Inside the Owner’s Box with Auerbach, Restrepo and Seitz
Image:
Description:
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 dream foal, their favorite city and who trained to be on "Fear Factor."
What do you enjoy more, going to the backstretch in the morning during training hours or to the races in the afternoon?
AUERBACH: I enjoy both equally. I know that’s a cop-out, but really the truth.
RESTREPO: Race day is the culmination of all the hard work put in, but there’s just something special about waking up at dawn to watch the horses train.
RESTREPO WITH ROB DYRDEK AND FRIEND AT THE BREEDERS' CUP
Photo courtesy of Ramiro Restrepo
SEITZ: Going to the backstretch in the morning is probably one of my most favorite things in the world to do. I have so many friends on the track, and it’s so nice to be able to watch the horses train and just enjoy the athletes while visiting with everyone. It never gets old!
My favorite place to hang out by myself is …
AUERBACH: … my man cave within my house.
SEITZ: I’m not a loner. I spend a lot of time on airplanes by myself. That’s enough alone time for me. I usually make friends with strangers next to me.
What is the fastest you have ever driven a car?
AUERBACH: I once drove my new Trans-Am to Vegas in the early 90s and hit 115 on the speedometer. I was young and extremely stupid then.
RESTREPO: I’m a cruiser, 95 mph tops.
SEITZ: I love driving fast. In another life I would be a racecar driver … the faster the better.
I hope scientists find a way to …
AUERBACH: … cure cancer. It is the number one killer and a disease that nobody deserves to have.
RESTREPO: … cure things like Alzheimer’s, cancer, HIV, Diabetes.
SEITZ: … stop genetically modifying food and let it grow naturally. Oh wait seems so simple, doesn’t it?
Time always slows down when I am …
AUERBACH: … just trying to soak in and enjoy a moment. It can be a night out with my wife, the few moments before a big race or even precious time at the farm with Unusual Heat. I try to savor the good, important events in life and always try to slow down the clock when in those moments.
AUERBACH AND DAUGHTERS WITH UNUSUAL HEAT
Photo courtesy of Harris Auerbach
SEITZ: … in traffic school.
If you could breed any two horses and be guaranteed to own the progeny, which two horses would you play matchmaker for and why?
AUERBACH: I would breed The Fugue to Unusual Heat. I love turf routers and they would produce a Breeders’ Cup Turf champion with their pedigrees and bloodlines.
RESTREPO: Phar Lap and Personal Ensign. The Australian giant was poisoned and gone too soon. You would breed him to perfection.
My least favorite thing about my morning routine is …
AUERBACH: … sitting in traffic on the way to wherever I’m going. I purposely try to leave early, so I don’t get stuck, but still sometimes it is unavoidable.
SEITZ: … getting up when it’s cold.
Favorite town/city in the world?
AUERBACH: I love San Francisco. It’s a beautiful city with tons to do and see and just is not as immense as some other cities with the same hustle-and-bustle type of atmosphere.
RESTREPO: Athens, Greece
SEITZ: Deauville, France
How often do you work out, and what’s your favorite go-to exercise for staying in shape?
AUERBACH: I walk every day for several miles and that’s what I like to do.
RESTREPO: I’ve been doing CrossFit for five years, 3-4 days a week.
SEITZ: I go through phases. I travel a lot, so it’s hard for me to stay in a routine, but I always try to do something, if it’s walking, swimming, dancing, doing DVDs at lunch at work.
SEITZ IN THE ARLINGTON PARK WINNER'S CIRCLE
Photo courtesy of Anna Seitz
What are your three favorite racetracks?
AUERBACH: 1. Santa Anita Park; 2. Del Mar; 3. Keeneland
RESTREPO: Saratoga brings me back to my childhood, Santa Anita is picturesque and Gulfstream Park is home.
What reality show are you best suited for and why?
AUERBACH: I’m not suited for any of them as I’m real and won’t engage with people I don’t like or get along with for the benefit of good television.
SEITZ: “Fear Factor.” Growing up on a farm with a lot of siblings, I would eat or do anything. At one point, I actually trained for “Fear Factor” (ask Graham and Anita Motion about it) but then they took it off the air right when I applied.