Patrick O’Neill, nephew to two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill and bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill, had a different interest from most college kids when he was an undergraduate student and a member of Brown University’s football team. He insisted on adding TVG to the fraternity house’s cable television package; he was the one who watched horse racing at every opportunity, including in class and in film study prior to practice.

Since my first day of live racing at age 12, I have had “visit every racetrack in America” on my bucket list, doing my best to check another track off my list each year.