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Kentucky Derby

chubbyalaskagriz

chubbyalaskagriz

New member
Worked at a country club once that had a big 'ol doin's to celebrate Derby Day- the first Saturday in May.

The club always had a huge buffet w/ carved ham, hot browns, mint juleps, derby pie, bourbon bread pudding- the works.

And like the Royal Wedding there were foo-foo HATS galore!

Is anyone here a horse fan? Do you do anything to mark the occasion?

BTW- '60 Minutes' did a wonderful profile of the greatest filly in horse-racing history- Zenyata, this past Sunday... Is she beautiful or what?
 
Kevin, I grew up with working horses. Never was much of a race fan of any kind. Although we boys used to race each other, just for fun. Worked and rode several mules to. Yeah, it was a long time ago. CF:)
 
Kevin, another thing. We can learn a lot from watching animals and birds. Both domestic and wild. We have lots of wildlife around us here where we live. They are so much enjoyment in just watching them, and the things they do. CF:)
 
I agree CF.

I was raised in central Illinois farm-country (where I have returned to live today to be near aging parents- after being elsewhere for long years), I was raised w/ every pet you could think of from dogs/cats to coons and peacocks. Also came up learning to hunt- roamed woods, fields and riverbeds in search of rabbits, squirrels, coons, pheasant, deer... and part of the magic I loved about Alaska was the bountiful wildlife... When I left Illinois initially, I was a little bored w/ the terrain and life here. But time in Alaska taught me that ALL regions hold magic and charm... and that the geography of even the flat-land holds value and mystique. I am SO grateful for that lesson. Now I love the Mid-West! Whudda thunk that Alaska could make me change my mind about boring mundane cornfields?

Have you ever read the "All Creatures Great & Small" series of several books by the retired English vet James Herriot? It was also a long-running PBS series. He's written several books telling the tales of his 50+ years of doctoring animals across the English countryside in an era before modern conveniences such as penicillin. I just read "The Good Lord Made Them All" and another volume of just cat stories. I highly recommend for all nature/animal lovers. Such fine, fine charming reading told w/ a kind, caring, English voice! All his books are in libraries and also available used and cheap at Amazon. :)
 
Regarding "Zenyata" and horses...

One thing I found neat when watching the Zenyata piece on 60 Minutes was that the "thing" she is known for is holding back and remaining in last place until the last minute- then, completely out of nowhere she kicks it up a notch and ZOOMS past all those other horses who've been fighting like hell to remain as close to the front for the enitre race. I love that strategy!

Also, when interviewing her jockey you could tell he just loved her. He said that for her outstanding record and reputation he doesn't feel she's ever even ran her fastest yet. He remarked that as many races as she has one he has always felt while riding her that if necessary, there was always another gear she could be motivated to kick herself up into. Is that remarkable, or what?
 
Jon's brother has a little mini mare that had a little colt about a month ago. I have been meaning to get Jon to their house to see it but that place kills his allergies. Id love for him to get to see it while it is still a baby. They said it just races all around the pasture and is super tame. If I get to see it I will take a pic so you guys can see it. They named the baby pony Velvet.
 
jglass said:
Jon's brother has a little mini mare that had a little colt about a month ago. I have been meaning to get Jon to their house to see it but that place kills his allergies. Id love for him to get to see it while it is still a baby. They said it just races all around the pasture and is super tame. If I get to see it I will take a pic so you guys can see it. They named the baby pony Velvet.
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Awww... cool name, Janie. Especially given the recent passing of Miss ("National Velvet" herself) Elizabeth Taylor.
 
Their little 2 1/2 year old daughter Angel named the colt. She is to funny with the names. They got her one of the little baby mini goats and she named it Cry Baby because she says it cries all the time lol. You have to hear a little kid with a hillbilly twang say Cry Baby. It is hilarious.
 
Shortly after we immigrated to this country my father became associated as a trainer with the Hanover Stables - these are trotters, sulky racing, not saddle racing. But we were all always intrigued by the Derby and all the hoopla that goes with it and I had an uncle who lived in Louisville and attended the great race every season. It is wonderful, exciting, romantic and occasionally bare-knuckled! As was the sulky racing my father worked with and loved dearly for so many years. There was nothing in the world I loved quite so much as sitting behind a bang-tail on a misty early morning, swinging around the oval, breezing a horse in a training sulky. It was pure magic!! As CF says, we can learn so much from animals! Hope everyone enjoys Derby Day this Saturday and hopefully, your horse will win the run for the roses!! katie
 
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