POST TIME MIKE
WITH 2 GOLDEN EGGS EACH ==> RUFFIAN, CATALINA -&- TIGER DANCER

THE GRAND GOLDEN GOOSE EGG WINNER WITH 3 ==> JOHN HENRY

~~~
                         


**STAY TUNED FOR -- PART 2**
       
~I GUESS WE KNOW WHO BROUGHT THE REFRESHMENTS~   


    **2016 MEOW MIX AWARDS -- PART 2**



      AFTER A SHORT INTERMISSION
GIVING EVERYONE A CHANCE TO STRETCH LEGS
AND PARTAKE OF THE MEOW-MIX BUFFET
FEATURING A SUPURRRB ASSORTMENT OF
ANCHOVIES, FISH-STIX, LOBSTER TAIL,
KING CRAB LEGS -&- CATNIP COOKIES ~

     WE ARE BACK NOW .... SO ON WITH THE SHOW!
                     


    OUR NEXT AWARD IS -- THE FROSTED WHISKER

               

THIS TROPHY IS HIGHLY REVERED
BECAUSE IN ORDER TO WIN IT,
IT MEANS THAT THE 1st 2 LEGS OF THE
VERY ELUSIVE 3-PEAT HAD BEEN WON,
WITH ONLY THE REMAINING 3rd ONE LEFT TO RUN -&- WIN

THE FROSTED WHISKER IS GIVEN TO ALL
WHO WIN THE FIRST TWO RACES,  BUT THEN, 
  UNFORTUNATELY, LUCK RUNS OUT

TO PRESENT THE FROSTED WHISKERS TO ALL WHO EARNED IT
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE:
THE ONE -&- ONLY ~ GRUMPY CAT ~
WHOSE DEMEANOR DEFINITELY DEFINES THE MOOD OF
ALL THE RECIPIENTS WHO TRIED SO HARD ~ ONLY TO LOSE

~~~

WITH 1 FROSTED WHISKER EACH:
CRIMINAL TYPE / JOHN HENRY / POST TIME MIKE / DUSTY -&- CIGARSHOP

   THE WINNER ....
SUFFERING THIS HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT
  NOT ONCE BUT TWICE  --->  ~ STARK ~

       
~A NICE TROPHY TO DISPLAY -AND- YOU CAN DRINK YOUR SORROWS AWAY~


OUR NEXT AWARD IS CALLED: BOTS = BATTLE OF THE SEXES
ALL YEAR LONG IT IS THE STRENGTH -&- POWER OF THE COLTS
     VERSUS THE CLEVER -&- COURAGEOUS FIREY FILLYS!

 


TO PRESENT THIS AWARD PLEASE WELCOME
THE PARTNER IN CRIME TO SIR PUSS IN BOOTS
        ~ MISS KITTY SOFT PAWS ~

             


THIS SEASON IT WAS THE FILLYS WITH ALL THE POWER
     THE RUNNER UP WITH 5 WINS IS ==> CATALINA
BUT THE FILLY EARNING ALL THE GLORY, HAVING DEFEATED
       THOSE BAD BOY COLTS 7 TIMES IS ==> RUFFIAN!

**AND THE 2016 BOTS TROPHY - GOES TO ---> THE FILLYS**

                 


   OUR NEXT AWARD IS THE ''MIDWEEK MAYHEM''
PRESENTING THIS HIGHLY VALUED TROPHY WILL BE:
      ~ THE DUCHESS OF THE ARISTOCATS ~

               


THIS WAS A HIGHLY CONTESTED -&- CLOSE RACE TO THE FINISH
JUST MISSING OUT ON THE TROPHY IS -- TIGER DANCER --> WITH 7
THE WINNER OF THE MM TROPHY GOES TO: ~ RUFFIAN ~  ---> WITH 8

             


  ~~NOW ON TO THE BIG MONEY MAKERS OF THE YEAR!~~


THE 'CAIXA ELETRONICA' TROPHY REPRESENTS
THE MOST MONEY EARNED IN A SINGLE DAY
SOME DAYS IT MAY TAKE A BIT OF ''MAGIC'' TO DO THIS

       TO PRESENT THIS AWARD,  PLEASE WELCOME ~ SALEM ~
FROM SABRINA TEEN-AGE WITCH WHO KNOWS A BIT ABOUT MAGIC! 

       


THIS YEAR WE HAVE ONE OF THE CLOSEST
'RUN FOR THE MONEY' CHALLENGES
   IN THE HISTORY OF THE AWARD

BY A KITTY WHISKER,  RUFFIAN JUST LOST OUT AT THE WIRE
HAVING EARNED AN IMPRESSIVE 1-DAY TOTAL OF:  $190.60
     WHICH IN MOST YEARS COULD HAVE BEEN A WINNER
              JUST MISSING THE AWARD BY $13.80

THE CAIXA ELETRONICA TROPHY GOES TO: ~ STARK~ WITH $204.40

                       


OUR NEXT BIG MONEY AWARD IS: THE 'CRAFTY PROSPECTOR' TROPHY
     WHICH REPRESENTS THE MOST MONEY WON FOR THE YEAR

PRESENTING THIS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED AWARD WILL BE
             ~ CROOKSHANKS ~
    A MOST FASCINATING -&- INTELLIGENT FELINE
WHO WITH THE PERMISSION OF HERMIONE -&- HARRY POTTER,
HAS ARRIVED TO REVEAL WHO MAY BE HIDING FROM YE OLE TAX COLLECTER!

             


    HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO THE FOLLOWING

IN 5th PLACE =====> JOHN HENRY = $1014.10
IN 4th PLACE =====> TIGER DANCER = $1100.30
IN 3rd PLACE =====> D U S T Y = $1162.90
           
ONCE AGAIN, IT IS ---> RUFFIAN
PLAYING RUNNER-UP BY A WHISKER
HAVING STASHED AWAY A TIDY SUM OF:  $1362.80
     BUT FALLING $78 SHORT OF GLORY!

AND YES, ONCE AGAIN, SHE HAS LOST ANOTHER TROPHY TO
~ STARK ~ WHO BANKED A WHOPPING $1440.80 FOR THE YEAR

         


OUR NEXT AWARD IS: THE SUPURRR-SATURDAY TROPHY
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE, ~ MR. TOP CAT ~
     TO PRESENT THIS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED AWARD

           


COMING IN AS RUNNER UP, WITH 7 VICTORIES IS --> DUSTY

TAKING HOME THE SUPURRR~SATURDAY TROPHY
WITH 9 VICTORY GALLOPS TO HIS CREDIT ====> IS ~ STARK ~

         



WE WILL NOW TAKE A BRIEF INTERMISSION TO PREPARE
                FOR THE  --  ''HALFTIME SHOW''

     
            ~ MEOW MIX IS PROUD TO PRESENT ~
             OUR 2016 AWARDS HALFTIME SHOW
THE DYNAMIC, DAZZLING -&- DRAMATIC DANCE-ARAMA

                 



TO OPEN THE SHOW PLEASE GIVE A ROUSING APPLAUSE TO
                 BLUNNY  -&-  CATALINA
WHO WILL BE SHOWIN YA ALL HOW IT'S DONE IN TEXAS
    WITH THEIR RENDITION OF THE ''TEXAS-2-STEP''

         


              OUR NEXT DANCER WILL BE ~ RAVEN ~
    HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS FOLKS -- AS HE OFFERS UP
                HIS OWN ''FLY HIGH'' FREESTYLE

         



         OUR MOOD NOW TURNS TO CAJUN COUNTRY AS
~POST TIME MIKE~ WILL BE PERFORMING A 'MASH UP' OF
RED HOT CHILLI-PEPPERS, CAJUN CALYPSO -&- CHA CHA CHA

   
                                   


      ~ AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ~


DANCING TO THE MUSIC OF 3-DOG NIGHT -&- 'WHO LET THE DOGS OUT'
    PLEASE GIVE A BIG 'WOOF-WOOF-WOOF' WELCOME TO OUR OWN
'3-DOG'  COLT TRIO OF:  CRIMINAL TYPE, REAL QUIET -&- CIGARSHOP
WHO NOW BRING YOU THEIR ORIGINAL ''BEER BRIGADE BOOGIE!''
HOPEFULLY ~ ALL 3 COLTS WILL REMAIN ON THEIR FEET AT THE END
         





AND NOW, HERE TO DO  'COLT CLEAN UP'  IS ~DUSTY~
     AS SHE OFFERS HER OWN STYLE OF
THE ''MAGIC CARPET MAMBO-MERENGUE''

 



CHANGING GEARS NOW FROM LATIN AMERICAN GENRE TO
        SOMETHING THAT DEFIES A ''CATEGORY''  PER SE ~
HERE'S  ~STARK~ WHO WILL BE INTRODUCING YOU TO THE ORIGINAL
                            'SUPER-SHARK-SHUFFLE!'

                 



  WELL I MUST ADMIT, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE!

           


   BUT IF YOU ENJOY SEEING SOMETHING BIZARRE -&- FREAKY
         YOU SHOULD ENJOY OUR NEXT ENTERTAINER ~
  COMPLETE WITH FEATHER ATTIRE -- WELCOME TO THE STAGE
~CIGARSHOP~ WITH HIS OWN ORIGINAL ''CHICKEN-DANCE-CAN-CAN''

    .....



WE'LL WAIT FOR THE LAUGHTER TO DIE DOWN TO PRESENT
                            OUR NEXT ENTERTAINER

                       


BACK TO THE LATIN AMERICAN THEME OF DANCE - KIND OF:
~OAKLAWN CAPPER~  WITH AN ''X-RATED-SIZZLING 'STUDLY' SALSA''
{PARENTS: U MAY WANT TO ESCORT YOUNGSTERS OUT OF
            THE AUDITORIUM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE}

         
**SORRY -- THIS IS ALL THE CENSORS WILL ALLOW**       


NOW THAT EVERYONE IS ''TURNED ON''   
    LET'S KEEP THAT ACTION GOING
AS WE JOIN  ~REAL QUIET~  WITH HIS OWN
CREATIVE DANCE:  THE ''TIP-TOE-TAPPING-TOMCAT-TWIST!''

       



AFTER TWISTING OUR SACROILIACS OUT OF PLACE, EVERYONE
CAN SIT BACK DOWN,  RELAX AND WATCH AN AMAZING UNIQUE
PERFORMANCE BY  ~JOHN HENRY~ AS HE CHALLENGES HIS OWN BACK
WITH A 'LAZY-LAID-BACK-LIMBO' ROUTINE!  -- HOW LOW CAN HE GO!   

         


  BACK TO THE LATIN AMERICAN GENRE NOW
      PLEASE WELCOME  ~CATALINA~  TO THE STAGE
AS SHE TREATS YOU TO THE 'TRICKY TEXAS TANGO' WHICH IS
DRAMATICALLY DIFFICULT WHEN DOING IT WITHOUT A PARTNER!

       



OUR NEXT PERFORMER WILL BE DOING A DANCE THAT IS USUALLY
DONE BY A LONG LINE OF DANCERS YET HE ENJOYS DOING IT ALONE!
    HERE IS ~BLUNNY~  WITH HIS OWN RENDITION OF
              THE  ''ENERGIZER BUNNY HOP''


             


 
NOW SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THE GENTLEMEN IN THE AUDIENCE                                                             
            ALTHOUGH EVERYONE CAN ENJOY IT ~
THE MEN JUST MIGHT APPRECIATE IT A TEENY TAD MORE?

    DANCING TO THE MUSIC OF: THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS
     PLEASE WELCOME THE FABULOUS FELINE FILLYS
RUFFIAN ~ DUSTY ~ TIGER DANCER ~ CATALINA -&- PEEPTOAD
       WITH THEIR SPECIAL & ORIGINAL INTERPRETATION OF
                   'DARINGLY DOWN & DIRTY DANCING'

     
                           



WE HAVE A BRIEF INTERMISSION -- AS THE STAGE IS BEING
PREPARED FOR OUR NEXT DRAMATIC DISPLAY OF DANCE


THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN TURNED LOW ~  AS THE SPOTLIGHT IS CAST
     ONTO THE STAGE ILLUMINATING A GLOW-IN-THE-DARK POLE
        ANTICIPATION IS RUNNING ON HIGH AS WE DON'T KNOW
                        WHO OR WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN

                     

   
   A HUSH FALLS OVER THE CROWD AS  ~PEEPTOAD~  ENTERS
SHE WILL BE OFFERING HER OWN CREATIVE COMBINATION OF
     PASODOBLE LEAPING  -&- THE POLE-DANCE-PACHANGA!




             


AND NOW TO BE EQUALLY FAIR TO THE LADIES IN THE CROWD
       (NO WE DO NOT HAVE THE CHIPPENDALE DANCERS!)
   BUT WE DO HAVE SOMETHING ALMOST AS GOOD AS WE
     TRAVEL BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE WILD, WILD WEST

   


PLEASE WELCOME CRIMINAL TYPE -- WHO WILL BE SHOWING
YOU HIS OWN UNIQUE STYLE OF THE 'SHOOT-EM-UP-SAMBA'
                 DO NOT FEAR, HE MAY BE 'LOADED'
      -- BUT  HIS 38 SPECIAL IS JUST SHOOTING BLANKS

     


WE NOW WILL TRAVEL FROM THE OLD WILD WEST TO LET OUR
MINDS DO AN IMAGINARY HITCH-HIKE ABOARD THE T.A.R.D.I.S
WITH 'DR WHO'  AS WE LAND IN THE UNIVERSE'S VERSION OF
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HORROR SHOW WHERE WE WILL BE
TREATED TO A TIGER DANCER  ''2-STEPPING-TIME-WARP!''

             

         



AS OUR MINDS RECOVER FROM 'OUTER SPACE'  WE HEAD
BACK TO REALITY -- WHERE  ~RUFFIAN~  WILL TREAT US TO AN
ORIGINAL -- NEVER BEFORE SEEN -- COMBINATION ROUTINE OF:
THE CATNIP COUNTRY CLOG -&- THE SHENANIGANS SULTRY SHIMMY

     



TO CLOSE OUT OUR HALFTIME SHOW WE PROUDLY PRESENT:
    DANCING TO THE MUSIC OF:   WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
        OUR VERY OWN STARS OF THE 'BIG-CAT-DIARY'
   ~ RUFFIAN (aka: The Cheetah) -&- TIGER DANCER ~

   
                               
                  



  WE NOW RETURN TO THE FINAL AWARDS OF THE EVENING

     
NOW THAT EVERYONE IS TOTALLY EXHAUSTED FROM
~THE HALF TIME DANCEARAMA  EXTRAVAGANZA~ 
....  TIZ TIME TO RELAX ~ REFRESH -&- RESUME
     
WE NOW COME TO THE PART OF OUR SHOW
THAT FEATURES OUR TOP 6 YEAR END AWARDS


  OUR FIRST AWARD IS:  THE ''RISEN STAR''
SOMETIMES THIS ALSO INCLUDES ANOTHER ASPECT
  THAT WE CALL ''THE MOST IMPROVED''
        DEPENDING ON THE YEAR'S EVENTS

IN THE 'MOST IMPROVED' CATEGORY -- 2 COLTS CAN BE
VERY PROUD OF THEIR EFFORTS THIS SEASON
           ~ BLUNNY AND JOHN HENRY ~   

             

               
                 
THE RISEN STAR TROPHY -- GOES TO ONE WHO HAS SHOWN
IMPRESSIVE RACING EFFORTS,  TENACITY,  KINDNESS,
HUMOR EVEN IN THE FACE OF DEFEAT, HONESTY, COURAGE,
~ A WILL TO WIN BUT NEVER AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS, 
AND A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT A RACING STAR SHOULD BE

   TO PRESENT THIS AWARD,
PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO: -- LIL BUB --
WHOSE OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES HAVE ILLUSTRATED HOW TO
OVERCOME OBSTACLES -&- HARD TIMES TO FIND A PATH TO GLORY

       


   WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE
THE WINNER OF THE RISEN STAR: ~ STARK ~

   

                                               
OUR NEXT AWARD IS CALLED:  "AWESOME AGAIN"
THIS REPRESENTS THOSE WHO REPEAT AN AWARD FROM
THE PREVIOUS SEASON ALTHO SOMETIMES THE REPEAT
WIN IS OF QUESTIONABLE PRIDE TO HAVE ACHIEVED IT!
WE OFTEN HAVE SEVERAL WHO RECEIVE THIS 'HONOR'

HERE TO PRESENT THE  'AWESOME AGAIN' TROPHIES
PLEASE WELCOME -- MORRIS THE CAT --
OF 9 LIVES FAME WHO IS THE SHINING EXAMPLE
  OF REPEATING PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES

     


THIS YEAR WE HAVE A FEW REPEAT PERFORMANCES:
MOST NOTABLE IS THAT ~CRIMINAL TYPE~
HAS YET AGAIN MANAGED TO HOLD ON TO
THE KEY TO THE DOG HOUSE FOR THE 4th TIME!

     

AND OVER AT THE FILLY CAT HOUSE, WE SEE ~DUSTY~
HAS MANAGED TO BOLT THE DOOR
PREVENTING OTHERS FROM ENTERING!!
RUMOR HAS IT, SHE IS ENJOYING THE CATNIP AND
CHIPPENDALE DANCERS JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH
   AND NOW MAY BE 'ADDICTED' ~
      COULD AN INTERVENTION BE NEEDED?   


WITH AN UNCANNY KNACK FOR FINISHING 4th
AND STEALING THE PRECIOUS,
~BLUNNY~  ONCE AGAIN HAS WON "THE GOLLUM"

         


MORE IMPRESSIVELY:
BOTH  ~CRIMINAL TYPE  -&-  POST TIME MIKE~
HAVE REPEATED WINNING THE FROSTED WHISKER TROPHY
HAVING WON 2 OF 3 RACES IN THE EFFORT TO GAIN 3-PEAT GLORY

             {-- x2 --}


                ---> SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD <---
TO ~ TIGER DANCER ~  FOR HER DEDICATION -&- DETERMINATION
   TO GRAPHICATE MY WORDS ENHANCING THE RACE CALL
         INTO A MORE ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCE

                 



OUR NEXT AWARD IS FOR -- THE FILLY OF THE YEAR
TO PRESENT THIS HIGHLY REGARDED TROPHY
COMING ALL THE WAY FROM DEEP SPACE
   ABOARD STAR TREK-TNG
     IS DATA'S TRUSTY COMPANION, -- SPOT --

       


HAVING WON BOTH THE 'MIDWEEK MAYHEM' -&- THE 'BOTS TROPHIES'
  AS WELL AS RUNNER UP BY A WHISKER IN BOTH THE
  'CAIXA ELETRONICA' -&- 'CRAFTY PROSPECTOR AWARDS'
THIS SEASON'S FILLY OF THE YEAR IS ===> ~RUFFIAN~
(WITH A REPLICA TROPHY FOR HER INNER CHEETAH!)

      


 
~ OUR RACE OF THE YEAR ~
OFTEN HAS SEVERAL EVENTS
BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE TROPHY --

RACES WORTH MENTIONING ARE:
ALL WHO RAN TO WIN A 3-PEAT BUT
SADLY MISSED THE VICTORY GALLOP GLORY -&- WERE REWARDED
WITH A 'FROSTED WHISKER' FOR THEIR EFFORTS INSTEAD ~

STARK (WITH 2) / CIGARSHOP / POST TIME MIKE / JOHN HENRY
DUSTY -&- CRIMINAL TYPE ~~  ALL WITH 1 GALLANT EFFORT

HERE TO PRESENT THE OFFICIAL RACE OF THE YEAR TROPHY IS --
SOMEONE WHO IS USUALLY SEEN RUNNING ~
CHASING A VERY FAST TWEETY BIRD
THE ONE -&- ONLY ~ SYLVESTER ~

   


   THE RACE OF THE YEAR HAPPENED
IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, ON JANUARY 16th, 
WHEN THE RECIPIENT OF THIS TROPHY REWARDED HIS CONNECTIONS
WITH A WHOPPING -- $204.40 -- FOR A SINGLE DAY'S EFFORT!

NOT ONLY DID ~STARK~ WIN THE CAIXA ELETRONICA TROPHY
FOR THIS ONE DAY EVENT,  BUT IT WAS IMPRESSIVE ENOUGH
TO ALSO REWARD HIM WITH THE RACE OF THE YEAR AWARD AS WELL!

                 



OUR NEXT AWARD IS FOR: -- COLT OF THE YEAR --
TO PRESENT THIS PRESTIGIOUS TROPHY IS
THE ONE -&- ONLY  ~ COLONEL MEOW ~
AND  FOR THOSE OF YOU UNFAMILIAR WITH WHO HE IS
JUST GO GOOGLE AND BE PREPARED TO BE IMPRESSED!

       


  YOU WON'T NEED A CRYSTAL BALL TO SEE THIS ONE COMIN!

                 


THE WINNER SHOULD BE A NO-BRAINER AFTER SEEING HIM TROT
UP TO THE STAGE SEVERAL TIMES TO RECEIVE THE AWARDS FOR:
     SUPURRR SATURDAY ~  CAIXA ELETRONICA ~ RISEN STAR
       THE CRAFTY PROSPECTOR ~  THE RACE OF THE YEAR

                          YES INDEED FOLKS ~
ONE COLT WHO BEGAN THIS SEASON AS A MAIDEN AND
IN THE WINK OF AN EYE,  WAS RUNNING LIKE A CHAMPION
                THE COLT OF THE YEAR = ~ STARK ~

                 


   
WE NOW COME TO THE CLOSING EVENT OF THE EVENING
THE ONE MOST HIGHLY TREASURED TROPHY OF THEM ALL
             
TO PRESENT THE -- 2016 HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD --
    PLEASE WELCOME DIRECT FROM NARNIA ~
       THE ONE -&- ONLY  ~ ASLAN ~

         


          IN THE HISTORY OF THIS AWARD,
ONLY NOW -&- THEN IS THE FINAL DECISION VERY CLOSE
        WITH THIS SEASON BEING ONE OF THOSE
THAT IS WHY THIS YEAR WE ARE PRESENTING -- 2 TROPHIES!

1st -- TO THE QUEEN OF THE FILLY FELINES ~
WINNER OF:  THE MIDWEEK MAYHEM TROPHY
    THE BOTS TROPHY --  FILLY OF THE YEAR
RUNNER UP IN BOTH CAIXA ELETRONICA -&- CRAFTY PROSPECTOR
                                ~~ RUFFIAN ~~

  AND OF COURSE WITH HIS NUMEROUS AWARDS:
SUPURRR SATURDAY -- CAIXA ELETRONICA -- RISEN STAR
       THE CRAFTY PROSPECTOR -- THE RACE OF THE YEAR
                                  ~~ STARK ~~

                 
             
                                {-- x2 --}


   *********************************


**A STANDING OVATION FOR ALL OF OUR 2016 MEOW-MIX AWARD WINNERS**

WE LOOK FORWARD TO AN EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE NEW YEAR
AND NOW WE BID YOU A FOND ADIEU FROM THE MGM GRAND

         WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY -&- HEALTHY 'MEW' YEAR

                   
               

            MAY YOUR WHISKERS ALWAYS BE CRUMB-FREE
                           YOUR CATNIP ALWAYS FRESH
                    YOUR WATER BOWL ALWAYS FILLED
                      YOUR FUR SPARKLING -&- SHINY                 
YOUR SCRATCHING POST ALWAYS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE
          FOR THOSE DAYS OF AGGRAVATION FROM OTHERS
     WHO DO NOT RESPECT YOUR POSITION OF AUTHORITY!   

                 


    *****************************

   
~~GRAPHICS BY: TIGER DANCER ~~
   **Sorry this took me so long to complete. 
    Life has been total chaos and upside down right now.
          I hope to be back in Full Force soon.....
     I Sincerely Appreciate your Patience and Support!!

**And for those counting ...... There are 130 Graphics
in this Fantabulous Celebration Presentation!!

                 

~AWARDS COMPLETE~   

TO RUFF AND OUR GALLOPING GANG OF HAPPY HOULIGANS

                                 

MY SINCERE APOLOGIES FOR TAKING SO LONG
TO GET THE 2016 YEAR END AWARDS POSTED.
IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR WITH MANY CHALLENGES FOR MOI.

BUT I'M BACK AT IT...
IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT JOURNEY, VERY TIME CONSUMING.
LOTS OF EDITING / FORMATTING AND  **TECHNICAL ISSUES!!
NOT TO MENTION FINDING JUST THE RIGHT GRAPHICS.

TO ME... IT'S NOT JUST WORDS.....
I TRY TO MAKE IT A COLORFUL EXPERIENCE..... A WORK OF ART.

 



THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING!!  ~ TIGER DANCER~

                            

 
                       


   Once Upon A Time ....
An Idea Formed in the Mind
  Of A Frisky Feisty Feline
     The Kind U Rarely Find

Because Of Her Love Of  Horses
She Created A Game To Play
  They Came From Far & Wide
      To See If It Would Pay

Some Came And Ran And Conquered
   Some Went Away In Tears
      So Now We Will Acknowledge
         The Winners Of The Year

   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   


GOOD EVENING -&- WELCOME TO
   ~THE 2019 MEOW MIX AWARDS~
TONIGHT WE HONOR THE BEST OF THE BEST --
   AS WELL AS SOME OTHER INTERESTING
        BOLDLY BIZARRE 'CAT-A-GORYS'

THE AWARDS EXTRAVAGANZA
    IS COMING TO YOU FROM
    ~THE ENCHANTED FOREST~
CELEBRATING OUR THEME OF THE YEAR:
      **FAERY-TALE-FANTASY**



ALL 'PRESENTERS' MAY .....
MEOW ~ BARK ~ CHIRP ~ GROWL ~HOWL ~ SQUEAK
HOOT ~ WHINNY ~ QUACK ... BUT NO 'HUMAN-SPEAK'
    TRANSLATORS WILL BE ON STAND-BY IF NEEDED
          FOR SOME NOT AS VOCAL AS OTHERS   
       
                 
NOW PLEASE GIVE A RESOUNDING WELCOME TO OUR MC's ....                             
       THE 3 LITTLE KITTENS .....
             TOM ~ MITTENS ~ MOPPET
     
                                     
             
''O THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE STANDING OVATION -&- PURRRS"
   
WITHOUT FURTHER QUIRKY COMMENTARY
    PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO
THE SILVER STUDDED SPARKLE CARPET
     WHICH MAY DULL IN COMPARISON TO
THE SPARKLING STARS OF THE 2019 SEASON ....



PLEASE WELCOME OUR SHINING STARS OF 2019 .....
    LEADING THE PURRRFOUND PURRRCESSION ARE
       OUR CO-REIGNING 2018 HORSE OF THE YEAR ~                                       
  CATALINA -&- BLUNNY=The Energizer-Bunny                                                       

TIGER DANCER {2017 CO-HOTY}                                                         

DUSTY  {2017 CO-HOTY + 2010 HOTY}

RUFFIAN ~ aka "The Cheetah"  {2016 HOTY}                                   

REAL QUIET {2015 HOTY}                                                                           

POST TIME MIKE                                                                               

PEEPTOAD                                                                                                 

THUNDER CAT 

RAVEN                                                                                     

CRUZAN                                                                                                   

ROAMIN                                                                                                             

BRI ===> Welcoming Our New Filly With Wondrous Whinnies

     ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~
WE NOW BEGIN OUR AWESOME AWARDS CAT-STRAVAGANZA! 

 
PRESENTING THE "DISTORTED HUMOR" AWARD IS:
  ~ALADDIN -&- HIS MAGIC LAMP~
IN A PUFF OF SENSATIONAL SMOKE
    GENIE HAS EMERGED FROM THE LAMP
        TAKING COMMAND OF THE PRESENTATION
  ...

       

   THE DISTORTED HUMOR AWARD
IS EXACTLY WHAT THE NAME IMPLIES
  'HUMOR' IS 'SUBJECTIVE' AND
      WHAT SOME MAY FIND
         HILARIOUSLY BELLY-ROLLIN FUNNY
OTHERS MAY NOT 'GET IT' OR NOT CONSIDER HUMOROUS

WE HAVE 2 HONOREES FOR THIS AWARD ... BECAUSE EACH
    BRINGS A DIFFERENT 'FLAVOR' OF DISTORTED HUMOR
PLEASE GIVE A RESOUNDING APPLAUSE    
   FOR OUR 2 HUMOR AFICIONADOS:
   ~TIGER DANCER -&- RUFFIAN~       

TIGER DANCER FOR:
       HER THANKSGIVING TURKEY TROT
    THE HALLOWEEN SPOOK-TACULAR 
AND OCCASIONAL UNIQUE MM RACE CALLS
       
RUFFIAN FOR:
HER IMAGINATIVE, CREATIVE, BI-WEEKLY RACE CALLS


  THANK YOU SIR GENIE -&- ALADDIN

     ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~


OUR NEXT AWARD IS THE  "LOST IN THE FOG"
       
THIS AWARD CAN EITHER DESIGNATE A WIN
WITH THE LOWEST $$$ EARNED - OR - SOMEONE ARRIVING
AT THE STARTING GATE TOO LATE TO ENTER -&- GETS D.Q.   
                                                                   
TO PRESENT THE 'LOST IN THE FOG' AWARD   
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE
        ~HANSEL -&- GRETEL~
WHO KNOW A  LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT BEING LOST!   
                                 

''THE AWARD THIS YEAR WAS A PHOTO FINISH DECIDED BY $.20       
HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO: ~BLUNNY~  ===> $46.20     
     
AND THE LOST IN THE FOG WINNER:
   REPEAT 2018 WINNER ~THUNDER CAT~  ===> $46.00
                   

     ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~


OUR NEXT AWARD IS:  ''THE PRECIOUS''  
HERE TO PRESENT THE AWARD PLEASE WELCOME
             ~THE FROG PRINCE~
   
                                               
'ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL'  IS A BIT DIFFERENT HERE
   ''THE PRECIOUS'' = THE 'RING BEARER' IS BASED ON
                     THE FINAL TOP 4 IN A CONTEST:
1st = BRIDE / 2nd = BRIDESMAID / 3rd = FLOWERS / 4th = RING BEARER
     ''RING BEARER'' RELATES TO FRODO / LOTR / GOLLUM                   

HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO
        3X WINNER: ~BLUNNY~  ===> 15 RINGS

BUT WITH JUST ONE MORE GOLDEN RING
      THE WINNER IS: ~THUNDER CAT~  ===> 16 RINGS
                                   

      ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~


THE NEXT AWARD IS 
  THE ''CAT-HOUSE CATNIP KEY"

ENDING UP IN THE CAT HOUSE MEANS ===> LAST PLACE
      WHY THIS IS AN 'AWARD GETTER' IS BEYOND ME!
OF COURSE THE INCENTIVE IS A BATCH OF FRESH CATNIP ~
        MEOW MIX + ANCHOVY BUFFET ~ AND OF COURSE
THE CHIPPENDALES = THE DANCERS ... NOT THE RODENTS!

HONORABLE{?} MENTIONS:
  TIGER DANCER ==> 12 
      DUSTY ==> 13  

BUT ONCE AGAIN ....
THE CAT HOUSE QUEEN ---> WITH 20 TRIPS
TO THE COSMOPOLITAN ~ CHARISMATIC ~  CHARMING CAT HOUSE
    ~RUFFIAN~   WHO APPARENTLY NOW -&- THEN
LETS HER ''INNER-CHEETAH'' REMAIN BACK AT THE BARN TO SNOOZE


      ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~


OUR NEXT AWARD IS THE COUNTERPART TO THE CAT HOUSE:
      OF COURSE ===>  "THE DOG HOUSE KEY"
PLEASE GIVE A 'HOWLING' HELLACIOUS WELCOME TO
                   ~THE BIG-BAD-WOLF~
                                                                    

THIS YEAR THE DOG HOUSE KEY WAS STOLEN FROM THE START
    AS IT WAS ALL ~CRUZAN~ RUNNING AWAY WITH IT
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW ===>  WITH AN IMPRESSIVE 24 KEYS!
                                                                                   
THIS COLT IS OBSESSED WITH EITHER       
THE MILK-BONE BISCUITS OR THE VEGAS SHOW GIRLS?



     ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~


THE NEXT AWARD IS
      "THE GOLDEN GOOSE EGG"

IT'S A BIT DIFFICULT TO CALL THIS AN 'HONOR' BECAUSE
THE 'CHALLENGE' OF WINNING THIS YEAR END AWARD 
MEANS THE RECIPIENT MUST RUN AN ENTIRE DAY AND
RETURN TO THE BARN WITH $0 ~ NADA ~ EMPTY PURSE                         

HERE TO PRESENT THE GOLDEN EGG IS NONE OTHER THAN
        ~MOTHER GOOSE~  HERSELF
LEAVING HER COZY GOOSE EGG NEST
   TO HONOR US WITH HER QUAZY-QUACKA-DOODLES!   
             ''QUACK QUACK QUACK"     

           
THE HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO ~RUFFIAN~
WITH 2 GOLDEN GOOSE EGGS IN HER FINELY FEATHERED NEST 

THE WINNER ... WITH JUST ONE MORE GOOSE EGG
          IS ~CRUZAN~  ===> 3 EGGS
             


     ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~


OUR NEXT AWARD IS:
      "THE BODACIOUS BOUQUET"     

AS THE BRIDE IS #1, THE BRIDESMAID OR BRIDESMAN IS #2                 
   THE #3 FINISHER MORE OFTEN THAN ANY OTHERS,
      IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE BODACIOUS BOUQUET AWARD                             

PRESENTING THIS HONOR IS:
~MARY MARY QUITE CONTRARY~
WHO LEFT HER GLORIOUS GARDEN TO
JOIN US HERE IN THIS ENCHANTED FOREST   
     


HONORABLE MENTION IS SHARED BY:
~RUFFIAN -&- DUSTY~   WITH 12 EACH

AND CATCHING THE BOUQUET A LUCKY #13 TIMES 
      THE WINNER ~THUNDER CAT~
     

      ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~


THE NEXT AWARD IS  "THE BRIDESMAID"
THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY IMPLY 'GENDER' AT ALL
        IT REPRESENTS THE ABILITY TO FINISH 2nd 
MORE TIMES THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE COMPETITION ~                 

HERE TO PRESENT THE BRIDESMAID TROPHY
   AND THE ULTIMATE BRIDESMAID GOWN
PLEASE WELCOME THE 2 STEP SISTERS
   WHO ALWAYS FINISH 2nd TO CINDERELLA!                   
      ~BRUNHILDA and DRIZELLA~   
        

                                               
FINISHING #2 -- AS #2 BRIDESMAID
       WITH 12  'ALMOST WONS'  ~TIGER DANCER~ 
         
AND PLAYING THE BRIDESMAID
   A LUCKY #13 TIMES = ~THUNDER CAT~



     ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

         
   


*****************************88
         

SHHHHHHHHH  SHHHHH WHATS THAT SOUND...
   WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOIN DOWN
  COULD IT BE -----  WHAT DO WE HEAR
THAT YEAR END AWARDS MAY ACTUALLY APPEAR
                       :chickendance:

IT'S BEEN A TUFF STRUGGLE
TECHNICAL ISSUES GALORE
SO MANY GRAPHICS TO FIND
19 AWARDS PLUS EVEN MORE
                 

SO PATIENCE & UNDERSTANDING
    WILL GO A LONG WAY
HOPEFULLY AWARDS U WILL SEE
    BEFORE MOTHERS DAY!
                 
(* NOTE THE OPTIMISTIC WORD => HOPEFULLY) 
   
        AS RACHEL MADOW SAYS: ''WATCH THIS SPACE''

*PLEASE READ TIGER DANCER'S COMMENTS POSTED IN THIS THREAD
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND
THE TECHNICALITIES OF WHY THIS TOOK SO LONG
WAY MORE COMPLICATED THAN U MIGHT IMAGINE!
AND SHE ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT SHE'S DOING!       

                       
                         

       


IF IT'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED
OVER MANY RACING YEARS
IS TO GO WITH MY HEART
WHICH OFTEN BRINGS TEARS   

BUT THEN IN SOME YEARS
IT ALL WORKS OUT RIGHT
WHEN MY LONG-SHOT COMES THRU
AND MY HEART SINGS ALL NITE
                 :chickendance:

SILVER CHARM, CHARISMATIC
GIACOMO ~ MY SWEET GRAY
THUNDER GULCH & GRINDSTONE
    FOR ME THEY DID PAY!
          $$$   

SO FOR THOSE WHO PLAY CHALK
A WIN SOMETIMES IT BRINGS
BUT FOR ME IT'S A LONG-SHOT
THAT MAKES MY HEART SING!

THE WEATHER, THE NOISE
THESE 3 YEAR OLDS FACE
SO ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
    IN A 20-HORSE RACE!
               

I'M TOTALLY AGAINST 20
      14 IT SHOULD BE
BUT 'TRADITION' TRUMPS SAFETY
THAT'S ALL THEY CAN SEE
                 

SO WIN, LOSE OR TIE
THE MAIN THING OF ALL
IS THAT 20 RUN SAFE
AND NOT ONE HORSE DOES FALL!   
                     

(C) 2017 ~ LADY CAT / RUFFIAN

               

A CHAMPION IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD
A GENTLEMAN IN EVERY WAY
HONESTY...INTEGRITY.....GENUINE CARING
HE SHOWED TO US EACH DAY
                 

             

In Memory of -- Joseph J Gaudioso
...{aka:  JOHN HENRY}
1942 - 2017

~~~

Obituary of:  Joseph Gaudioso  , Jr

On April 2, 2017 of Berlin, NJ. Age 75 years.
Beloved husband of the late Dorothy A. (nee Buckley).
Devoted father of Kim DePalma (Bruce) and Dorothy Quinn (Michael).
Dear brother of Kathy Rock, Tina Downey (Ed) and Loretta Boyce.
Loving brother in law of Ann Marie Bigwood (William).
Proud grandfather of Rebecca, Brittany, Samantha, Alyssa and Alexa.
Great grandfather of Scarlett.
Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Joe enjoyed spending time with his family especially
Sunday dinner and Friday date night with his late wife at the Borgata.
He was an avid horse racing fan.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing:
Thursday evening  6:30PM-8:00PM  at the  COSTANTINO FUNERAL HOME
231 W. WHITE HORSE PIKE BERLIN, NJ 08009.
Funeral liturgy 8:00PM at the funeral home.
Cremation & interment will take place privately.

**In lieu of flowers, contributions to:
The American Cancer Society
1851 Old Cuthbert Rd. Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 -- would be appreciated.
**For additional information or to email condolences,
     please visit --  http://costantinofuneralhome.com/


http://costantinofh.com/tribute/details/1564/Joseph-Gaudioso/obituary.html#tribute-start


http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpostonline/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-j-gaudioso&pid=184846013&fhid=8161

          **AWARDS -- UPDATE**


YOU'RE PROBABLY STILL WONDERING
WHY AWARDS ARE STILL NOT POSTED
CONSIDER THOUGH THE FACT THAT IT
IS THE LONGEST SHOW I'VE HOSTED!

MY WORDS WERE ACTUALLY FINISHED
      IN JANUARY'S SECOND WEEK
WHEN TIGER DANCER SAW IT ALL
  INDEED THAT GIRL DID FREAK!
                       

WITH 19 DIFFERENT GRAPHICS TO FIND
A HALFTIME SHOW ADDS EVEN MORE ~
THE TECHNICAL APPLICATION TO COMPLETE
CAN MAKE EVEN A TIGER DANCER ROAR!
                       

SO PATIENCE IS REQUESTED PLEASE
HOPEFULLY WORTH WAITING FOR
AND WHEN YOU SEE THE END RESULT
YOU'LL WIND UP WANTING MORE!
                       

     

**2016 MEOW MIX AWARDS: UPDATE

     HIP HIP HIP HOORAY
AWARDS ARE ON THE WAY
AND BY ''ON THE WAY'' I MEAN
ANY WEEK, ANY MONTH, ANY DAY!
             

I COMPLETED THE WORDS LAST SUNDAY
AND NOW THE ''REAL FUN BEGINS''
FINDING THE MATCHING GRAPHICS
TO COMPLIMENT THE ONES WHO WIN

THAT'S TIGER DANCER'S TALENT
SHE WORKS HER MAGICK WELL
BUT FINDING TIME TO DO IT ALL
  SIMPLY PUT IS GRAPHIC HELL!
                     

BUT AS THEY SAY ~ THE GOOD STUFF
IS WELL WORTH WAITING FOR
SO PATIENCE MY LITTLE POSSUMS
  YOU HAVE A TREAT IN STORE!
                 


THERE MAY BE SOME SURPRISES
THERE MAY BE AWE & SHOCK
BUT AS A FORUM FAMILY OF FUN
WE SURE DO ''HELLA-ROCK!''
                :chickendance:

               


TWAS THE BARN BEFORE CHRISTMAS!

   


Twas The Night Before Christmas
The Barn Was A-Buzzzzz
With Whinnies And Nickers
'Cause That's What Horse Does!

The Legend Was Echoed
Through All Of The Walls
Excitement Was Mounting
In All Of The Stalls!


The Weanlings, In Wonder
Had Heard Of The Tale
As They All Gathered Round
To Munch On A Bale!




The Fillies, The Geldings,
The Stallions And Mares
Then Told Of The Legend
Amidst Wide Eyed Stares

When All Of A Sudden
They Heard On The Roof
The Flutter Of Wings
The Landing Of Hoof!




His Wings How They Glistened
His Whinny So Proud
As He Entered The Barn
Astounding The Crowd.....


Who Stood There Awaiting
The Pegasus Dear
The Truth Of The Legend
Was Blatantly Clear!





The Rider Descended
From Pegasus' Back
His Hat And His Boots
Were Glistening Black




His Spurs How They Jingled
With A Wonderful Song
That Would Echo In Memories
For All The Year Long!




He Gave Out The Gifts
Of Carrots And Treats
Then Sprang To His Saddle
For A Hasty Retreat....

..... 


For The Hour Was Late
And He Just Had To Leave
But Now, All The Weanlings
Would Finally Believe!

And As Pegasus Flew Then
Away In The Night
The Horses Enchanted
By The Wondrous Sight

Had Hearts Filled With Joy
And The Barn Filled With Love
And Mares Will Tell Foals
Of Pegasus From Above!


(C) Ruffian / Lady Cat

~NORTH POLE SNOWFLAKES~
...Graphics By: TIGER DANCER

             **SPOOKY RESULTS**   


     GOOD AFTERNOON FROM SATAN-ANITA RACE TRACK
WHERE THE EXCITEMENT AND ADRENALIN ARE RUNNING ON HIGH
  DUE TO THE ONCE A YEAR SPOOKTACULAR EXTRAVAGANZA

 


OUR FEATURE EVENT TODAY IS:  THE TRICK OR TREAT STAKES
        PRESENTED BY: GHOSTS ~ GOBLINS ~ GHOULS INC.

.......


FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT WE OFFER SOMETHING DIFFERENT TODAY
         YOU ALWAYS WATCH HORSES RUN.....
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN CAMELS - LLAMAS - DOGS -
EVEN TURTLES RACE, THO THAT'S NOT QUITE AS EXCITING
AND REQUIRES A VERY SLOW -- PATIENT MIND TO APPRECIATE

SO NOW WHY NOT TRY SOMETHING ELSE....
TODAY WE OFFER A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
THAT WILL LIVE IN YOUR MEMORY AND PERHAPS,
  FOR SOME, EVEN IN YOUR NIGHTMARES

PLEASE DON'T BE FRIGHTENED OR ALARMED WHEN THE
PARTICIPANTS ENTER THE TRACK FOR THE POST PARADE
   HIGH SECURITY IS IN PLACE TO PREVENT HARM TO
ANY RUNNERS OR VISITORS IN THE STANDS THANKS TO
     THE SATAN-ANITA MOUNTED POLICE FORCE

                             
     

THE POST PARADE HAS NOW BEGUN
   SO JOIN US FOR THE FREAKY FUN



LEADING THE FIELD OUT ONTO THE TRACK:

  ARTEMIS (aka: Ruffian)

                         

  BLACKBEARD (aka: Criminal Type)

                         
                   
  TASMANIAN DEVIL (aka: Blunny)



  URSULA (aka: Dusty)
                             

                         
BLACK WIDOW OF THE AVENGERS (aka: Tiger Dancer)



HOMER SIMPSON (aka: CigarShop)

                                   
                                     
  FURIOSA Of Mad Max (aka: Peeptoad)

                                                             

THE IRISH LEPRECHAUN (aka: Stark -- DC)
           


JEAN LAFITTE: Privateer (aka: Post Time Mike)
                               


XENA: Warrior Princess (aka: Catalina)
           


MORN Of Deep Space 9 (aka: Real Quiet)   
                     


  MAVERICK Of Top Gun (aka: John Henry)
     


** UNFORTUNATELY,  DETECTIVE SONNY CROCKETT
OF THE MIAMI VICE SQUAD WAS CALLED TO REPORT
FOR AN URGENT SITUATION IN THE AREA AND WAS
THEREFORE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE TODAY

     WE NOW TURN YOU OVER
TO OUR GUEST TRACK ANNOUNCER:
                ELVIRA



    ****************************

THE RUNNERS ARE NOW LINING UP AT THE STARTING LINE
            READY TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN!

WITH THIS GROUP OF ASSORTED CHARACTERS
         OF VERY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS ~
SOME ARMED WITH ARROWS OR FIREARMS OR SWORDS
THERE IS NO WARNING BIG ENOUGH TO COVER WHAT
   MAY HAPPEN ALONG THE WAY TO THE FINISH LINE!


AND -------- THEY'RE OFF IN THE TRICK OR TREAT STAKES!

 



STRUGGLING TO HOLD ON TO HIS POT OF GOLD
         ...... IS THE LEPRECHAUN
WHO SOMEHOW IN SPITE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE GOLD, 
IS NOW LEAVING THE REST OF THE RUNNERS
         TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP!




URSULA ~ JEAN LAFITTE & MAVERICK ARE ABOUT 10 LENGTHS
  BEHIND THE SPEEDY FRONT RUNNING LEPRECHAUN
WHO APPEARS AS A BLUR OF GREEN FAR IN THE DISTANCE

A FEW LENGTHS BEHIND THAT TRIO ARE
THE BLACK WIDOW ~ THE TAZMANIAN DEVIL & MORN

IT'S ANOTHER GAP BACK TO A FEW
WHO ARE NOT SHOWING ANY SPEED YET
BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND AS WE KNOW
    ANYTHING CAN & OFTEN DOES HAPPEN!

AT THE BACK FOR NOW ARE:
BLACKBEARD,  ARTEMIS, FURIOSA
ALONG WITH XENA & HOMER SIMPSON


OUT OF THE TURN THEY COME


THE LEPRECHAUN STILL IN COMMAND OF THE RACE
AND APPARENTLY NOT BEING SLOWED DOWN BY THE WEIGHT OF GOLD!
AMAZING HOW SOMEONE THAT TINY CAN MOVE THAT FAST!

NOW IT'S ARTEMIS FIRING SWIFT ARROWS AT THE
LITTLE GREEN LEPRECHAUN IN FRONT OF HER
BUT SO FAR HAS FAILED TO HIT HER TARGET




THE BLACK WIDOW IS RIGHT THERE WITH ARTEMIS ~
FIRING HER ''WIDOW'S BITE'' ELECTRO STATIC ENERGY BLASTS
AT THE LEPRECHAUN -- WHO SO FAR HAS AVOIDED BEING HIT!




MORN IS A FEW LENGTHS BEHIND THAT DUO
      BUT APPEARS TO BE A BIT 'TIPSY'  ~ 
PERHAPS FROM TOO MUCH "SPIRITS" AT QUARK'S BAR!




JEAN LAFITTE & BLACKBEARD ARE NEXT
BUT THEIR SWORDS KEEP GETTING ENTANGLED AS THEY RUN, 
PREVENTING EITHER ONE FROM GAINING GROUND ON THE LEADERS!




MAVERICK IS RIGHT ALONG SIDE OF URSULA BUT IS HAVING
AN ISSUE TRYING TO AVOID THE SPRAY OF BLACK INK AND
8 LONG TENTACLES PREVENTING HIS MOVING FORWARD

   


FURIOSA IS JUST BEHIND THAT DUO BUT IS HAVING DIFFICULTY
SEEING WHERE TO RUN WITH A CLOUD OF BLACK INK IN THE AIR
SO FIRING HER WEAPON WOULD BE A WASTE OF AMMUNITION!




VERY FAR BACK XENA & TAZ ALSO HAVING TROUBLE SEEING
THROUGH ALL THE BLACK INK SPRAYED IN THE AIR IN FRONT
OF THEM, AS HOMER SIMPSON JUST BEHIND THE DUO APPEARS
TO BE LAUGHING AT EVERYONE STRUGGLING IN FRONT OF HIM
                       FINDING IT ALL VERY FUNNY!



                   


              THEY'VE REACHED THE TOP OF THE STRETCH


THE LITTLE GREEN LEPRECHAUN IS STILL IN THE LEAD BUT
NOW APPEARS TO BE STRUGGLING A BIT WITH THE POT OF GOLD
               THAT HE REFUSES TO DROP AT ANY COST!
HE NEVER CONSIDERS THE CONCEPT THAT SOMETIMES, 
            GREED CAN STAND IN THE WAY OF GLORY!

AND NOW THE PACE HAS QUICKENED AS SOME OF THE RUNNERS
HAVE MANAGED TO OUT MANEUVER THE OBSTACLES IN THEIR WAY
                         
IT'S THE PIRATE DUO OF BLACKBEARD  &  JEAN LAFITTE WHO
HAVE FORGED A PATH AVOIDING ARROWS ~ INK ~ WEAPONS
USING ONLY THEIR SPEED ~ WIT & SWORDS TO CLOSE IN ON
          THAT LITTLE GREEN LEPRECHAUN IN FRONT!

URSULA HAS CONTINUED TO SPRAY HER BLACK INK IN THE
FACES OF ALL IN HER WAY AND NOW HAS MOVED UP
JUST IN BEHIND THE PIRATE DUO IN FRONT OF HER

AVOIDING ALL 8 TENTACLES & INK ...
BEHIND URSULA -- ARE ARTEMIS & THE BLACK WIDOW
SIDE BY SIDE MAKING A VERY STRIKING IMAGE ~
   ESPECIALLY FOR THE MEN IN THE CROWD!

IT'S ANOTHER SEVERAL LENGTHS BACK TO
MAVERICK & FURIOSA
ENGAGED IN A TIGHT BATTLE OF THEIR OWN

MORN IS JUST STROLLING ALONG IN A SOMEWHAT BOOZE INDUCED
HAZY FOG BUT APPARENTLY ALSO WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE ~
(WE THINK THAT'S A SMILE ON THAT FACE,  IT'S KINDA HARD TO BE SURE?)

~BUT NORM DOES ALL THE TALKING~   


                     MEANWHILE WAY FAR AT THE BACK ~
HOMER SIMPSON SEEMS TO BE CRACKING JOKES HYSTERICALLY
LAUGHING TO HIMSELF,  BUT THE TAZMANIAN DEVIL & XENA
              DON'T SEEM TO FIND HIM VERY FUNNY!
                     
      === AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME! ===


THE LEPRECHAUN -- STILL WITH A VERY GOOD LEAD CONTINUES
TO DANCE ALONG,  BUT THE POT OF GOLD APPEARS TO BE
TAKING IT'S TOLL ON THE LITTLE GREEN FELLOW
   AS HIS SPEED SEEMS TO BE DIMINISHING

THE PIRATE DUO ARE GAINING GROUND STILL MANAGING TO STAY
IN FRONT OF THE FOG OF BLACK INK BEHIND THEM AS URSULA
CONTINUES TO SPRAY AWAY IN THE FACES OF ALL BEHIND HER                   

THE BIG BLACK INK CLOUD APPEARS TO BE AFFECTING ARTEMIS
AND THE BLACK WIDOW AS NEITHER ONE IS GAINING GROUND

URSULA'S SECRET WEAPON OF SPRAYING BLACK INK IN THE AIR
NOW BECOMES APPARENT THAT THE PLAN WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT
  AS ALL THOSE BEHIND THE 8-LEGGED WONDER
                HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE PAST HER!                 
     
THE WIRE IS JUST AHEAD
AND THE LEPRECHAUN IS OBVIOUSLY EXHAUSTED
AS HIS POT OF GOLD IS TAKING A TOLL
               ON HIS SPEED AND LEAD ~

BLACKBEARD & JEAN LAFITTE ARE ALL OUT SIDE BY SIDE
TRYING TO DISENTANGLE THEIR SWORDS WHICH IS COSTING
BOTH OF THEM SPEED TO CATCH THE LITTLE GREEN IMP IN FRONT!

AND AS THE LITTLE GREEN LEPRECHAUN CROSSES THE WIRE
LAUGHING ALL THE WAY  ~ ~ ~  CLUTCHING HIS POT OF GOLD
WHICH HE NEVER CONSIDERED DROPPING EVEN IF IT MEANT
                                    LOSING THE RACE ~
    A BRILLIANT RAINBOW HAS APPEARED OVER SANTA ANITA





              SOMETIMES:  LIFE IS STRANGER THAN FICTION!

                                   
                    $$-OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH-$$    


1st ~ LEPRECHAUN ========= $89.60
  ~WINNER~   

     
2nd ~ BLACKBEARD ===== $61.30                   
  ~ 2nd ~     


3rd ~ JEAN LAFITTE ==== $54.00
  ~ 3rd ~   


4th ~ URSULA ============== $46.40




BLACK WIDOW ========== $43.90

ARTEMIS ======= ====== $43.60

MAVERICK ============= $33.60

FURIOSA ============== $33.40

MORN ================ $26.80

HOMER  SIMPSON ========= $13.80

TAZMANIAN DEVIL  ======== $12.90

XENA ================= $6.70
                           
           WE INVITE YOU ALL TO THE CELEBRATION PARTY
WHERE ALL WEAPONS ~ INK ~ SWORDS ~ ARROWS ARE BANNED!
AND THE WINNING LEPRECHAUN, IN SPITE OF HIS MISERLY WAYS
     HAS OFFERED ONE GOLD PIECE TO EVERYONE WHO RAN!

       

                     ~ SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW ~
                  A LEPRECHAUN FAMILY IS CELEBRATING

***************************************************

~~~~
~~ Graphics By: TIGER DANCER ~~

       


BLUNNY SAYS => "Tiger needs to change her brand of whiskey"

GUESS AGAIN
TIGER DOESNT DO BOOZE 
....EXCEPT PURRRHAPS A PINA COLADA OR STRAWBERRY DAQUIRI