All the facts herein are truly related which would not be the case if Rocco were to tell you the story of a horse named Grand Wizzard, upon whom he and his good friend Jimmy Reeves reportedly placed their last remaining $20 in the world only to watch that sonuvagun run dead last, thereby eradicating their chances of further wagering for the afternoon - and after which Grand Wizzard got lost and was found wandering down Rampart Street, the supposition being that Rocco and his good friend Jimmy had, perhaps, gone back to the barn and turned him loose.

 

Not only are the following facts truly related, but indeed they actually occurred, and this is more than can be said for the man with the grey silk suit and the alligator shoes and the fine felt fedora who allegedly walked into the racetrack and came out in nothing but his drawers, having lost all his money and the shirt off his back - although no one except for Rocco can confirm having actually seen this happen.

 

One day Rocco's cab is hit by an individual who is driving an uninsured vehicle, and this slimebag rapidly departs from the scene of the crime and thereby leaves Rocco footing a bill for reparations. Through a skilled effort at detection and a determination not to be stuck for $350, Rocco discovers that the offending driver is employed as a hotwalker for Michael Maker, head Fair Grounds assistant for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at the time. Progress, however, is most frustratingly slow both at locating the individual and thereby arranging for retribution for the crime - this in spite of the fact that Rocco is not altogether unconnected and therefore is usually able to obtain information pertinent to the racetrack (although it usually comes in the form of a sure thing).

 

A few weeks later, it would happen to be a prep day on the Kentucky Derby trail, the likes of which are seen in New Orleans exactly three times per year. Rocco is driving another cab because of said damages to the first one, and he is called upon to pick up a party from the racetrack. Twenty minutes later, Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day is in the front seat and Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is in the back.

 

Now Rocco is aware of the fact that Michael Maker is the head assistant for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and he is thinking that just maybe some progress will be made from a conversation with the boss himself. 

 

"I've got a racing story you can't make up," he says. "You have a guy name of Mike Maker who works for you?"

 

"Sure do, he's my Fair Grounds assistant," Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas replies, and Rocco tells the story of the hotwalker hit and run, and Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas asks how much the damages might have been, and Rocco says $350.

 

"And how much is the fare to the airport?" asks Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He is informed the price of $25 at the time, which is less back then because the economy has yet to take a dive so now from the Fair Grounds the same ride would cost you $33.50, maybe more.

 

Then Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas digs into his pocket and takes out a roll of hundreds and peels off five of them and asks "does this make us even?" 

 

And Rocco says he believes it does but that is not the end of the story.

 

A little while later Rocco himself is betting on this garbage can from California named General Challenge, and here comes the Kentucky Derby and D. Wayne Lukas is starting a 31-1 shot and Pat Day is riding a 7-1 shot and you would think that Rocco, having a slight leeway in his wagering budget due to the $500 of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas' money, would at least play $5 of that money on the horse started by Mister Lukas and the horse ridden by Pat Day (on account of his close proximity to the situation). 

 

He does not.

 

The Lukas horse, Charismatic, and the other horse, Menifee, run 1-2. Not so General Challenge, he's something like 11th and you couldn't find him with a searchlight. The exacta returns $727.80. Rocco is wishing he could throw himself down onto the Fair Grounds floor and cry. He is also wishing he could tell you he never placed another wager or went to another racetrack again.

 

We all know that would be a likely story.