The Night Before the Cup

Just Before Dawn

It's the night before day one of the Breeder's Cup. I was up and at Churchill before dawn. I went to the public workouts. Today was the day the fans were allowed in to see them. There were times I was wishing I were here as an "important photographer with a badge" and I was little jealous when I walked by a group of media people wearing theirs. But first of all, I am a fan. I get some joy with every hoofbeat and every breath of the animals galloping by. I could watch them forever.  I don't need a badge to experience that. Tomorrow and Friday I'm in a  seat down on the track near the finish line, so I don't even need a badge to be on the front row.

Irrefutable

I said I was going to talk to and photograph fans, I  talked, but I didn't photograph. I'll do better at that tomorrow. Melissa and Jackie were there and I talked to them. Melissa must have at least 1,000,000 workout photos. I talked to another badgeless photographer that I know from Saratoga. She's a fan too. I talked to 2 cousins from Pennsylvania who were all decked out with horse covered purses and wearing Uncle Mo Jackets and having a really good time. I did tell them I had seen Mo in his stall, but kept the story telling controlled. I talked to another woman in the gift shop wearing a Breeder's Cup beret who told me Kroger Supermarkets were selling Breeder's Cup merchandise for less than at the track. I went there and bought a hat for $15. They were out of glasses. Most of my pictures were too dark. I need to work on that.

Rags 2 Riches

It started raining and everyone scattered. I found a Kroger on my GPS and went there. It wasn't exactly in the best neighborhood in Louisville. I passed an exotic dancer supply store.Did you ever hear of that? I suppose they need stuff. There is an exercise rider at Saratoga who is also an exotic dancer. 

Then I went to the Rags 2 Riches antique and furniture store. My horse fan brain thought it must have horsey stuff in it, but it didn't. I tried to ask the proprieter if she was a horse racing fan but she wasn't exactly is a talkative mood. 

I left there and went to Murphy's Camera and drooled at all the stuff I couldn't afford. I bought my photo printer and a couple of cameras there, but it was the first time I was ever in the store. If you need something while you're here you can find it at http://murphyscamera.com/. Ask for the Skip Dickstein discount.

Pink Nails

I ended my Rainy day in Louisville with a mani and pedi cure. How do you like those fingernails?

Now it's time to handicap. I really haven't done any. Plus My cats bet on cat horses and any money one goes to Old friends Cabin Creek. I'm still looking for tips and I'm still looking for fans. I'll be there tomorrow looking for anyone who wants to talk  and express their racing passion  too me.  I could use a little  for me.

Connie

PS Mr. Cowboy has his first ever race tomorrow. Last Sunday's race was rained out. I can't believe I'm missing it. I hope Aqueduct is simulcast  at Churchill. He told me he was going to run very fast.

Halfway to the Cup

Zenyatta

Gracie and I are on our way to the Breeder's Cup. Gracie is my new car, named after this year's filly in the classic, Havre de Grace.  I left Saratoga this morning after stopping by barn 44 to see Mr. Cowboy. He's racing Friday and I'm going to miss it. Hopefully it will be simulcast at Churchill.

Last year the reason to go was to see Zenyatta . Luckily a  media friend of mine helped me sneak in the backside and I was able to get really close to her. She walked over to me and others, and looked my camera in the eye.  I saw the great Zenyatta, talked to the Mosses and walked on the hallowed dirt of the track. Thursday morning was the highlight of my trip.

 Churchill 

This year, I'll be front side  and I'm looking forward to it. Look for me somewhere around  the finish line where the light is brightest. I'll be carrying cameras and wearing a Green and Yellow Old Friends Cabin Creek hat.  I'm by myself so I'll want to talk. I'll try not to show off with my photography stories. I want to know why you came, who you're looking for, your favorite horse and of course any hot tip you may have. I hope we will see some astounding horses and go home with some new horsey heroes. And maybe I'll swap tips and stories with some astounding fans.

Connie

Havre de Grace (Gracie)

Havre De Grace beating the boys at Saratoga

I am a racing fan, fanatic might be a better word. I don't think that's news to anyone. What I want is to  think of ways to encourage part time or one time fans to become full time. They don't have to work at the track or voluntarily muck stalls or own a horse,or even learn to handicap, but just follow it a little.

Last weekend, I had my pictures out an arts and crafts show here in Saratoga.  Most of them are horses  and they are hanging on racks where shoppers can see them.  Two years later I still have people, usually women, but not always, that walk in my booth with sort of dreamy eyes and say "Raaaay chelll" in a sing songy voice. I have some images of Rachel and I show them. Then I say,"I also have a couple of pictures of Zenyatta" and they look at me blankly.  I show the Havre de Grace picture and tell them that this filly beat the boys in the same race that Rachel won and they walk off. They love Rachel and that's great. Maybe they'll buy something. But they know nothing about horse racing and they live in a horseracing town.                                                                              

Rachel Alexandra.

Now I know I'm a racing zealot.  I love it all. How can I as a fan, share all this in a way that attracts others to fandom? When Rachel Alexandra competed in the Woodward, NYRA and the city of Saratoga publicized it all over town. There were special souvenirs, banners hanging on light poles, Rachel coloring contests and everyone was excited. The grandstand was packed  and the filly lived up to expectations. 2 years later, she is still adored by many, but they still don't all follow racing.  What kind of effort does it take to fill racetracks at least on weekend days. I read theories, but I don't see much change. I wish I had the answer.

It's Tricky

 More Fabulous Fillies.Royal Delta is retiring after the Breeder's
Cup, but she's a great filly to watch and cheer for next weekend.
Friday is Filly day at the BC and their race will be in the evening. It's Tricky won the Coaching Club American Oaks right in Saratoga and she's in the same race. Plum Pretty raced in Saratoga too, but she's a west coast based filly.

Royal Delta

Plum Pretty gets new shoes

If you follow the sport, you know them. If you kind of like it and are looking for some exciting TV this Friday evening  watch their race and even Google  their names so you will have an idea of who to cheer for. The race is called
Thee Breeder's Cup Ladies Classic.If you look through my links on the right I'm sure you'll find plenty about all the other fillies racing also.  


 Back to Havre De Grace. She's a great filly too. Not everyone thinksshe'll win. I want her to because it's fun when fillies win over the boys, but I handicap and there are some boys in the race I like a lot. She beat the boys in the Woodward stakes at Saratoga, just like Rachel.  She seems to be a real personality girl. Larry Jones told Blood horse that she's happy wherever her hay is. She's so calm he tries to make people think she's his pony. And now she's entered to race on the Breeder's Cup classic, just like Zenyatta.

Havre de Grace

"It's a real horse race." How many times do we hear that expression? It's part of out daily lives and talk. Racing is great. Many of it's terms and expressions are common colloquialisms. Watch some Breeder's Cup over the weekend and try to watch it as if you are me.  I'll be at Churchill Downs wearing my green Old Friends Cabin Creek baseball cap and lugging at least one camera. Stop and tell me about what brings you to racing or give me ideas. I want to talk to you, unless its Post Time!

I've read through this 5 times. I hope it's spelled correctly and everything makes sense. I have to stop so I can get up early and spend the morning at the track . Connie

Mr. Cowboy at Old Friends Cabin Creek Farm

MR. COWBOY

Mr. Cowboy is mine, or at least part mine. He is the only colt in a new partnership called "Team Cowboy." Most of us, including JoAnn and Mark Pepper, the managing partners have never owned a thoroughbred race horse and  even though he hasn't raced yet, the journey has been exciting.

I met Mr. Cowboy when he was an 8 month old weanling. He could hardly see over the fence of his pen and  he didn't know how to eat a carrot from your hand. I was on my first visit to the brand new Bobby Frankel Division of Old Friends Equine Retirement, Cabin Creek Farm in Greenfield Center, NY, just a few minutes from Saratoga Race Course. Cowboy was living there. JoAnn had foaled him on March 15, 2009.  He was not breathing, but she and Mark brought him back and nursed him until he could stand on his own and run around. He went away with his mare, but several months later, he was sent back to JoAnn. In November Old Friends at Cabin Creek, the Bobby Frankel Division

was opened and the horses arrived. Mr Cowboy was living with seasoned old geldings and champion stallions.

Mr. Cowboy spent his yearling days in a paddock with a retired gelding, Moonshadow Gold.
He and Moonie loved each other. Moonie taught Cowboy many things- respect, manners, how to run in circles and even how to act around people. He raced Travers  winners Thunder Rumble and Will's Way along the paddock fences.  The farm life let Cowboy grow strong and fast and unpressured. The weekly Old Friends Cabin Creek tours spoiled him a little(lots of treats) and made him a show off.  As you can see in the picture above, he loves the camera.

Playing ball in Aiken 

When Cowboy was 2, it was time to begin training.  Bill Allyn broke him and is still his trainer.  JoAnn and Mark formed the Team Cowboy partnership and our little colt went off to Aiken, SC  to become a racehorse. Some of the partners (most of us volunteers at  Cabin Creek) came to see him off. I guess he was having as hard a time saying "good-bye" as we were, because it took him two hours to get on the van. Mark went with him and Cowboy was perfect all the way to Aiken.


He did well there. Bill trained at Palmetto Training Center which was quiet and had a great barn  and Cowboy had his very own paddock . He  could run and play and be a colt when he wasn't working. He grew big and strong. JoAnn and I went down and visited for several days. Other people loved him. One of the vets called him the nicest colt in Aiken.

His exercise rider, Ismael said. "This horse is taking us to Dubai!" Of course we were proud mothers.

Breezing at the Oklahoma track in Saratoga with Kimmee

In May, Cowboy came back to Saratoga,  and moved into barn 44 at the Oklahoma training center. He moved to another barn for track season, but now he's back in 44. He's been growing  and growing and now he's beginning to look like  a real racehorse.  He did take two tries to get his gate card. The first time he was busy flirting with a filly in the gate beside him and he forgot to run when the door opened. He only dumped his rider once. A squirrel scared him. He  was sick and on antibiotics for a while, but now he's shiny and  ripped!

He breezed today and will race soon. We think October 30 at Belmont will be his first race, so look for him in the entries  and maybe you can see him.

This is supposed to be, at least for now, blogging to the Breeder's Cup. I'm hoping that sharing my passion and that of the fans I know or meet along the way, will excite  and encourage others to follow the sport of horse racing.  The story of Mr. Cowboy is part of that for me. This sport has taken me to some wonderful places and people. I want to share that and I hope you'll help me.

After this, I'll think Breeder's Cup, except of course for October 30, Mr. Cowboy's first race.

Remember, don't be afraid to check my spelling and please contribute.

Connie

I guess a short, unedited video is not the best way to start this blog, but the colt running by is Mr. Cowboy. He's probably the most exciting part of my life right now. He is an unraced 2 year old colt and I am one of his many owners.  I'll tell his story later,( maybe tomorrow) I've watched him grow up since he was a little weanling and now he's ready for his first race, maybe this Saturday. We'll know on Wednesday.

Today is the first day of writing. I like the writing, but my typing is terrible. The other day I wrote something like "Did you see the drak hores urn by," so be prepared. I'll be checking, but I always miss something. You can correct me anytime and please let me know if the mistake is outrageous.

I am a horse racing fan. I've been one for more that 25 years. I'm going to the Breeder's Cup in a couple of weeks and I want to spend my time there hearing from and talking to fans and writing about our horse racing experiences. Ever since I was first introduced to this sport I've felt a connection and some kind of karmic relationship  and know that there are others who feel the same. I can handicap, and like cashing a ticket, but I love all the other parts too. I love the color, the horses, the jockeys, the grooms, the trainers, the horses,  the tradition, the cheering,  the sounds,  the foggy breath of a horse galloping on a cool morning.  Somebody recently caused me a "racetracker" and I was proud of the label. I said horses three times on purpose.

I want to talk to everyone who loves this sport and I want to meet you too. I'll be arriving in Loiuisville on November 2, and I hope  I see you all.

Tomorrow I'll tell you about Cowboy and after that, I'm waiting to see where all this writing and all my racing "soul mates" lead me.

* Doopsnn't forget  to let me knkow my Typos. Connie