Kentucky Derby

I went in 2006. It was fun for me. We were in the infield and by the fence!! I love thoroughbreds. I could see the stables and the people getting the horses ready. I was dying to be back there. But it's always been a dream of mine to be part of the thoroughbred world. 

I've never been to the actual Derby but I used to go to "Kentucky Derby Day" at Caliente Race Track when I lived in San Diego. That was the first place I ever had a mint julep. Hmm.  I think I'd like one now.

Joyce

fuzzy_dogs_mom

I've never been to the actual Derby but I used to go to "Kentucky Derby Day" at Caliente Race Track when I lived in San Diego. That was the first place I ever had a mint julep. Hmm.  I think I'd like one now.

Joyce

I was watching them make the juleps and altho I've never had one, it sounded so good.

They must sell a lot of hats for women around there. Some are really beautiful.

Give me 5 min and I will "share" derby 2008!

ETA: Pictures with captions

Yesturday in the pouring rain, the traffic was busy, and here you can see, drinking is a priority! (Friday is the Oaks)

My front yard!

My Street, count the poles on the left, the green fence area is Churchills green house the Entrance to the free lot in right after it. Right at the 5th pole.

Have to have a blimp!

And a dog!

and betting! (yes, those are just MY tickets)

And hats sell very well, and some are very expensive. As for Mint Julips, I love me!

Truley - I'm green with envy. I'd imagine it's a beautiful place to live too.

I'm totally heartbroken about Eight Bells having to be euthanized .

cakana

I'm totally heartbroken about Eight Bells having to be euthanized .

Me too.  But I'm glad  they seem to have come up with a more civilized way of doing it.  I have a relative (in-law) who used to be a jockey years ago and he rode a lot at Caliente and the various tracks in CA.  Whenever horses went down, they used to come out and shoot them right there on the track, then drag them off. * shudder*

Joyce

fuzzy_dogs_mom

cakana

I'm totally heartbroken about Eight Bells having to be euthanized .

Me too.  But I'm glad  they seem to have come up with a more civilized way of doing it.  I have a relative (in-law) who used to be a jockey years ago and he rode a lot at Caliente and the various tracks in CA.  Whenever horses went down, they used to come out and shoot them right there on the track, then drag them off. * shudder*

Joyce

I actually witnessed that horror one year at the Brockton Fair when I was little.  A state trooper was called upon to do it and he missed his first shot when the horse reared (she had dumped her rider and crashed through the fence and impaled herself and was probably in a lot of pain).  She finally went down on the third shot.  I've never forgotten it and how sad I was for that poor girl. 

I love horses, and know that some of them love to run, but for the ones that don't, track life can be a horror.  I remember trucking a horse for someone once - she was going from a layup farm to the track.  I got to the lights where the turn into the track was, and the horse practically tipped the trailer, she was so agitated - got off in a big sweat.  She had ridden like a perfect lady until she knew where she was.  She had a lot of heart, but it think it was broken there.   Fortunately, she was retired to a breeding farm that year.  I like to think that she finally got some peace.

I've loved horses all my life but in a "daddy, I want a horse" way and never have had the pleasure or honor of having one of my own. I watched in awe today as the horses prepared for the race and was crying at the end from the joy and pride for how well they'd all done. When they announced that Eight Belles was down and then that she had to be euthanized, I got down on the floor and cried. It just doesn't seem right that she did that for us. She ran with all her heart because we asked her too and it cost her her life. I'm sooo sad

I took the death of Eight Belles hard, she was my main pick for the derby. Both my sister and my niece called me in tears, we are very tender hearted people when it comes to animals.

Today there will be alot of "what if's", she very well could have done the same thing if she had run in the oaks instead, she could have done it on her next race, the fact that she did it, after finishing 2nd in the most famous race of all, in front of 150k people, just makes it hard to accept. I won money on her, but I doubt I will cash the ticket.

I walk Kord past those barns most weekends, he thinks the horse are really big dogs. I can tell you, while I know they are mostly in it for the money, those horse are treated like royalty. And they house horses here all year.

I love where I live, I love the excitement and the pageantry, the rush when they cross the finish line. But as much as I love it we are working toward making a move sometime in the next couple of years. I want a quiet place a little further out of the city.

 I was betting for Big Brown and Eight Belles. I really wanted Eight Belles to win and was thrilled that she got second. But 2 minutes later I was standing in front of the tv bawling my eyes out. I want it to be a lie. She cant be gone after all that hard work she just did. I have to quit now otherwise I'm gonna cry thinking about her.

Very upsetting situation.......poor Eight Belles........too heavy running on champagne glass ankles.......

Caution!!! Very upsetting photo:

http://flickr.com/photos/banamine/2463229989/in/photostream/

I sure hopoe I don't come across as PETA or HSUS person as I don't care for either one, think they are full of nuts, BUT

 I always loved going to the circus, to zoos, loved to watch the horse races and the horses --I can't think what it is called, but where they race the country side jumping hidges, creeks, etc  without knowing what is on the other side.  But in my old age, I have changed my mind abut a lot of things.  I no longer go to a circusbecause I do not think animals like elephants, tigers, lions, bears, etc should have to exist the way those poor animals do.  I only will go to a zoo that has it's anmals in as natural habitat as possible andtries to educate people about those animals.  I can remember a time when all were behind barson dcement floors--like being on exhibition in a jail cell.HOWEVER I do think capativgy is important for extremely endangerd anmals to preserve the species esixistance on earth, but hopefullyk thru breeding their numbers will build up and they can re returned to the wld.

I learned about dog racning from neighbor who adopted a greayhound that was not a winner.  These racing dogs are kept in cages, crates and on the track,  Most don't even know how to u up stairs.  Keeper had never seen glass before and walked into the patio door a few times.  They  are disgusted with how thedogsare so quickly put down if they stop winning or ae not winners to begine with, how little freedom they have.  Keeper loved to be outsdierunning loose on the grass.

As to horseracing, not long ago I read where one of thsoe "field racing"horses had to be put down and it was talking about the number of them that re actually put down every year due to injuries.   It was also  talking about the number of race horse that are crippled or put down due to injures, but unlesss it is a wlel know horse, you never hear about it.  Iread onAOL nes that one was actually severely injured in the rce the day before, Oaks something.

 I know these horses love to run, but I think they would just as happy running loose in a field or with a ride not forcing to go at break neck speads to win bit money for it's ownert.  One guy said about Eight Belles (think it was the ining jockey) she had run her lifeout for enjoyment of men.  I stil watch the "dancing horses" competition, but no longer will watch any kind of racing.  It just seem creul to the horses to me.

 I am a HUGE horse fan! Not the biggest racing fan but I do enjoy watching races from time to time. First of all I was very saddened to hear about Eight Belles. I did not see the race I was out riding my own horse. My biggest gripe about racing is those are BABIES on the track. The physical human age of a horse when it starts racing is equivilent of a 7 yr old child. By the time they are ready for the KY Derby the are the same as a 10 yr old child. Would you ask a child to run a race in the Olympics? HOWEVER that being said it it NOT the cause of the injuries. It may be a contributing factor but the main reason horses get badly hurt is they are EXTREMELY fragile animals.

In performance horses we do very little with the horse before it is 3, and do not really start jumping until they are 4 and their bones have finished growing. We will do xrays to check growth plates. By the time a race horse is 4 he is 'retired', once they finish maturing they slow down, unless you are John Henry. I have been riding and caring for horses for over 30 years. I love where I keep my horse my trainer is AWESOME at maintaining a horse for longevity. The average age of horses in our barn is 15 and they are all in peak physical condition, sound and showing. We have some who have shown well into their 20's, it is all about maintenance. "Less is more".

When I worked in NY the lady I worked for bred race horses. She is a top breeder in NY. I think that was my wake up call to the race horse industry. She asked me to break and back a YEARLING!!!!!! A baby who less than 6 months earlier was running with it's mother. They are 2 on Jan 1 (regardless of their physical birthdate) and their racing career begins. The lady I worked for tried VERY hard to have her foals born in Jan and Feb that way they are pretty damn close to 1 by Jan 1. She did buy a mare in foal who delivered on Dec 28. Yes 3 days later it was a yearling. It is hard to comprehend when  you watch it on TV. Jockey's are so small they make the horses look big. They are not.

Man O War one of the greatest race horses ever never won the Kentucky Derby, thus he did not win the Triple Crown. He did win the Preakness and the Belmont. His owner Samuel Riddle thought the Derby was too big a race too early in the season for a 3 year old. He did not want to risk his horse. Good owner, but he did change his mind by the time War Admiral was 3 and he became a Triple Crown winner.

Horse racing has become big industry. The good horses, the ones you see on TV races those horses are living the life of luxuary. Believe me the owners, trainers, vets and grooms are doing EVERYTHING to keep tragedies like the one that happened this weekend from happening. However you can not change how the horse is made. Their lower legs are just fingers really. What we call a horses "knee" is really the wrist and has all the metatarsals. Every thing below is a finger and they run on a finger nail! Same with the back leg however the back legs are a bit "stronger" built, more bone substance.

Sorry for the long wind. My heart breaks for all the tragedies like this. It is happening in the show world too. It is a dangerous thing to get on the back of a horse no matter who the horse is. I hope the PETA people don't get "involved" I know they have tried in the past. It seems to be happening more because the number of horses racing and showing have increased immensely. Television has brought the risk to the forefront too.

RIP Eight Belles I hope you and Barbaro are running free and having the time of your life at the Bridge.  

Just a side note.

Barbaro has a 2 year old brother named I believe Nicanor. He will be a contender for Derby next year, this a full brother. And he had a second full brother born a few weeks ago that will be a Derby contender in 2010.