Inside the Owner’s Box with Auerbach, Restrepo and Seitz

Thoroughbred owners Harris Auerbach, Ramiro Restrepo and Anna Seitz take readers inside the owner's box in 2015. Auerbach, Restrepo and Seitz will give readers insight into race day habits, their favorite race track and their biggest accomplishment, plus things like what kind of music, fashion and vacations they prefer. 
Read on to find out their dinner party practices and their go-to website, plus learn who is afraid of roller-coasters and who counts "Blazing Saddles" among their top five favorite movies.

Why is winning the Triple Crown become so difficult? Can it be done?
AUERBACH: It is difficult for a variety of reasons as it should be. Real Quiet, Smarty Jones and California Chrome all could have very easily won the Triple Crown if not for some bad racing luck and/or slight training and/or pilot errors. At that level, running against the best of the best, the margin for error is razor thin. I believe it can and will be done again.
CALIFORNIA CHROME WINS THE 2014 KENTUCKY DERBY

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
RESTREPO: Horses are racing less, there is more of an emphasis on speed in the breeding industry, and the Triple Crown is a tremendous challenge of strength, speed and stamina. It can be done, but it will take one special horse.
SEITZ: Yes it can.
What do you do with your time in between races?
AUERBACH: I actually do quite a bit. I will often check out horses in the paddock if I am interested in possible future competition or horses that might be of interest to us. For example, I look at every child of Unusual Heat and also always check out horses we used to own. I also scout future broodmare prospects in the paddock. Also, I meet up with and socialize with people at the track and in our business to stay in touch with the latest. 
RESTREPO: Just hang out at a suite area or box with friends and family. We will handicap our races, go over race scenarios, play the card and hope to pick some winners.
SEITZ: Since I work full time in the horse industry, I follow a lot of horses. When our horses are not racing, I follow my friends’ or clients’ horses. I love the fillies. I follow a ton of different ones because I’m always falling in love with a new one.
SEITZ AND FRIENDS

Photo courtesy of Anna Seitz
If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?
AUERBACH: I don’t cook, so I would probably bring in barbecue from one of our tasty local joints like Bandit’s or Wood Ranch.
SEITZ: I’d pour you lots of drinks while my husband cooked you a delicious Italian meal. Then, we would all have a dance party.
Roller-coaster or haunted house?
AUERBACH: Roller-coaster.
RESTREPO: Haunted House. There is not enough money in Fort Knox to get me on a roller-coaster.
SEITZ: Roller-coasters - the higher and faster the better.
THIS ONE’S FOR YOU RAMIRO

What is your biggest fear?
AUERBACH: Not having my mental faculties. They are my strength and I would never want to lose the ability of my brainpower.
RESTREPO: Roller-coasters!
SEITZ: If someone doesn’t like me. 
The best advice you ever received from a trainer was … ? And it resulted in?
AUERBACH: Barry Abrams, my friend and our partner-trainer, has always told me that we play on offense. We can’t worry about what-ifs and have to do what is in the best interests of our horses and not to worry about what other people are doing and how they might judge what we do. This advice has allowed me to be calm and confident in our decision making without living in a state of doubt, fear or second-guessing the moves we make.
SEITZ: Avery Johnson once told us the secret to a happy marriage is to have a short-term memory. I think that goes with anything in life. I try not to get too upset, don’t hold grudges and try to forgive and forget when others let me down. I’m definitely not perfect so why should I expect others to be?
Best concert you have ever been to?
AUERBACH: Chicago in 1998 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. They were amazing.
RESTREPO: The Rolling Stones 1997 Bridges to Babylon Tour at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
SEITZ: I haven’t been to many, but The Black Eyed Peas were fantastic.
What are your five all-time favorite movies?
AUERBACH: 1. “Goodfellas”; 2. “The Godfather II”; 3. “The Devil’s Advocate”; 4. “A History of Violence”; 5. “Blazing Saddles.”
RESTREPO: “The Godfather,” “Goodfellas,” “Casino,” “Gladiator,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
What website do you visit first thing in the morning?
AUERBACH: www.ctba.com. It’s our California Thoroughbred Breeders Association website and a great portal for all of California breeding and racing information
RESTREPO: The Blood-Horse and TDN.
RESTREPO AND THE BELMONT STAKES TROPHIES

Photo courtesy of Ramiro Restrepo
SEITZ: Twitter on my phone. Is that a website?
What do you think about when you are alone in your car?
AUERBACH: My mind is on the horse business and our business.
RESTREPO: Life and all the things I want to accomplish.
SEITZ: The list of things I have to do that day.
What song best describes your work ethic?
AUERBACH: In a strange way it’s “Farewell Andromeda” aka “Welcome to my morning,” by John Denver.
RESTREPO: Rick Ross’ “Everyday I’m Hustlin’ ”
SEITZ: “Girl on Fire,” by Alicia Keys. That’s our song for I’m Already Sexy.