West Update

Last month, the U.S. unemployment rate hit 8.1%. It's a ticker-tape parade of pink slips: 1700 at National Semiconductor; 323 American Airlines flight attendants; Big Bird and Elmo; 1600 jobs throughout McClatchy, publisher of 30 daily newspapers including the Star-Telegram. But, apparently, the Star-Telegram will be keeping its turf writer.

This morning I received an email from Gary West,

Well, apparently we still live in the age of miracles. Frankly, I was sure I was going to be part of the reduction, but I just got off the phone with [my editor] and she tells me I still have a job. I'm shocked, but, of course, very pleased.

And others are very pleased: Lone Star Park, TexasHORSE, various horsemen, the teeming millions who read his columns, etc.

So, at this writing, I can continue to enjoy his horse racing columns of lumpen management, flapdoodle, intriguing races, remarkable horses, and colorful characters.