A funny incoming story from our friend Judge George Janis that is perfectly timed for tomorrow's opening of the Saratoga horse racing season...
The Judge, now the senior managing director of a business intermediary firm Cromwell,Morgan and of the Cromor Stable of Saratoga Springs, recently made a trip to Belmont Park for a day with the ponies. Being the high roller that he is, The Judge hangs out with the upper crust crowd during his days at the track. That means the upper clubhouse, VIP style, for this guy.
His guest on this day was his old friend Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, who happens to be the former President and Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago and who knew The Judge from George's days as a UN liaison for the New York State Bar Association. Janis asked the NYRA folks to let his friend present the winning trophy for the day's feature race, the important Bowling Green Stakes on the turf. NYRA agreed.
The accompanying photo proves the claim, as we see His Excellency (second from the right) presenting the fancy tin to the connections of the winning thoroughbred Go Deputy. Mr Janis, in all his glory, is seen at the far right.
The 'funny' part of the story occurred immediately after the shutter clicked. His Excellency was under the impression that the hardware was being presented TO him, and not BY him. He proceeded to return to his box seat with the trophy under his arm while the horse's owner, trainer and jockey all reacted with dumbfounded shock.
Judge Janis spearheaded the high level diplomatic negotiations, the hardware was returned to its rightful recipients and an international incident was avoided.
The Judge will be accepting congratulatory cocktails at Siro's tomorrow night after the last race -- find him at the outside bar, on the Lincoln Avenue side of the grounds.
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