It's not all champagne and roses...

Today was one of those days that truly tested my strength and patience as a person. Without the Lord, I would be a useless human being on days like today (well, actually, on any day...but ESPECIALLY on days like today). It went from a balmy 80 degrees yesterday to 40 degrees and really windy today...naturally, the horses reacted by erupting into sillies whenever possible. As did everyone else's. It suddenly seemed as though every horse in America had inhabited Churchill Downs and that they were all around me every time one of my kids decided to throw a happy fit. And I reacted by shutting down emotionally and just wanting to go home.

Stormy was pretty well behaved, actually. He's always my big horse and I love him for it. We did have a tough gallop, though, because we somehow got stuck in a pack of horses who egged him on...luckily, he even pulls like a big horse, so he's easy to hold. He's switching leads better than ever and relaxing so much better into his gallops. I LOVE that horse.

Sought was next...she was *such* a brave little lady as we navigated the very full jogging path of "evil" horses who couldn't keep all fours on the ground. She looked at them with big oogley eyes, not sure what to think or how to react, so luckily she just kept jogging. We finally made it around and she decided to freeze in the gap and rear up for approximately two straight minutes. I had to just sit and wait for her to finish her fit, and then she finally took a deep breath and walked off calmly. I was frustrated, no doubt, but she's impossible to be mad with.

Flash seems to be feeling more like his old self every day, and the cold wind didn't deter him at all today. He drug me around and felt very solid underneath me, with no ill effects from his work. Now that I've worked him a couple of times, I think I've figured him out and next time will not hesitate to get after him...he is a very lazy work horse, and he has no excuses soundness wise, so I think I have him figured out now!

Dancer was good, although a bit hairy coming off the track...never met a horse who hated and yet loved other horses so much. He's another one that I can't possibly get mad with. Love him to bits and pieces. Then came Butterlicious, and he may have been the first horse all morning that truly got a smile out of me. He galloped like a total pro! Wind and all, nothing bothered him. He relaxed and grabbed the bit and was better than ever with his leads. His class comes out more and more every day and I am really excited about him. What a good looking horse he is, too. He gets to start going to the gate next week.

Finally was BoldBold. Big test for him today, the gate. He had a lot of trouble with the gate in his first race and today was to see where we stand with him. He let me know right away how he felt about this idea...by doing a quick 180 when he caught sight of the gate. Trembling, he let the outrider lead us up and into the gate. He started shaking all over and looking around and freaking out...my poor boy. They really did a number on my baby boy...but we will work through all of his confidence issues and get him back on track. He did break, which surprised me...deep down he knows what to do, they just threw too much at him at once and he lost every ounce of confidence he had. He broke fast and straight, and once he heard my enthusiastic "Good BOY!!!" he pricked his ears and galloped like a big horse...then pranced the whole way home. I LOVE THIS COLT.

And to top off the excellent end of the morning, ROCKET is BACK. He ran in the 1st race today and under a hand ride from Calvin, he won. The call was amazing.."And he is in CHARGE! Ready's Rocket is BACK!" Thank you, little big man, for our first win of the meet! He always comes through. What an incredible little horse he is. We are very blessed to have him in the barn.

And I am very blessed, even on rough mornings like today where I just want to throw my hands up and go home. My Lord always gets me through tough situations and then reminds me of how truly blessed I am to have these horses and these people in my life. I don't want to imagine my life without them.

Big Horse.

I am so blessed. Beautiful day, a barnful of amazing horses, and incredible people to work with. And yet, the Lord chose to bless me "extra" today by letting me ride Stormy. We worked a half in company with S, on Bold, and the feeling this horse gives me is just...unlike anything I've ever felt. He goes on cruise control, and all I have to do is sit against him and wait for his big kick down the lane...I've never had to smooch to him or show him the stick, he does it all on his own, so easily that he feels like he's just out for a normal gallop. Everything about him makes me happy.

On other random notes, quickly as I am desperate for sleep--

1. Blackie runs tomorrow, Ella on Friday and Rocketman on Saturday. Should be a good weekend for the barn and our morales!
2. GemGem was a rockstar at the gate today, flopping like a champ. Aside from his rearing stunt in the barn, he was the utmost professional.
3. Flash is finally starting to feel a little more like his old self...showing more spunk and happiness than he has since he came back to the track. He works tomorrow, hopefully he'll be dragging me to the pole. :)
4. Goldie went in a figure 8 and tongue tie today and it didn't seem to affect her for the better OR the worse...so I guess that was a bust...BUT she did gallop beautifully today, and works tomorrow...I want her to make it, darn it! I will keep brainstorming for her but hopefully she will redeem herself tomorrow.
5. Dancer managed to lope all the way up to our gap nice and relaxed with no spazztastic moments until AFTER we got off the track..when he managed to get someone dumped on the concrete. Atta boy.

Some of Nat's latest beautiful pictures:
Diva...
And BoldBold:

'Til tomorrow!!

The roses were sweet...

The day after Derby is always a little like the day after Christmas...you spend so much time getting built up for this 2 minute race, and then it's just...over. Churchill becomes a ghost town, all the media and rabid fans leave, and it's "just" another day at the track. Nevertheless, this week has reaffirmed how much I truly love my job, and how blessed I am to have it.

To recap a few of the highlights of our 48-hour stint in the track photographer's booth:

1. Jane Fonda has chimps.
2. "That's not REALLY Secretariat."
3. "You can just plug it in at the Lobster Shack..."
4. "Oh wow, look at that one. I love that one. That one is gorgeous. Baby, do you want one? Um...no..."
5. Appoint holding business cards like a champ. "Um, hello?" "Appoint! Is that you!?"
6. Gnochi, mac and cheese, cajun shrimp, free drinks and delicious Derby pie...it pays off to be a media employee at Derby!
7. Yate's Black Cat.

There were lots of other good times, however they're all blurred together. So exhausted. Calvin is incredible. Crisp broke my heart because she had such a bad trip in the Oaks but still ran as hard as she could, and I still adore her. Lucky ran his heart out as well...heck, they all did. Thank God they all came home safely and will fight another day. As will I, tomorrow, provided Stormy doesn't kill me after three days off!

Sloppy

The track was absolutely repulsive today...I didn't even make it off my first horse without getting splattered with mud. In case you've never had the pleasure of that experience, it hurts, and it puts me in a bad mood almost immediately. Goldi just jogged today since she's still getting over her weird illness/heat stroke the other day...she was not the good little girl I thought she would be and yanked my arms out...at least we only had to go one round. She's a little stick of dynamite and she doesn't back off until she's back in her stall...not the most pleasing characteristic to have when there's infinite walls of horses in front of you. Alas, we made it. Flash was next, and although he likes the track to be a little wet, pure and utter slop is not his cup of tea. Actually, I don't think it was any of my horses' cup of tea (except for Stormy, who I will get to later). Flash couldn't get a hold of the track to save his life and this just furthered my mood. Diva was next...by this point my very good friend K had arrived for her first backside experience :) Diva, typical after a day off, was full of it. So full of it that she managed to lock her right jaw and pull me towards the rail the entire gallop...eventually to the point where she tripped and almost fell because she was so busy arguing with me. She's quite sure she knows best and isn't keen on listening to my opinion...but she walked home very politely. Then came Allie who basically came out of her stall breathing fire. Trying to go on the gap, we were run into by another horse and that was the only excuse Miss Thang needed to erupt. By erupt I mean broncing like a rodeo horse and rearing straight in the air only to land and spin and do it again. I finally got her moving forward and now had to contend with her "water buffalo" huffs and puffs and her tail straight up in the air. She settled down but had a particularly hard time with the slop. Such a stinkwad. Next was darling little Gem, who has really become one of my favorites lately. He was the picture of class today, absolutely perfect despite the scary track and all the staccato hoofbeats on the front side. He doesn't seem to love the slop either but he did his best and I was very pleased with him. Ella ponied today and was wonderful...it was nice to not have to fight with her and just let her enjoy her training time.

At break we went up to watch the Derby and Oaks horses. I am more high on American Lion than ever. He reminds me very much of Barbaro, he is training fantastically and has a beautiful stride that just floats over the ground. The slop didn't seem to bother him at all. Lucky continues to impress me and had a nice relaxed gallop today. He does everything with so much class. Super Saver worked under Calvin today and really impressed me...he's not a flashy horse but he is special to watch. Lion replaced Dublin in my tri today as Dublin bolted shortly after beginning his gallop and ran off the gap, scattering camera crews and fans. Whether this has been a problem with him before or if he just started it, it's not a good sign. Devil May Care continues to impress with her graceful way of going and worked very impressively. Either race she runs in, she will belong.

After break I galloped Stormy, and he was the only horse who really relished the slop today. He is always a joy to gallop and was an absolute professional today. Butters was surprisingly well behaved and classy today as well, although I felt like we were on a slip-n-slide the entire gallop. He stood out quietly and despite the marathon runners in the infield he focused on his job. He's matured quite a bit since we got him in the barn and I'm starting to really enjoy him.

Day off tomorrow, and hopefully the track will be a bit better for the kiddos on Monday! :)

Speeding ticket!

Stormy's first work back was today! We got a bit of a speeding ticket, but he was CRUISING. I never had to ask him, he did it all on his own and galloped out like a champion. He has such a long, powerful stride...you feel like you're not flying, but you are. He is so incredible! He takes my breath away. If he were a man, I would marry him. Hopefully he comes out of the work well and can move forward from here.

It was fun riding under the lights this morning. Since we started training early (thanks, Derby horses) we got to train under the lights they use for the night races. It felt like being in Dubai :) And had a really, really good gallop on Flash, Butters and Bold. And Goldie, too, to think of it. Goldie started off really relaxed today and galloped around like a superstar. Flash loved the wet track and galloped like a champ, although I somehow managed to burn him on his side...I have no idea how. Couldn't figure out anything that could have done it, but I felt terrible...cried a little bit...he is the sweetest horse in the barn and I hurt him. Hopefully using the black "rub" pad on him will help from now on. Butters (Margy's new name) was much, much better today...stood pretty well and started off MUCH more professionally, relaxed into his gallop and did everything right. And Bold put a big huge smile on my face...he walked back until I asked him to jog, stood out at the wire for about five minutes without any fussing, walked off and then galloped around nice and easy. He just needs a lot of reassurance and sweet talking...but he is such a good soul...I really like him a lot and all the other people in the barn do too! I want him to make it, just like I want Stormy to get back to the races...projects keep me going :)

Time to go watch the Lexington...day off tomorrow, but I can't wait to get back to the barn on Monday morning!

Crisp continues to impress the hell out of me. She is training like a monster. She acts a little nervous until she settles into her gallop and then she's a total professional. She seems to like the track fine, although we'll see how she works over it. Also saw Beautician and Champagne D'Oro this morning, both are beautiful fillies but didn't train as impressively as Crisp did. Also got a glimpse of Paddy O' Prado, who had a nice and relaxed gallop before break.

Three new horses in the barn this morning, including another "project" horse who is a total doll and really fun to ride. His name is Bold, he's a 3 y/o colt. I was cautious as always when getting on a new horse, but this one (although slightly nervous at first) was a complete professional who really listened and did as I asked. Here he is:

The other new guys are 2 y/o Value Plus babies, one a colt and one a gelding. They aren't named as of yet so we are called them Salty and Margy, after their dams. Both were lovely to ride and had nice strides. I rode Margy and Sas rode Salty:
And to tie up a lovely morning, Gem worked his second 3/8th's and not only cruised home ahead of his company but also got the bullet. So impressed with him and we are very excited about his future!Tomorrow should be a busy day, with 18 trackers and "special" training hours to allow a time slot for only Derby and Oaks horses to train. I love my job...I am so very blessed to work with these people and these horses and to get to watch the best 3 y/o's in the country train every day.

Got to watch Lookin' at Lucky work today. He looked like he was just on cruise control, and I later found out he worked in 1:01 and change...he looked slower than that, so I am fairly impressed. He seems to handle the track well. I think this is my Derby horse. Scold me if you wish, but I am infatuated.

Also caught a glimpse of what I think was Crisp, Sadler's Oaks filly. She is a big, impressive looking filly. She was definitely looking around, at the gate/front side, but who can blame her. She wasn't being bad, just checking out the sights.

And briefly saw Ice Box galloping...he looked like a tough one to gallop, but seemed to be on his toes.

As far as "my" horses, it was just a long morning...one of those mornings that started off badly and just got worse and worse. Luckily all the horses seemed to work well and tomorrow we'll have more working. Blackie didn't get into her race but Ella is in on the 19th. She'll walk until then thanks to the stupid Dantrium rules in Indiana...but I really hope she runs well. If I didn't have class, I'd be riding up in the van with her. I *love* her so much.

Got to see my ClanClan today which was the highlight of my morning. I can't believe what an iron horse she has become. :) Going to visit her in the barn tomorrow after I get done with work...and can visit Cash while I'm there.
Hopefully more Derby/Oaks spottings tomorrow!