The Running of the Kentucky Derby a special day for TOTS' teammate

Richard McAnally will be glued to the television set tomorrow during the running of the 139th Kentucky Derby. He will sit on the edge of his seat,  but not during those exciting final seconds when the horses race to the finish line, instead his focus will be moments later at the winner's circle when the first-place finisher and the winning jockey receive the accolades from the standing-room-only crowd of racing fans.

For it'll be at that moment when McAnally will reverently look on and pay tribute to his wife of 54 years, Gladys McAnally.

Richard is a teammate of mine on the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball team. We have taken the field together many times over the past six years. He's now 80 years old and due to injuries has, at least for now, stopped putting on the catching gear and no longer sets up shop behind home plate.

There was a time, back in the early 50s, when he was a catcher at the University of Arizona. Of course, that was a long time ago and those memories are tucked away in the back corners of his mind and there are times, when he plays or watches a baseball game, when those thoughts resurface.

But his most cherished moment is not from the baseball diamond, but goes back as far as 1956 when he met Gladys for the first time -- at the Running of the Kentucky Derby. Richard was stationed at Fort Knox and made the trek to the Derby. Gladys was at the race that day. They met. A courtship followed and not long after that they would head to the alter and say their vows.

Gladys passed away in 2011.

Last year,  Richard made one more trek to the Kentucky Derby. Only this time -- with the kindness and the help of Derby officials-- he was allowed to spread her ashes inside the confines of the winner's circle.

Recently, I sat next to Richard in the dugout as he recalled his last trek to the Kentucky Derby and  what that day meant to him...and Gladys.

"I know she's happy," he said. "It was such a special place for us."

I'll make it a point to watch the Kentucky Derby tomorrow.  Not so much to see which horse wins, but just because Richard McAnally (bottom photo) is my friend.