{"id":938,"date":"2012-08-18T11:06:53","date_gmt":"2012-08-18T16:06:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greyhoundinfo.org\/?page_id=938"},"modified":"2012-08-18T19:38:42","modified_gmt":"2012-08-19T00:38:42","slug":"how-seatac-flew-into-my-heart","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundinfo.org\/?page_id=938","title":{"rendered":"How Seatac Flew Into My Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Leslie Csokasy<\/em><\/p>\n

How Seatac Flew Into My Heart\u2026<\/p>\n

I was not looking for another female pet or even another racer.\u00a0 But I like to\u00a0 attend the NGA bi-annual National Meets in Abilene, Kansas.\u00a0 The October 2011 was my third Nationals.\u00a0 Having been around the block a few times, I was familiar with the comings and goings.\u00a0 Watch the races, talk to people, meet friends, drink a few beverages, enjoy Midwestern cuisine, tour farms, applaud at a few awards ceremonies like the Inductions to the Hall of Fame, and finally attend the auction.\u00a0 I think the auction is one of the hardest parts for someone who stepped into racing via adoption network.\u00a0 It is a completely different mindset to the pet life we city folk deal with on a regular basis.\u00a0 Not wrong, just different. \u00a0 I believe if one wants to understand a culture, they have to truly be committed to experiencing it.<\/p>\n

When I go and watch the races of the dogs that will be auctioned off at the end of the week, I tend to make a short list of dogs I\u2019m interested in.\u00a0 I am playing with pretend monopoly money but still keep within a budget.\u00a0 I\u2019m looking for a good buy.\u00a0 I know I won\u2019t be able to afford a winner at this event so I look for dogs with potential that hasn\u2019t been realized.\u00a0 Who knows, I might get lucky, right?\u00a0 And I\u2019ll be flush with pretend doggie dollars.\u00a0 Since I\u2019ve bumped elbows with a few successful race dog owners, I know a few tips\u2026 look for performance comparing breaking out of the start box to their running thru the turns, can they sustain the speed and close at the end.\u00a0 I\u00a0 keep an eye out for dogs that aren\u2019t afraid to pass, watch their tails, shoulders and head positions.\u00a0 I also do my homework and look at pedigree, how well their mom in particular raced and if any other offspring ran well.\u00a0 I also make note of who owns the dogs and what their reputation is.\u00a0 Oh, Seatac has since taught me a lot more\u2026 but she hasn\u2019t entered the story yet.<\/p>\n

When I walked into the auction that Saturday morning, gas station coffee in hand, my short list was 8 dogs long.\u00a0 A couple were scratched from the auction \u2013 Budz Logan\u00a0 and Darby.\u00a0 Sometimes dog owners will scratch dogs they didn\u2019t think will bring the dollar amount they think they are worth.\u00a0 I take my seat on the bleacher and thumb thru the program.\u00a0 The first dog on my list, Match Maker sells for a modest $5250.\u00a0 I had starred him twice.\u00a0 I liked his break and he was competitive. KK\u2019s Alagasia and KB\u2019s Abalds both get no bids and are passed by.\u00a0 Kells Gambler was passed by the owner at $1750, which meant he felt the price was too low for the outstanding pup.\u00a0 That left a single dog on my list.\u00a0 Number 283.\u00a0 SE\u2019s Penske C.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t a superstar but I thought she had a nice close.\u00a0 She broke out okay but seemed to get into trouble in the turns, but I bet her price would be right.\u00a0 I got out my monopoly money and counted the pink, blue, white and yellow cash.<\/p>\n

They start the bids out at $5,000, quickly drop to $2500, $2000, $1750….\u00a0 I looked at my list, Number 283 has two stars.\u00a0 I knew this dog was the girl I kept coming back to during the replays.\u00a0 She has good blood lines being out of Flying Penske and a Penske mother.\u00a0 Penske girls tend to do well in distance marathons.\u00a0 I like to watch those races a lot.\u00a0 I daydream about all the reasons, SE\u2019s Penske C, will be a mighty fine racer when I look up and realize the auctioneer is pointing at me<\/strong>.\u00a0 Is this some kind of alternate universe?\u00a0 Wait um, my arm is up in the air.\u00a0 Son of Momma dog, I just bid on a racer\u2026racer 283 in particular.\u00a0 All eyes are on me as I hear \u201cSOLD to the gal in the green t-shirt and the bewildered look on her face.\u201d<\/p>\n

I bought a dog.\u00a0 I bought a dog.\u00a0 I stumble out and this nice elderly lady grabs my arm and asks me if I\u2019m okay.\u00a0 Apparently I\u2019m as white as greyhound bald bum.\u00a0 I mumble something about buying a dog.\u00a0 Within a few minutes of waiting for someone to hand me a V8, I am surrounded by a dozen \u201cdog men\u201d well wishers — all with good, better, bad and ugly opinions of my purchase.\u00a0 With the bid slip in my hand, I pay for my new racer.<\/p>\n

My kennel owner friend, Joe, agrees to take her at his Miami Mardi Gras Hollywood kennel and arranges for a spot on a hauler.\u00a0 I write another few checks to ensure her transport and find her breeder to get my 283 dog.\u00a0 As he opens up the trailer door, this dark brindle head pops out and looks around with big brown eyes.\u00a0 I ask the kind gentleman, \u201cWhat\u2019s her name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSE\u2019s Penske C.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, she\u2019s the dog I bought, 283.\u00a0 But what do you call her?\u201d\u00a0 Isn\u2019t SE\u2019s Penske C a bit of a mouthful, I think?<\/p>\n

\u201cPenske C\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d\u00a0 Redfaced, I\u2019m sure I looked like a nimwit.<\/p>\n

We pull her off the trailer and I realize I don\u2019t have a lead.\u00a0 My adoption friends all swoop around me.\u00a0 Cheryl runs to her car for a lead.\u00a0 Ann and Cheryl snap some photos.\u00a0 Penske C and I stand there looking shell shocked. \u00a0 Various friends and acquaintances wander by, I\u2019m aware of nothing but the brindle swirl dog at the end of a borrowed lead.<\/p>\n

I slipped her a few half cookies.\u00a0 She nuzzled my hand.\u00a0 I walked her over to the hauler, put Penske C into her spot and handed over the paperwork.\u00a0 I gave her a kiss and told her not to vomit on the trip, make sure she always holds her potty at the kennel and not to be a loud mouth.\u00a0 And to run swift, smart and safe.\u00a0 I gave her a kiss good bye.<\/p>\n

A few days later I got a text from Joe.\u00a0 Penske C made it to Miami, was being a good girl and eating just fine.\u00a0 Facebook found that the track announcer, Ramon, took a few photos.\u00a0 Sarah and Laura Mae, both trainers in another kennel,\u00a0 knew Penske C was my girl and dubbed her Seatac\u2026after the airport, probably visited once on a layover.\u00a0 \u00a0 I was touched that they connected me to her.\u00a0 The name stuck.<\/p>\n

Her unofficial schooling reports were not favorable.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t fast enough for the Mardi Gras track.\u00a0 Different tracks and kennels were discussed and I finally settled on Sanford Orlando in the Burk Kennels.\u00a0 Donald Burk is a friend of mine and his family has a long, successful history in the racing business.\u00a0 Because I knew them personally, I knew Seatac would be treated well and given a chance at success.<\/p>\n

Seatac made a quick pit stop for a week at Joe\u2019s kennel at Palm Beach.\u00a0 I woke up on my birthday to a photo of her on my phone, \u201cHi, Mom\u2026 Happy Birthday, Love Seatac.\u201d\u00a0 A friend from Ohio was passing thru, knew it was my birthday and surprised me.\u00a0 The racing world has some really good people in it.<\/p>\n

Once in Orlando, the reports were better.\u00a0 She was romping like a winner in her unofficial morning schoolings so Donald wanted to put her right in.\u00a0 She showed some promise but never breaking her maiden.\u00a0 His wife, Joy, shared she was princess of the turn out pen.\u00a0 She also took my advice and kept her crate kennel clean.\u00a0 I sent some care packages\u2026treats and toys.\u00a0 At Christmas, Girlie, as I liked to call her, had enough biscuits to share with the whole kennel.\u00a0 And she got a great toy with 16 squeakers that was the envy of the whole race kennel\u2026and a source of annoyance for Donald & Joy.<\/p>\n

A good friend of mine, Brad, lives locally in Orlando and was there for every race.\u00a0 I got photos weekly and knew she was getting some awesome, well loved scratches behind the ears.\u00a0 He took video of her schoolings and sent them to me.\u00a0 Another friend drove down from New England to tour the track and see my Girlie.\u00a0 Seatac had a fan club.<\/p>\n

During the big ice and snow storm in January, I flew down to see my girl run.\u00a0 She hadn\u2019t broken her maiden yet but I watched every single race.\u00a0 I knew she had potential but I was worried her welcome was wearing thin.\u00a0 Dogs have to make some money in order to keep their kennel spot\u2026earn their board and kibble, if you will.\u00a0 I made plans for her to fly home with me.\u00a0 Our agreement was if she ran well, meaning she earned a doggie paycheck, I\u2019d let her stay.\u00a0 If not, time for a couch.<\/p>\n

The Burk Kennel is clean and tidy.\u00a0 All the race muzzle with their names hung with care.\u00a0 It was climate controlled and quite pleasant.\u00a0 The hounds were happy and all sang to me when I came in the first time.\u00a0 I quickly became old news.\u00a0 Seatac and I hung out for a bit.\u00a0 She got a massage.\u00a0 I brushed her while Joy checked her toes and pads.\u00a0 She had a few tail wags for me but her eyes were all for Joy.\u00a0 I guessed that was a good thing.\u00a0 To be honest, I was a little jealous, though.<\/p>\n

The next day was the BIG day.\u00a0 After a tour of the track, which was amazing, I went down to the Ginny Pit to wait for my girl.\u00a0 She was calm, strong and completely focused on the track.\u00a0 Seatac was all business.\u00a0 Her eyes darted from mine to the starting blocks.\u00a0 She barely registered the nice lead out handling her.\u00a0 The Racing Secretary brought her over to me and let me wish her good luck.\u00a0 Several folks were standing by and also were curious about greyhounds as pets.\u00a0 The track announcer shared Seatac and my story over the loud speakers as Girlie was lead on parade.\u00a0 Apparently the odds against her dropped substantially as she suddenly became the favorite in the race.\u00a0 I guess gamblers like a good story.<\/p>\n

Girlie broke well and fast.\u00a0 She hugged the rail and I did a double take.\u00a0 Oh my holy muzzle, Seatac was in front!\u00a0 She was leading the track record holder.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure I took a single breath as my girl was passed at the end.\u00a0 She took a respectable third place\u2026earning a whooping $29. My cut was $14.75. We celebrated with a shared cheeseburger and fries that Joy had given me.\u00a0 Seatac was not going to be on her first flight home to the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n

She never Hit the Board (placed in the top four) again.\u00a0 A month later I decided that while she loved to race, it was time for her to come home.\u00a0 After a rather tedious series of missing flights and her kennel not fitting thru the door, Donald trying to sweet talk the cargo guys and Brad driving all over Orlando on a Craiglist crate purchase wildgoose chase\u2026 on her fourth arranged flight, Seatac flew into Seatac airport.\u00a0 I was there to meet her at the gate.\u00a0 She came out of the crate and one whiff of my hand and the tail started to wag.<\/p>\n

While I love each and every one of my dogs, Seatac and I have a very special bond.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure if it started the moment in Kansas when I double starred her name in the program, it cemented over half a cheeseburger in Orlando or if it began somewhere else along the way\u2026 but I do know that our story has not finished.\u00a0 I love my SE\u2019s Penske C, or Seatac or affectionately known as Girlie.\u00a0 She\u2019s my heart and I count my blessing each and every day.\u00a0 While Seatac didn\u2019t win much money,\u00a0 I still think she & I won the biggest stakes race in gaming history.<\/p>\n