2012, Day 119 - Initiation

I had a little bit of a surprise this morning.  My little man Frankie comes from performance lines and sighthounds love to run so with today being the first race meet of the year I had planned on taking him to watch and maybe practice between programs.  With this in mind I though that I didn't need to get to the meet on time until I got a call from Karen, my good friend and Frankie's breeder, saying that he had been entered to race.

Fortunately the dogs had just been walked so I threw Frankie in the car and off we went.  He's not great at traveling, the poor little guy gets car sick and this time was no exception but we made it and for his first time racing he did well.  In the first round he was third out of four; I know it doesn't sound good but in his first official race and the first time running with three other dogs it is about as good as it gets.  He chased the lure and that's what counts.  Frankie's second race didn't go so well, he turned around in the starting box and when get got himself facing the right direction the race was almost over so he just played instead.  Meh, he's only fourteen months old.

Sadly I couldn't stay for the last race because I had to work.  Instead he is spending the rest of the weekend with Karen so he can race tomorrow too.  She called me to tell me that in his last race he did even better, she couldn't remember if he took first or came second but for his first time racing I would consider that a success!

It is odd not having my little white shadow following me around but he was having a great time today and loves his Auntie Karen very much so I know he's going to be fine.  Still, it will be nice to pick him up tomorrow evening, I expect he will be one tired pup.

Oh, and if you're not a regular reader this isn't Frankie, it's his cousin Garis...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2500 sec @ 500 ISO