Say No “Mo”
Uncle Mo (Eclipse Sportswire)
Mike Repole sat up at the dais in the auxiliary press box when he and trainer Todd Pletcher delivered the bad news everybody already knew — no Uncle Mo in the Kentucky Derby. “I’ve got 100 friends and family here,” Repole said. I don’t know how many people could sit here and do this,” and he took off his Uncle Mo cap and put on a Stay Thirsty hat. Having a second entrant in the biggest race in the country is nothing more than bittersweet consolation for losing the fabulous champ. As for Pletcher, this line from him sums it up best: “It’s very, very, very, very disappointing.”
John Scheinman, a long-time writer and editor, covered thoroughbred racing for The Washington Post from 2000-09. He won the Red Smith Kentucky Derby writing contest for best advance in 2007. He is a correspondent for the Thoroughbred Times. Scheinman also has worked extensively in humor writing and sketch comedy. He lives in Washington, DC. More by 
