Red Rabbit Racing

On February 23rd, at the home of Kathy & Rick Johnson, we gathered to enjoy the

2007 RED RABBIT RACING AWARDS DINNER!

This annual dinner party is a time when all the partners, spouses and honored guests get together to remember the fun and success of that most enjoyable family thoroughbred racing partnership - Red Rabbit Racing. Additionally, awards for stellar achievements are given to acknowledge (or poke fun at) some of the more memorable events in the past racing season.

This year was especially memorable as RRR enjoyed a PERFECT season with 2 Wins in 2 Races by none other than our 2006-2007 Hero Mare, Salt Syn.

This year not only were the partners, Peggy, Jean, Jeff, & Rick their spouses and Equine Training Wizard Chris Block in attendance, but we also were honoured with Sadie & Darrell Brommer, owners of world renowned Brommer Thoroughbred Racing as special guests.

Sadly, Chris' lovely wife Linda was unable to attend as their son fell ill the day of the event. However Johnson family Patriarch, Robert Arthur Johnson was able to attend, which was superb.

Also The Head Of The Table Was Adorned With The Smiling Likeness Of My Late Dad & Original Partner, Richard Johnson, Decked Out In RRR's Iconic Silks.

Alas, invitations were grudgingly issued to our 2 silent partners, Sisters Laurie & Nancy - but their loutish behavior puts a return invitation for next year in rather serious jeopardy.

Prior to the dinner we played Equine Charades - which was a mixed success at best. A few of the clues were pretty arcane and proved quite difficult to solve. But it was fun none the less.

Kathy laid on a beautiful feast of Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Spinach Salad and other delicacies served at a long table in the Lounge. As a special treat the head of the table was occupied by the image of my late father, an original partner, resplendent in the spare silks of our fine racing stable. A little weird, but hardly unexpected within this family. Pop is, and always will be - with us. Silent partner Laurie's husband Mike suffered a nasty cut while carving the Ham - but no one cared as he is a bonehead anyway and none of the gushing blood dripped on to the fine Ham. Whew.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE PICTURES OF THE EVENT

Picture upper left is of the heavily sought invitation, with picture to the right is of Pop on the couch. Picture below is of the party goers at dinner before the highlight of the evening which was the presenting of the Awards and the debut of the annual 2007 Red Rabbit Racing Year In Review DVD - which brought tears to many an eye.

Several awards were given this year to our deserving nominee's The awards and their winners are:

  • "Best Friends In Racing Award" This award was give to Darrell & Sadie Brommer of Brommer Racing for mentoring us as new Horsemen and allowing us to share in their racing adventures throughout the last several seasons.
  • "Equine Training Wizard Award" was given of course to Chris Block for the excellent work he did in returning our only racing asset, Salt Syn, to racing form after going through surgery and an extended rehabilitation. Chris patiently led us through the rehab & steps needed to be accomplished before we could race and when he had her ready - she never lost for us.
  • "Best Joe Snap Award" was given to Family Patriarch Robert Johnson for menacing another trainer with what would have been a disabling Joe Snap had it connected with his head. RRR was less than happy with this other Trainer For selling us A horse that turned up lame after we claimed her. Picture of the attack can be seen to the right. Just a Joke.....
  • "Chattiest Silent Partners Award" was given to sisters Laurie & Nancy. This is in recognition for them never being able to keep their yappers shut - even after multiple admonishments that they were not investing partners - but silent partners - and as such had no right to advise, suggest, or encourage any action the partnership might take. Also Laurie's award was given in a black frame in silent remembrance that at least in our family - she is The black sheep.
  • "Best E-Mail Award" was given to Jeff for the early 2007 creation of an e-mail that was hilarious. It can be read by clicking here. As the highlight of the evening, Jeff Rabbit whipped out a Prepared acceptance speech complete with a Post-It used to create a clerical collar and delivered a stem winder about how we will be going forward to achieve greatness as a racing stable. This speech was an absolute highlight of the evening and can be found at the Bottom of this Page. Absolutely Brilliant.
  • "Cash Call Award" was given to Partner and stable Accountant Jean Gallo for the necessity, under her financial leadership, for a partner Cash Call early in 2007 to keep us afloat.
  • "Least Photogenic In The Winners Circle Award" went to Founder and Sr Partner Peggy Lenz of her less that stellar images caught on film in our 2 Winners Circle appearances this year. The 1st photo she was barking about what she felt were too many people present in the photo and the 2nd Winners Circle photo she was looking at the horse and not the camera.

Everyone enjoyed the Awards and we all had a great time. Following that the 2007 Red Rabbit Racing Year In Review DVD was played bringing an end to what had been a great evening. Video can be seen at the bottom of the page.

THANKS TO ALL FOR WHAT WAS A GREAT YEAR AND A GREAT EVENING TO REMEMBER THE SAME.

 

LET'S HOPE 2008 IS EVEN BETTER!

 

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GOOD BYE AND GOOD RACING!

 

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Listed Below is the Acceptance Speech of award winner Jeff Rabbit Johnson who heretofore has asked that he be referred to as Rev. Red Rabbit...

"WELCOME FELLOW HORSEMEN AND HORSEWOMEN. WE HAVE A DREAM. THAT ONE DAY, UNDER THE PROUD NAME OF THE RED RABBIT RACING STABLE. WE WILL RISE UP AND LIVE OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF ITS CREED.

 

I AM HAPPY TO JOIN WITH YOU TONIGHT , IN WHAT COULD BE THE GREATEST RACING SEASONS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION. FOUR SCORE YEARS AGO, A GREAT AMERICAN DREAM BEGAN. THE RED RABBIT RACING STABLE WAS BORN. AND THRU THOSE YEARS , WE HAVE BEEN , THE VETERANS OF CREATIVE SUFFERING.

 

WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE FAITH THAT UNEARNED SUFFERING IS REDEMPTIVE. LET US NOT WALLOW IN THE VALLEY OF DESPAIR, AS WE HAVE COME TO THIS HALLOWED SPOT TONIGHT, TO REMIND US OF THE URGENCY OF NOW.... THERE IS NO TIME TO ENGAGE IN THE LUXURY OF COOLING OFF OR TO TAKE THE TRANQUILIZING DRUG OF GRADUALISM.

 

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE REAL, THE PROMISES OF OWNERSHIP. NOW IS THE TIME TO RISE UP FROM THE DARK DESOLATE VALLEY OF HORSELESSNESS, TO THE SUNLIT PATH OF MULTIPLE STALLS.

 

NOW IS THE TIME TO LIFT OUR STABLE FROM THE QUICKSANDS OF RACELESS WEEKENDS, TO THE SOLID ROCK OF THUNDEROUS STRETCH DRIVES, UNBEATABLE CHAMPIONS, AND MOUNTAINS OF CASH.. THIS IS OUR HOPE AND THIS IS THE FAITH THAT WILL GO HOME WITH US TONIGHT.. THIS IS OUR DREAM....

 

LET THE STARTER BELL RING... LET THE STARTER BELL RING.... LET THE STARTER BELL RING!!!"