Songbird at Taylor Made, during a Songbird Fan Day prior to selling at Fasig Tipton (this may have been in October, rather than November)

Songbird

Songbird

Songbird

Songbird

Songbird’s life-sized shadowbox outside of the Taylor Made barn at Fasig Tipton

Tepin

Quality Rocks

Loved the way the sunlight illuminated this weanling’s head, mane, and forelock

Miss Temple City

American Pharoah’s half sister American Cleopatra

Finest City

A barn cat at Three Chimneys

Fast Anna

Will Take Charge (my first time seeing him in retirement)

Gun Runner, a few days after his Breeders’ Cup Classic win; his walk was so efficient that even in that I could see what a top athlete he is

Gun Runner

Gun Runner

Gun Runner

Cupid at Ashford

Classic Empire at Ashford

Ashford fall scenery

Fall colors at Gainesway

Bird Song at Gainesway

 

Sun King at Old Friends (my first time getting to see him since his arrival)

Sun King

Sun King

Charismatic’s grave

Del Mar held its first Breeders’ Cup this year, following in the footsteps of boutique track Keeneland two years ago. Unable to attend as hoped, I settled into a room at the National Horse Show in Lexington to watch on a large screen.

I read prior to the Cup that Del Mar’s tight turns may have been a factor in how races unfolded, and whether that played a role or not, a lot of favored horses didn’t prevail. I would have liked to see Lady Eli go out a winner if indeed this was her last race, after all the adversity she overcame just to survive and then come back to the races in top form. She was not able to do that, but she did have a valid yet unfortunate excuse, sustaining a cut to a leg during the race that required recuperation time afterwards and led to her being withdrawn from the Keeneland November sale.

Longshots continued to check in first at the wire on the second day of the Breeders’ Cup, and amazingly Good Magic, who came into the race a maiden, won the Juvenile. His maiden status may have not been indicative of his quality, as he is a Curlin colt, and is still young. Time will tell going forward.

Talismanic captured the Breeders’ Cup Turf in what to me had been the most exciting Breeders’ Cup race to that time, particularly after a few others I had liked had not been able to win. His victory was one of determination. That always speaks to me.

But it was after the race he endeared himself to me, and echoed what a friend had said a few days ago about how the sport should always be about the love of the horse and everything else should be secondary. That may not ring true to handicappers, but few sports have a living breathing animal counterpart who–I have heard it said–is at times as much a factor in how the race plays out, in how he or she makes a run and tactics used, as the jockey can be. It is very true to me that the love of the horse, as sentimental as that sounds in a sport that can also be ruled by the dollar or the bottom line, should be part of what draws people in and keeps them captivated. A horse running in full flight, determined to excel, means more to me than any payout on a winning bet. Connection to the sport for some may be because of bets and payouts. That’s fine. Betting is part of the formula to keep racing going forward. To me, though it is about the horse.

Talismanic’s trainer hitting the ground in sheer uncontainable excitement after his horse won; even a simple thing like Talismanic trying to take a nibble of the bouquet of flowers in his victory garland, and the way his connections greeted him with completely spontaneous applause when he came back to the barn–all of this made his win a highlight, and made him one of my new favorites. And it was all because of those moments of connection to him, even on an opposite coast and through a TV screen. So yes, it definitely is about the love of the horse for me and that was an apt reminder of what my friend had said a few days before.

The other moment I hoped for was to see Gun Runner continue his run to excellence in the Classic. Yet I almost had a feeling of not wanting to jinx him, given had favorites’ chances had played out, silly as that may sound.

I was nearly beside myself when he was in charge into the stretch and didn’t relinquish his lead, proving his dominance throughout the latter half of the year held strong. I know Arrogate had a lot of backers, but I had never been on the bandwagon for him; Gun Runner had just captivated me to such an extent no other older horse could split that.

It is incredibly fun to be in a room with other racing fans, even if you’re not at a track, when a favored horse wins and fully express that jubilation. I’m usually pretty reserved but when Gun Runner captured the Classic, I jumped up and down and hugged my friend, elated at his win. The elation even fed off of the excitement of others who were present and equally enthused.  Again, it was about the love of the horse, so fitting on a day to showcase some of the best in training at the time.

The Breeders’ Cup ended on an incredibly high note for me with that victory.

 

I was grateful for the opportunity to visit these properties in October 2017. Hill n Dale has long been one of my favorite farms. It exudes serenity, with the trees close to the farm roads, and the architecture of its barn also captivates me. And to visit the farm where Man o’ War held court at stud as part of the commemorations of the 100th anniversary of his birth, marked in a myriad of ways in Lexington throughout 2017, was an opportunity that had never presented itself to me before, and one I was eager to have. The history of racing, from its earliest days to some of its most golden eras, as well to during more recent times, has always fascinated me. To have a chance to see where one of the top Thoroughbreds ever foaled spent so many years invoked a feeling of reverence, just to see where he once lived.

 

A look inside Man o’ War’s roomy stall; (low quality due to being a phone photo, the lens on my “real” camera was too large to get a photo of it this close up)

Another look at the bell rung when his progeny won races

Headstones of some of the famed horses buried near Man o’ War’s barn

Highlighting the October meet with some of my favorite photos and moments

 

Matt Winn

 

 

Wise Dan Stakes

 

 

Fleur de Lis

 

 

Stephen Foster Handicap

My main lure to Downs After Dark, in addition to just being at live racing again, was Gun Runner. He appeared to be the class of the field, and rocketed to the lead almost immediately when the gates opened. Not only did he run as one would hope the class of the field would, even when the horses began to bunch up around him at the top of the stretch and I wondered if he had enough left to hold them off, he found another gear and drew away to win by seven lengths, the largest winning margin in the race’s history. He looked incredible in the paddock (though it was getting tricky with the low light to get an image that properly reflected that), and it was incredibly thrilling to see how dominant he was in the race and how the way he looked in the paddock translated to such a topnotch performance. I also included my video from the race.

https://youtu.be/fyPpBczLDbU

 

Conclusion

 

I lingered a bit longer after the last race for a bit more of the party atmosphere as a DJ spun some songs and the plaza became a dance floor. I definitely felt celebratory after witnessing Gun Runner’s win!

My drive to Denali Stud for a late morning appointment to see Serena’s Song was incredibly idyllic and leaving was even more so, reminiscent of how I felt after my very first visit ever to horse farms in the central Kentucky region. Back then, I felt like I was in heaven after having been able to feed a peppermint to Charismatic, who I had previously only seen on television racing, and then drove down a road lined with trees whose branches met overhead, forming a cathedral-like setting.

Serena’s Song looked as amazing as ever. It’s hard to believe she is 26 years old. Her feisty nature and physique don’t betray her age at all. She still appears to be in robust good health and it shows in her temperament and physical condition. I felt quite lucky to see her again, to feed her peppermints and the unexpected bonus of being offered a chance to hold her on the lead rope! It felt like a real privilege and the first time I’ve been offered that opportunity. It was a brief visit – she isn’t patient to stand still long, especially if the peppermints don’t keep coming, but that made it no less wonderful.

 

 

I love mornings at the track, the chance to see all the potential of what may be. There is a quiet too, a more serene atmosphere in most cases, than found in afternoons at the track. Yet the excitement of race day is not missing, particularly in Derby week at Churchill. There is the anticipation of awaiting the first sight of a Derby or Oaks hopeful. Royal Mo was on the track ahead of the time slot reserved just for Derby and Oaks horses, as he is sitting “on the bubble,” needing a defection to be in the Derby field.

 

While I and everyone gathered had enjoyed the camaraderie and the sight of the horses, in some ways seeing them was like setting the stage for the main event, like the opening act for the rock stars you came to see. It truly did feel like that, given the usual practice of freshly harrowing the track for the Derby and Oaks horses and the quiet hush that hid a buzz of anticipation building again.

 

Someone stepped in front of me at the last moment, but I still like this look at Classic Empire’s facial markings

Then it was on to the afternoon’s racing.

As I left the track with one race remaining (as I was on my way to see the Pegasus Parade preview since I wouldn’t be in Louisville for the actual parade), I and other patrons were serenaded out, fittingly, by a rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home.” It was yet another prelude to what was to be, since my next visit here would be on that famous first Saturday in May.

Here’s to safe trips to all on Derby weekend!

This post is in homage to what draws me to take photographs of these horses time and again, the glimpses of heart that I see in them, whether in the paddock, in repose, or in full flight down the track. It is what speaks to me most about them, that will to win and that drive to excel that so many of them possess.

These images are all from the Keeneland spring 2017 meet, one of the most perfect places to be.

 

A few more favorites from the meet just past: