My Old Kentucky Home-The Race is On!

My Old Kentucky Home
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The 143rd Kentucky Derby took place a week ago today!  It was every bit as surprising and thrilling as I had imagined.  The race dates back to 1875 but aspects of the race’s traditions were in the making so many years prior.  Great things were happening in KY that built the foundation of the state’s modern day Thoroughbred greatness.  Many of the KY Derby bloodlines and customs were under development at My Old Kentucky Home long before Churchill Downs held its first race.

 

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Derby Digest

Banners in the silk colors of the 12 Triple Crown Winners
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Secretariat, KY Derby winner, 1973
Secretariat, KY Derby winner 1973, museum wall mural

Welcome to the 143rd consecutive running of the Kentucky Derby!  We have waited a long time to get to this historical moment and the time is upon us this weekend.  Who will win The Run For The Roses?

 

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Outlook On The Oaks

Kentucky Oaks
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Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs

The celebration is in full swing!  I started out Kentucky Derby week right.  On Sunday, I went to Churchill Downs for Fan Fest.  The Kentucky Derby Museum hosted a special day with museum access, tours of Churchill Downs and presentations by famous horsemen.  So many activities are taking place right now ahead of the KY Derby but certainly don’t miss out when the Fillies Run for the Lillies in the 143rd Kentucky Oaks.

 

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Filling Tepin’s Horseshoes

Tepin at Keeneland
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Tepin wins the Breeders' Cup Mile
Tepin wins the Breeders’ Cup Mile

Last week was bittersweet.  There were plenty of new and returning champions on the racing scene but a personal favorite retired.  Tepin, Queen of the Turf,  has chosen to quit racing and her connections obliged.  Fortunately, Tepin retired sound.  The big question now is, who will fill Tepin’s horseshoes?

 

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Roster for the Roses

Irap at Keeneland
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Irap at Keeneland
Irap at Keeneland

Happy Easter!  We are less than 3 weeks shy of the 143rd running of the 2017 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.  The final two prep races were held yesterday so we have come to the end of the road to the KY Derby.  We now have our roster of eligible contenders in the Run for the Roses.

 

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Keeneland Commences

Keeneland's tunnel to the track
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    Keeneland's gateKeeneland’s gate

Go baby go!  The action is back on the track in the heart of the Horse Capital of the World.  Keeneland’s Spring meet kicks off today, April 7, 2017, with race 1 posting at 1:05 P.M. EDT.  Going for a strong start, Blue Grass Weekend includes 7 graded stakes races with a collective purse of $2.55 million in purse money.

 

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My Morning With McCraken

McCraken at Keeneland
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McCraken
McCraken

I had a very early start, 5 A.M. to be exact, just to make sure I caught the morning workouts for many Thoroughbreds and especially, the undefeated, McCrakenMcCraken moved into a barn at Keeneland Racetrack on 3/16/17 after missing the Tampa Bay Derby on 3/11 due to an ankle injury he sustained on 2/28.  He currently holds seventeenth place on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard due to the points he received when he won the Sam F. Davis stakes.  McCraken is the probable morning-line favorite in next weekend’s Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.  He looked like a real champ this morning when he was feeling frisky at bath time after 4 furlongs at :49.40.

 

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Shake It Up Shackleford

Shackleford at Darby Dan
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Shackleford at Darby Dan
Shackleford at Darby Dan

It was a big day for Shackleford and Darby Dan Farm yesterday!  As part of Horse Country, the same group I book most of my farm tours through, there was a special event, for local fans, on March 18, 2017.  Tickets were limited but several area wide farms offered free tours for the day.  Hot on the Kentucky Derby trail, I chose Darby Dan Farm!

 

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Foal Friday

Saxony Farm foal
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As foaling season continues in the Bluegrass I decided to take a unique farm tour.  It was very different from my regular visits to see stallions.  This week’s Thoroughbred adventure took place at Saxony Farm in Lexington, KY, where I saw foals, mares, a gelding, retired horses, Sam the barn cat and Thoroughbreds that are training for new careers.

 

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