The Wagley GroupApril, 2023 – Faithful Living ~
Years ago, some Jaycee friends and I went way down on Alexis Road to Toledo Raceway Park to watch the horses. It was my first time to the track. Dale Ikle was my accountant then and he was heavily into the sport along with a number of other area Standard bred enthusiasts.
Dale always wanted me to travel to Delaware, OH to witness The Little Brown Jug. This coveted race held since 1946, features the finest 3-year-old pacers in the Harness Racing world. He was so proud of this event and he made the trek year after year, to the third leg of the pacing Triple Crown held on the third Thursday after Labor Day.
I remember Dale also mentioned that the Lenawee County Fairgrounds held a race years ago that had the highest purse in the state. John Castle wrote a detailed article for the Daily Telegram on August 9, 2008 on how important horse racing was in Lenawee County through the years. I’m glad I read the article because I didn’t know that there was a Memorial Race at that time on the Fairgrounds track in honor of Dale who had passed away in the spring of that year.
One more tidbit: Pacers move in a tandem gait—left front and left rear then alternate to right front and right rear. Trotters move in a diagonal gait—left front and right rear then alternate to right front and left rear.
For a person to bet on three horses for example that will finish in the correct order would be a pretty good wager…hopefully for a substantial payout. I don’t know how often people are successful with winning a Trifecta in a horse or greyhound race but I am sure it is a rarity. I wonder if Mr. Ikle ever hit one? Knowing his knowledge and acumen in this area of expertise, probably several times!
Here is the formula that I used: #1, I looked at the physique of the horse and #2, I picked the color of the silks on the driver and horse that I liked the best—then I made my bet.
Betting in a track race is done before the race begins. You can’t place your bet after the race has started. In essence, you are forecasting your chances of winning with the outcome of an event that will take place in the near future.
Please allow me to spin the dice now, on much better odds with this scenario.
Let’s translate the Trifecta persona to the Trinity. Here is the honest to God truth: You can never lose when you punch your ticket for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the race of your life. Period.
“Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.” Romans 6:23 MSG
Placing a bet with the Trinity is totally different. The most amazing thing—this wager is free to all! When you receive Jesus [God the Son] freely as your personal Lord and Savior, you win the Messiah. The package deal of God the Father and God the Spirit are applied to you as well at no additional cost.
After your bet is placed, the Trifecta is secured, sealing the Trinity into the very fabric of your existence. The grandstands of Heaven rejoice and your soul is eternally marked as a winner! At the end of your race when you pass through the finish line, the Crown of Life will be awarded to you—which is the gift of eternity with Them.
You WIN because you have the Father.
You PLACE because your place in history has been paid for through the Son, the God-man Jesus.
You SHOW because you have the promised Holy Spirit that will show and teach you during your personal life-race, and train you up in the way you should go.
“Who got the last word, oh Death? Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now? It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three – sin, guilt, death – are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ, Thank God! With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.” 1 Corinthians 15: 55-58 MSG
The Trinity Trifecta is a recipe for success and great fortune in this life and the next. Run your race with perseverance and with the strength that the Trinity will supply. May we all have the goal of finishing strong!
If you have not placed your T T bet yet, the windows are always open, and Jesus is smiling and waiting on the other side of the counter to receive everything that makes you, you. Place your faith, hope and trust in our Lord today.
There is no need to bring your money to this track. This bet however, was extremely costly for the Giver but is of priceless value for the receiver.