When Tim Nagle and his wife, Dolores, brought their grandson Kyle to Meadowlands Racetrack on May 28, they hoped to pick a few winners. They never thought they would end up in the winner's circle
.
Yet that is where the Nagles found themselves after Big Jim won the $400,000 New Jersey Classic. Big Jim's owner, Jim Carr, brought the family into the winner's circle and put Kyle front and center for the win photo.
Carr, a Hamilton, Ontario, resident who operates a company that delivers court documents, has become well known for his winner's circle policy of inviting children to have their picture taken with the horse.
"It's like kismet," Tim Nagle said. "We bet on Big Jim and Big Jim won and all of a sudden Mr. Carr came out and swept us into the winner's circle. It was really wonderful. We didn't know him from Adam when he invited us to go in the winner's circle. It was like, 'Wow.' No one does stuff like that. It's fantastic. He's a wonderful man.
"When he said they were coming back to the Meadowlands on the ninth of July, we said we would be there."
The Nagles returned on July 9 to see Big Jim win his elimination race for Saturday's $1 million Meadowlands Pace. In addition to Kyle, they brought grandsons Jake and Aaron Goldberg, as well as more than a dozen other family members and friends. They wore T-shirts Tim Nagle and his son, Scott, made up to show their support for Big Jim, and they ended up back in the winner's circle for another photo.
Prior to the races, Carr visited with the family at the Nagles' home in Wayne, NJ, and brought hats for the kids. They also enjoyed lunch at a local diner.
"Jim Carr has been so good to us, and so kind; it's almost like we're family," Tim Nagle said.
"I love the races," he added. "When you have little kids, it's nice to bring them down so they can experience something like this, because they're never going to experience up close something like this. The kids love it. It's the best thing in the world to them."
The Big Jim Fan Club will return to the Meadowlands on Saturday, hoping for another trip to the winner's circle for their favorite horse and owner.
"We'll be there and support Big Jim all the way," Nagle said.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)
Kudos to Jim Carr, what an
Kudos to Jim Carr, what an ambassador for our sport. He has been blessed with a great horse and he shares it with everybody, especially children who are so excited to get into the winner's circle with Big Jim. We need more people like him, this is the kind of thing that brings out the fans. Keep it up Jim, and best of racing luck!
Do you want to grow this
Do you want to grow this game ? Next time you go to the winners circle take a kid with you - any kid, the first one you can see. Make sure he/she gets a copy of the photo and when they thank you tell them - dont thank me, thank Big Jim.
Can someone please hire Mr.
Can someone please hire Mr. Carr to head up a promotional campaign for harness racing? He seems to be doing a pretty good job all by himself with his awsome horse, Big Jim.
Way to go Jim Carr !!!!
Way to go Jim Carr !!!! More pictures Saturday for everyone. Go Big Jim Go !!!!