Sharing with you my fascinating discoveries about Thoroughbred racing, sales, fashion, food, beverage, tips and more.
On the Monday preceding the Thanksgiving holiday, I seized the day (a little Carpe Diem pun) and took a tour at WinStar Farm. This modern but magnificent horse farm has been on my to do list since I began my website nearly three years ago. Good things do come to those who wait because WinStar just keeps adding champions to their sire roster. At over 20 stallions there was so much to see so I’ve selected some to share.
Continue reading “WinStar Wonderment”
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It’s the centennial celebration for this super stallion! Man o’ War, also known as Big Red, is one of the greatest Thoroughbreds of all time. He was foaled on March 29, 1917 and in honor of the 100th year since his birth, there are multiple festivities and events taking place all year long.
Continue reading “The Mostest: Man o’ War”
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! For many readers, myself included, we are eagerly awaiting Christmas, only 2 weeks away! Also, we are only 3 weeks shy of a new year. It is time to reflect and give thanks for all that we have received over the year and to give back however we can.
I have decked the halls and put out my 15 nativity scenes. I love to take in a live nativity this time of year and pet all of the animals. Llamas are so cute. Also, I am excited about my siblings visiting and going with them and my parents to see The Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Southern Lights is an event with over 4 miles of light attractions, an exotic petting zoo, crafts, trains, Santa and more! The same grounds that contain some of the world’s best horse museums, an equine theme park and the home of Da Hoss, Funny Cide and Go For Gin will again host this holiday event. For over 20 years Southern Lights has been a part of the holiday season in Kentucky and they expect to entertain over 120,000 guests this season. Additionally, I find this is a good time of year to focus on the spiritual meaning of the season and to be extra mindful to give thanks by donations and works of charity.
There are so many fantastic charities that could use more help. Even a large number of Thoroughbred racing related groups are available and in need of our time and money. To make it easier for you, if you were thinking of assisting with one, here is a small list:
You can donate to Old Friends at this link: Old Friends
I am blessed to have food, shelter, adequate healthcare and most of all love. It is my wish for Christmas that more people and animals alike can have these same basic needs met. I hope that you all have a wonderful season and, if you can, make some time to give to others. Maybe you can make a jockey, a backstretch employee or a Thoroughbred’s life just a little bit, or a whole lot better. I bet it might even make you feel better too for knowing that you helped. Happy Holidays! I will keep in touch with a few more posts before my 1 year anniversary for this blog. Take care!
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A week ago today, while I was still on vacation, I finally put my track quest into action. I have been to Keeneland and Churchill Downs in Kentucky many times and I will be there a whole lot more but I want to see all of the U.S. tracks eventually. On 11/16/15 I made it to Turf Paradise in Phoenix, AZ!
Turf Paradise opened on January 7, 1956. It was built in the desert on 1,400 acres of land by Walter Cluer who owned the track for around 25 years. It was the first professional sports establishment in Arizona and is still the third largest sports attraction in the state to date. Ownership has changed hands five times since and there have been remodels but the track is still up and running. Currently, it is in the possession of Jerry Simms. 
There are two tracks at this course. One is a 1 mile dirt track and the other is a 7 furlong turf track. Over 2,000 horses live and train on the backside. The track has live racing for 7 months, one of the longest live racing calendars in the country. The 2015-2016 meet runs 10/17/15 thru 5/8/16 on 136 scheduled days. There are seats for 7,500 guests. More than 14,600 fans have been in attendance at one time. The grandstand is 3 stories high and there are seats in the Clubhouse and Turf Club as well. The paddock is connected from the track and is easy to see from most viewpoints. The track is elevated to about eye level from a standing position in the area in front of the grandstand. There is a lovely infield pond with geese and ducks. Palm trees all around and mountains in the background make the atmosphere really beautiful. I had nice views of the horses in the paddock and while racing. I was there to see the 1st 6 races of 8 that day.
I mostly stayed in the clubhouse which is available for no extra charge on Mondays. Each of the little booths had a television for off track betting and a nice track view for all. A waiter came to the table to take our order and serve us lunch. My Arizona brother went for the taco salad, he can not get enough tacos. I had a nice reuben. Other than burgoo and hot dogs that is my go to track food of choice.
Notable races held here include the Turf Paradise Handicap, the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile, the Arizona Oaks and the Luke Kruybosch. One of the more famous horses to run here was Da Hoss. Da Hoss lives at the Kentucky Horse Park now. He moved there in 2000. I met him this past June and he was lovely. He is known for his kisses. He ran and won the 1st three races of his career at Turf Paradise. Da Hoss went on to win many graded stakes including the Breeders’ Cup Mile twice, once in 1996 and again in 1998!
My time at Turf Paradise was fantastic. I would recommend spending a day there to any race fan. I have been told so many times how nice I have it at my home tracks in Kentucky and I agree but going to Turf Paradise makes me very excited to see all the other tracks this country has to offer. I am real glad I was able to attend this track for it’s 60th season.
Thank you for reading my stories and I hoped you learned something new or appreciated my review. Please, keep sharing and commenting and I will have another post for you no later than next week. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Time flies! I can’t believe it has almost been a week since I spent a day at the world famous Kentucky Horse Park. On July 25th the park hosted Hats Off Day to salute Kentucky’s Horse Industry and to benefit the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center. Both are fantastic charities.
The KY Horse Park was built in Lexington, KY in 1978. The park is both a horse farm and an educational facility. Many competitions take place here as well. I arrived at lunch and had a nice picnic taking in the views of the last of the white fences. I have fond childhood memories of visiting and even camping at the park. It has always had endless looking acres of white fences with lush green grass and horses everywhere. About 18,000 horses visit the park annually and some live here permanently. Very recently the decision was made to start painting the fences black as the white paint is too expensive to maintain. I could see some of the new fence work in place. It seems a little sad.
After lunch, I began photographing the beautiful statues and plaques in place to honor some of the most famous Thoroughbreds. I also toured some barns and the museum. I could write all year about the things I saw here but a picture is worth a thousand words. Here are some Secretariat pics.
Also, some nice Man O’ War photos.
I got some Alysheba and John Henry pics too.
Then, I saw my favorite part of the day! My parents said it was like taking me to Disneyland. We saw the Hall of Champions featuring Funny Cide, Go For Gin and Da Hoss. The KY Horse Park is the only home of 2 live Kentucky Derby winners. Funny Cide won both the 2003 KY Derby and Preakness as well as an Eclipse Award that same year. Go For Gin won the KY Derby in 1994 and ran 2nd in both other parts of the Triple Crown in 1994 too. He is the oldest living KY Derby winner. Da Hoss won the 1996 and 1998 Breeders’ Cup Mile. I got to see each of theses beauties in the barn and the show presentation.
I had such a great trip last weekend. There was some great racing going on this weekend. Saratoga, in New York, featured several graded stakes including the Grade 1 Diana and Grade 1 Coaching Club of American Oaks. Go For Gin showed 3rd at Saratoga in the Forego in 1994. Forego lived in Funny Cide’s stall until he passed away in 1997. Forego won 8 Eclipse Awards. Funny Cide has a Saratoga race named for him that will take place August 28, 2015. Da Hoss finished 1st place in the Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga in 1996. The race I am most excited about is this Sunday, 8/2/15, at Monmouth Park, in New Jersey. It is the first time our Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah will race since he won the Belmont Stakes. The race he will be in is the $1.75 Million William Hill Haskell Invitational. Funny Cide showed 3rd in this same race back in 2003. For sure there will be great Thoroughbreds making history this weekend that will someday be memorialized or perhaps even come to live at The Kentucky Horse Park!
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