NOVA this week (June 11,2016)

Observations from my weekly wanderings, usually in Northern Virginia (NOVA).

Today is the final leg of The Triple Crown: The Belmont Stakes, though there will be no Triple Crown winner this year. I don’t expect much drama either as this should be Exaggertor’s race – no contest.

So, my bookish friends will be happy to learn this will probably by my last Horse Racing post, until perhaps the Breeder’s Cup in November, when I am hoping there is one more head-to-head showdown between Nyquist and Exaggerator.

Just for fun, and to give this post some bookish content, I’ve come up with thoroughbred race horse names derived from classic novels. Some are obvious, some not so much. Can you deduce the classic novel that inspired the name? Hint: all derived from the classic novels I’ve completed on my quest, i.e. novels 1-68. Answers revealed below.

Belle of Tara

Addie’s Wish

Scout’s Journey

Malenky Droog

Windmill Warrior

Fortuitous Dixon

Empyrean Guard

Dicken’s Muse

Spice of Arakis

Bluestone Road

Belle of Tara – Gone With the Wind

Addie’s Wish – As I Lay Dying

Scout’s Journey – To Kill a Mockingbird

Malenky Droog – A Clockwork Orange (Nasdat for Little Friend)

Windmill Warrior – Don Quixote

Fortuitous Dixon – Lucky Jim

Empyrean Guard – The Sheltering Sky

Dicken’s Muse – Tom Jones

Spice of Arakis – Dune

Bluestone Road – Beloved