Dr. David J. Demko, Gerontologist AgeVenture News Service 03-19-03 
Barely out the retirement door, some seniors
are literally jumping "back in the saddle again". One senior "never left" in the first place.
Life-long buckaroo, Carl Allen is STILL in the saddle winning horse races at age 73. And that's where this cowboy plans to stay, unless he gets too old for that kind of thing. Yep, Carl is nobody's fool. He plans to call it quits on this rough-and-ready lifestyle when he gets old. Of course, for Carl, "old" is round about age 90 or so. Maybe then he'll settle for something less exciting like bungee jumping from a hot-air ballon. At any rate, while his contemporaries are rocking the day away, Carl Allen is "hot to trot", preparing for his next harness race. In five months, 73-year-old Carl Allen could be standing in the winner’s circle at the Meadowlands Racetrack, hoisting the prestigious Hambletonian trophy. In the world of sports, where most competitors are considered over-the-hill in their mid-30’s, Allen is a vibrant and active participant, competing on equal terms with those half his age. Allen has had a number of top contenders but, so far, a victory in the $1 million Hambletonian has eluded him. The trotting classic takes place this year on August 2 at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Allen, who breeds, trains and drives horses in partnership with his wife and children, is quite philosophical about the challenges of racing horses. “When it’s meant to be, it’ll happen", says the elder optimist. "If it’s not meant to be, it’s just not to be. I get disappointed about it but not discouraged. "I told my wife I was going to win the Hambletonian even if I had to keep trying until I was 90,” mused Allen. Mrs. Allen says she certainly hopes it won't take that long. You can sure enjoy a lot of shopping with big prize dollars tucked away in your purse. “I feel good,” says Allen, a former bull rider, boxer, and vacuum cleaner salesman, who discovered standard bred racing in the late 1960’s when today's baby boomers were busy "getting their act together", what ever that meant. “I never smoked or drank, I’m in good shape and still love to do it.” The Allens have a farm in Ocala, Florida, with broodmares and foals as well as nearly 40 horses in training with Carl and one of his sons, Rod. As for the upcoming race, my money's on Carl. He's one tough contender. Of course, if things don't turn out well, Carl's got another 20 years to make a believer out of anyone who doubts his ability to win, and win big. If you're summer plans call for visiting anywhere near East Rutherford, New Jersey, on August 2, 2003, why not stop by the Meadowlands to cheer on Aging America's Galloping Gran-daddy, Carl Allen. You just might get excited enough to belly-up to the two-dollar ticket window and put your money where Carl's rump is, on the winning horse. Afterall, everytime Carl thinks about the upcoming race, he "feels like a million bucks", in title money that is. Oh, by the way, in case you're wondering, that's Carl (photo above) whose horse is a nose ahead of the competition. Looks like someone half Carl's age is half behind this senior silverado. In July 2002, the time the photo was taken, harness driver Carl Allen won $150,000 at the Meadowlands racing his trotter named Political Briefing during the New Jersey Sire Stakes. Graphic credit: Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, New Jersey. |
