May 25, 26, and 27 - Kentucky Horse Country

May 27
Keenland Race track is open to the public to wander around and watch the horses working out in the mornings. It is another beautiful race track but on a smaller scale than Churchhill downs. They race here in April and October but many horses stay in the barns here to workout on the track and race at places like Churchhill Downs. We had fun watching the thoroughbreds and their riders both saunter down the track and race by us with the dirt flying. We were so close we could hear their heavy breathing. When we were up in the stands we overheard a phone conversation of someone watching a potential horse to purchase. It was really fun being up front and personal. Chris and I walked through the barn area and with a little help from one of the stable hands, we found the area where the horses were staying. It is such a large complex with over 1,000 stalls going on and on, row after row. It must really be something when they are all full during the racing season. The place would be humming. We were able to be right there while a horse was given a bath, walk by the stalls to see the hooves cleaned and legs wrapped, and watch them being walked around for exercise. They are getting the best care possible! On our way back we stopped to watch a horse getting its first shoes. The farrier told us that many of these horses are two year olds and that is when they get their first shoes. They are replaced every thirty days. What an experience! I thought about my friend Jodean working at the stables at the Del Mar Racetrack years ago. This is a world all to its own.

Kentucky Horse Park began in the late 70’s and has been building through the years. The state bought an existing farm with some of the barns going back to the 1880’s. It’s rolling hills span over a 1,000 acres with miles of white fences. We were taken through the history of the horse in the air conditioned International Museum of the Horse. The interactive displays were probably the best I have seen anywhere. One of my favorite exhibits was on the “Black Stallion” series by Walter Farley. I read book after book when I was in my horse crazed days. We took in the two shows, Horses of the World and Hall of Champions Presentation, both excellent and shaded but we needed the air conditioned museums before and after! Many events are held here year round. They have a track with a dressage area in the center, a large covered arena, plus an open arena. Events seem to be going on in all of them. The just opened the Kids Barn that will be very busy with lots of hands on things to do. The miniature horses a stabled here. Two babies were just born in February. They also had a Chincoteague horse here that was fun to see since we didn’t get to see them on Chincoteague Island. The stables in Hall of Champions has some of the famous race horses like Cigar, Funny Cide, and DaHoss. They are enjoying their retirement showing off to us in two shows a day and spending their afternoons and evenings in the grassy paddocks. They have pony rides for the little kids and they even offer horseback rides. It seems the state made an excellent choice when they took this park on back in the 70’s.

Another day in the 90’s! It is so unusual but that isn’t making us feel any better!

　

　
　

Kentucky Horse Park - Enjoying the View!

Beautiful - Traditional White Fences
Kentucky Horse Park

Horses of the World Show - Gypsy Horse

Hall of Champions Presentations Show
Cigar Yawning

Keenland
We watched some of the horses getting a work out on the track.

Back in the barn area, this one is having breakfast.

Bath Time
They get a bath every day!

First Shows on a Two Year Old

Getting a Workout at Keenland

May 25
Lexington, the Horse Capital of the World, was our distention today. There are over 75 horse farms in this area covering thousands and thousands of acres. I have always pictured rolling green hills with white fences but black fences are the predominate choice today. They are less costly to keep up. We saw these black fences in the Florida horse country and thought it was just a Florida thing. It is beautiful countryside and picture perfect! We stopped along the road to get some photos of the thoroughbreds and their babies with the fancy barns in the background. Many of the gated entrances were very stately and the barns were definitely not your simple farm barns. These horses have nothing but the best. The Calumet Farm was my favorite with its white buildings with red trim. In its hay day. It was the top farm with eight Kentucky Derby winners. Apparently it fell into foreclosure in the early 90’s with poor management by a son-in-law but was rescued and is back in good order.

Could this colt be a Derby winner in three years?
The barns are really something.

Black fences, Kentucky blue grass, and horses make a beautiful scene!

We had a delicious lunch downtown at deSha’s in Victorian Square. The building and bar dated back to the 1800’s. Norm went in search of a haircut and Chris and I went to Mary Todd Lincoln’s family home where she spent much of her childhood. Our soft spoken guide gave us a real understanding of the person Mary was. She was a beautiful and very well educated young woman from a prominent Kentucky family. She was fluent in French and had 12 years of schooling. She was full of life and her father fostered an interest in society and politics. When she became the First Lady, the public as well as Washington politicians perceived her to be an uneducated woman from the frontier, a bit of a pioneer like her husband. She was sophisticated, he was not. She was well educated, he was not. She was raised in a prominent family with money and in politics, he was not. Her family had slaves, his was against slavery. They were from such different worlds yet the world perceived them as from the same backgrounds. She fought this image throughout Lincoln’s term. She did overspend on redecorating the White House, but it was in such disrepair. At that time it was totally open to the public with the public making a mess of the home and its furnishings. Tourists back then would often show up in their private quarters and on their way out cut out snips of fabric from a chair covering or drapery as a souvenir. Over the years, she lost three of her four sons. After losing her husband, she stayed in mourning attire for the rest of her life. Our guide presented her abilities and her obstacles. After much studying, his belief was that her precarious mental state was a result of medicating her migraine headaches with laudanum and a mickey fin type chloroform drug. These drugs would have caused the symptoms her son was seeing. He had her committed to a mental hospital through the court system. Three years later, after she was taken off all drugs, her symptoms had disappeared. She was released and declared sane through the courts. Her remaining days were spent out of the limelight and still mourning the loses of her loved ones. The home had many of the Todd family pieces. We saw all three floors with the boys taking the top floor. I’m sure our guide could have gone on and on but another group was ready to be enlightened.

Mary Todd Lincoln's Childhood Home in Lexington

We stopped at Thoroughbred Park to see the seven life sized bronze horses and their jockeys approaching the finish line. There is a “walk of fame” for those in the horse racing business. It was too hot to dilly dally out in the sun and we headed back to the air conditioned car.

Thoroughbred Park

May 26

It is sooooo hot again - way up in the 90’s! Where’s that boat on the lake?

We went to the races today at Churchill Downs! What lucky ducks we are. It is a very imposing and beautiful facility with its twin spires and lovely grounds. We got there in time to spend some time in the Kentucky Derby Museum. It showcases the thoroughbred industry and the Kentucky Derby. A 360 degree film, “The Greatest Race,” was a great introduction. We took a guided tour of the race track and got an education on the Kentucky Derby. Our young guide is crazy about horses and horse racing! Her enthusiasm was catching. The facility is so spacious with over 1,000 horse stalls. Then it was off to the races. It was not a busy day at the race track and we got box seats in the shade with practically an entire section to ourselves. We stayed for about half of the races before we got too hot to cheer on another horse to the finish line. What a thrill to see such gorgeous horses thundering down the track. My big winner was Five Star David. I picked it thinking of you Dave, and won $10.20! It was such fun being at the track where the best of the best race for the Kentucky Derby! Derby week must be really something. I would love to see the ladies in their hats. We will be following the Belmont in a couple of weeks, the third race for the Triple Crown. I’ll Have Another has won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. Will he be the next Triple Crown winner?

Churchill Downs Race Track

At the Track with our Guide

Reading the "Sheet" to decide on my next bet!

What Speed and Power!

My big win on Five Star David!

It was too hot to go back to the Manor, so we decided to go the movies and see a late afternoon showing of “Marigold Hotel“ in air conditioned splendor. It is now in our list of favorites, and excellent film in every respect.