Snapshots
Matt is one of the smartest and one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He came from New York one summer, and arrived in AZ with a suitcase and a cat. In less than 2 years went from hardly knowing which end of a horse ate – to being one of the most respected people on the AZ racing circuit. He’s been a groom, a jockey agent, a trainer, and helped out in the racing office. He can talk circles around almost everyone on the backside and although he has had a few ‘New York moments’ I can’t think of anyone I would rather have training my horses. Here is a snapshot of Hannibal – please take it with a grain of salt. 🙂
First name?
John. Matt.
How long have you been in the Sim?
A long time… I don’t know in years, but it couldn’t have been going for much longer than a few months when I started.
Favorite food?
Asparagus. I just can’t eat it or I will vomit.
Dog or cat?
If I’m living in a car, then a cat. If I’m living on the streets, then probably a dog. A small one that only needs scraps.
If you were to take a solo road trip which would you rather drive – a convertible or a motorhome?
I hate driving large vehicles, but I have frequent, sudden bladder urges (phrase borrowed from Detrol commercial) and over a long voyage, I may have wished I had taken the eighteen wheel home.
Hobby – other than horseracing?
Cleaning. I’m a neat freak. It’s a disorder, but I’m coping, like I learned to do for the compulsive lying problem I used to have.
Favorite band or singer?
Well, I like live music, so that depends on who performs well on any given day. Neil Young put on a great show, but so did Jane’s Addiction. And the Albany Symphony Orchestra was worth seeing. I wish I had seen Frank Zappa and I wish I had seen Elvis. Maybe that puts them above some of the others.
Last book you read?
Veterinarian Brent Kelley’s book on – of all things – horse health and anatomy peppered with his own wisdom… for about the three hundred and eleventh time since I bought it a few years ago.
What’s playing in your cd player or Ipod right now?
If you consider my head a cd player or an Ipod then it’s actually “Wonderwall” by some band that also sang a song called “Champagne Supernova” or something. I don’t know why.
If you were stuck in a hospital room for 6 months and could chose one person, past or present, other than husband/wife, relative or in-law, to be in the bed next to you – who would it be?
Dr. Kevorkian. Ten conscious minutes in a hospital is far longer than I can endure for my own benefit.
If you were to take a day trip in your area – where would you go?
Yavapai Downs.
Favorite real life racehorse?
Ms. Minton’s Excess. He wasn’t the coolest, most talented, or memorable. But, I had a point to prove with him. He made me look smart instead of merely lucky enough to acquire a horse that had the capacity to answer questions when asked. I respected his willingness to accomodate me with unabridged efforts after years of futility so long as he was reciprocally accomodated with attention to his trivial daily requests.
If you could meet one person in the Sim – who would it be?
Bill Gulch. I tried to email him once and got a response from some lackey named Mike that works for him.