Jim Fannin Blog

Growing up, I knew my Dad was always right…  and most of the time he was.  Of course, growing up I wanted to be just like my Dad.  Therefore, even today, I am always right.

I have been going to the racetrack since I was a little kid.  Attending the Kentucky Derby, especially because that’s where I’m from, has always been a big deal.  This year, I found myself scouring the racing forms.  This can be quite complicated, but with the skills and precision of a scientist, I figured out who would win.  I believed and expected it to happen based on previous experience that I am always right- even on something so unsure as gambling on which horse could run around the track ahead of the rest.

With my cash in one hand and racing form in another, I got up from the table to place my Derby bet.  I was confident, full of a sense of knowing and assuredness- just like my Dad.  Acorns, you know, don’t fall far from the tree.

I turned to my wife to ask, “Who are you picking to win?”

She replied, “The long shot.  I just have a gut feeling.”

“Are you nuts?!  That’s 50 to 1!  There hasn’t been a long shot to win the Derby in over 50 years!  I just hope you don’t bet much.”

And with that I proceeded to the betting window.

Boy, did my ego get squashed!  As the 50:1 long shot, Mine That Bird, won- seemingly by a mile with no other horse in site- I turned to my wife.  She was celebrating like a crazy person while holding up her winning ticket.  She shot me a look, clearly telling me that intuition overrides knowledge, experience and wisdom.  It’s amazing how a quick look can give so much detail.

And to think, I coach intuition, believe in it and have a razor sharp one.  However, I did not listen to it this day.  The power of the racing forms and my way out of control ego made me overlook the obvious.

As she came back to the table with 5 crisp $100 bills, I asked her, “Are we splitting that?”

And her response was, “Not on your life… there are 2 more races left.  Go back to your racing forms.”