Update and Derby/Oaks pics

Once again, I've slacked off on my blog. In short we made it to Denver, are settled in, and I have riding buddies here! Yay! More on that later.

Sorry this is late, but here is the Oaks and Derby pictures I promised. But first, a short prayer:

 Please God! Let California Chrome win the Triple Crown!

Amen

*sorry, I'm a nerd

So now that's over with....

Because I have a weird infatuation with starting gates.

THE ALYSHEBA

Will Take Charge-He looked great! He also totally got screwed in that race.

Mylute- Always liked this horse. He ran 4th.

Golden Ticket- He looked phenomenal and Rosario is one of my favorite riders. They finished second.

*I was so focused on getting pictures of Will Take Charge that I didn't get pictures of #1 Moonshine Million, the winner.


THE OAKS

Untapable and Rosie winning. Not much to say about this other than "See ya!!!!"

THE WOODFORD RESERVE TURF CLASSIC

Wise Dan- He's not necessarily the prettiest horse....

and he didn't look the best when it comes to health...

Yet, he's amazing and still won this race for the second time.





The video I got of him

Wise Dan has won 15 out of his last 17 starts and ran 2nd in the two races he didn't win. Check out his lifetime stats  to see how truly extraordinary this horse is. He recently had colic surgery.

Boisterous is absolutely gorgeous and has a ton of presence. He ran 3rd.

Skyring- Another very good looking horse. Unfortunately, he ran dead last.

Kaigun ran 4th.



THE 140th KENTUCKY DERBY

Steve Asmussen leading Tapiture to the paddock.

Wildcat Red

Danza

Vicar's In Trouble

Dance With Fate

Medal Count

Samraat

Uncle Sigh

The first turn

California Chrome is 3rd here


The Derby!

California Chrome and Commanding Curve galloping out.

So much excitement!

Espinoza

It's all about the Chrome!!!

I loved everything about the Oaks and Derby! If you have any interest in horse racing, then it is definitely a must see! Our tickets for the Oaks were cheaper ones ($90 each) and even those seats weren't bad. I loved where our box was on Derby day! I realize most people think the higher up, the better. I want to see the horses as close up as possible (trust me, you don't want to get anywhere near the paddock for the Derby). Our box was literally right on the rail, the horses just a few feet away. To me, this was perfect! Anyway, it's one of those events where you will probably have a wonderful time no matter where you sit.

RANDOM PICS

Pretending to pose...

 Oaks outfit

Derby outfit (I promise the slip part wasn't THAT short, think it had slid up some)

Security made me laugh

The hats. I got a little flower happy....

Lovin us some mint juleps:

Other:

Midnight Lucky before the Humana Distaff

 Samraat

Judy the Beauty before the Humana Distaff

Broadway Empire, a horse coming out of Turf Paradise, ran 4th in THE CHURCHILL DOWNS Grade II. He didn't get a very good ride.

Southern Honey in the paddock before winning the 7th race on Oaks day.

Finally, the biggest TV in the world:

Big ass television!!!

140th Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby experience. I could write about the glamorous hats or rave about dresses. I could go on and on about the mint juleps, the majesty of the grandstands, or talk about the biggest television in the world. When it comes to the horses, I could (and probably will in the next post) about write a small book with tons of pictures. However, I won't. For now, at least.

The first turn of the 140th Kentucky Derby

There was one thing about the Derby that I will remember clearly for the rest of my life: The sound of 164,000 people cheering as the country's best three year olds came running down the homestretch.  The cheering starts from the moment the last horse loads in the gates and gradually escalates throughout the race to a level that I can't imagine any other sporting event could ever compare to. The grandstands vibrate with the roar of the crowd. There is so much  shared joy, excitement, and anticipation in the air. You not only feel like you're part of the present, but that you are experiencing the history of the past 140 years. You know what it must have felt like a century ago and you know what it will feel like a hundred years from now. No matter what has or will change throughout time, that sound, that feeling, of being at Churchill Downs for the last few seconds of the most exciting two minutes in sports will always remain the same.