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. 
In this edition learn what Olympic sport they'd compete in, five things they can't live without and whose last drink would be Crown Royal with ginger ale. 

What is your most valued racing memento?
AUERBACH: Lethal Heat’s saddle towel from the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The race did not go our way, but I will always cherish having had the opportunity to compete.
RESTREPO: My collection of NYRA jockey goggles from the 1980s and 1990s that were given to me as kid by the jocks themselves after races. Have a pair from the best of them — Cordero, Santos, Velasquez, Vasquez, Perret, Krone, Bailey, McCarron, etc.
SEITZ: I have so many different things that I have gathered, so many wonderful memories of the track, the farm, the backstretch. I have Rags to Riches' shoes from the Kentucky Oaks and I kept a lily from the Oaks’ blanket. And, of course, everything from I’m Already Sexy over the past three years. I’m a very proud adopted mom to her.
Name five things you cannot live without:
AUERBACH: 1. My family; 2. My horses; 3. My friends; 4. My cell phone, which is my lifeline; 5. My workhorse of a car, which I put 30,000-plus miles on a year. All in that order!
AUERBACH WITH UNUSUAL HEAT

Photo courtesy of Harris Auerbach
SEITZ: Horses, Twitter, horses, coffee, our dog, traveling, texting.
It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What will it be?
AUERBACH: A prime-grade rib-eye steak cooked medium rare with a baked potato and an iceberg wedge salad with ranch dressing. That along with a cherry coke will do me just fine.
RESTREPO: My last drink would be a Crown Royal and ginger ale. My least meal would be a plate of my mother’s home cooking.
SEITZ: Something with a ton of gluten because I’m supposed to be gluten free and I miss it.
Who or what makes you laugh?
AUERBACH: Not any one person or thing in particular. I just enjoy laughter and think it’s important for one’s mental health to try and laugh at least one time every day.
RESTREPO: Larry David type of humor. That guy is a legend.
SEITZ: Corny jokes. They never get old. I love to laugh.
Last thing you do before you turn off the lights at night?
AUERBACH: Making sure my Labrador Retriever, Sonny, goes out to the backyard to relieve himself is the last thing I do before heading upstairs to bed and turning off the lights!
RESTREPO: Brush my teeth and read the TDN
SEITZ: Pet Jean the dog
What is the most money you ever won in a single horse race?
AUERBACH: Purse-wise, we’ve won several $200,000 races. Betting-wise, I’ve won a couple of thousand dollars in a single race.
SEITZ: I’m not a big bettor.
Weirdest question a fan has ever asked you?
AUERBACH: “Aren’t you excited for Zenyatta?!” This came after we just barely lost to her with Lethal Heat for the second consecutive race. I don’t know if that qualifies as either weird or stupid or both.
RESTREPO: “Can I ride one of your horses?”
RESTREPO HUGGING ONE OF HIS HORSES

Photo courtesy of Ramiro Restrepo
SEITZ: “Do horses sweat?”
Sometimes it’s scary to think …
AUERBACH: … that my kids are in Jr. High School. Where did the time go?
RESTREPO: … how time flies, feels like I graduated from college just the other day.
SEITZ: … how many chemicals are in our food.
What is your greatest extravagance?
AUERBACH: Being able to travel, dine out and enjoy entertainment when we feel like doing so. It’s a great luxury that we enjoy and are extremely appreciative for.
SEITZ: Horses
SEITZ WITH A FEW OF HER HORSES

If you could compete in the Olympics, what would be your sport?
AUERBACH: For someone who is not a great athlete like me, this is not an easy question to answer. If I could compete in a team sport like basketball or ice hockey, that seems like it would be the most fun to me because of the team component.
RESTREPO: In my mind, I’m a mini Usain Bolt. I’m pretty quick in the 100 meters. I’ll take on any challenges from horsemen!
If you could switch roles for one day with a professional athlete, who would you switch with and what would you do?
AUERBACH: This is another thing I never really think of because I’m happy being who I am and really don’t want to pretend to be anybody else.
RESTREPO: LeBron James or Cristiano Ronaldo. They’re two of the best players on the planet in their respective sports. I would just want to spend a game day in the life and dominate.
SEITZ: Michael Jordan in his heyday. I would just spend my day dunking. I’ve always loved basketball.