First bath of 2014

I gave Limerick her first bath of 2014 on Saturday night (yes, Derby day--the bath was something of a celebration activity for me!) and well, let's see if you can guess which photo is "before" and which is "after"!

Limerick says hello!

I still haven't ridden Lim this year--ack!--first thanks to the weather and now thanks to ongoing hoof issues. She is now getting over a bad hoof abscess. She's a happy mare otherwise, so hopefully I get some saddle time soon.

Horse Racing Nation: Illinois Derby Day at Hawthorne in Photos

I had a great time photographing the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course on Saturday! Check out all the photos at Horse Racing Nation.

Horse Racing Nation: Blue Grass Stakes Day at Keeneland in Photos

At Keeneland on Saturday, the Blue Grass Stakes day weather was as good as it gets--bright and hot without being humid. After the terrible winter of 2013-2014, it was nice to have a taste of summer.
Two Grade III and three Grade I stakes races were the highlights of the Blue Grass Stakes card. 

Read more and view the photos at Horse Racing Nation...

Horse Racing Nation: Local Racing History in Photos: Danada Farm and St. James Farm

On Saturday, California Chrome appeared to skip gaily down the Santa Anita stretch en route to winning the $1,000,000 Santa Anita Derby (Gr. I) in 1:47.52, one of the fastest times in recent years. If all goes well, on May 3 the flashy chestnut son of Lucky Pulpit will hope to join the roster of horses to win both the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby, of which includes I'll Have Another, Winning Colors, Affirmed, and Swaps, among others.

And as I discovered in recent years, another member of this prestigious roster was trained a little over a mile from where I live, deep within the Chicago suburbs, at Danada Farm. Danada Equestrian Center, as it is called today, is now maintained by the DuPage County Forest Preserve and is open to the public.

Continue reading at Horse Racing Nation...

Limerick rolling and bucking (video)

Lim often enjoys a good roll in the arena when I turn her loose in there at night. But lately she's re-discovered the joy of the roll-n-buck combo, which she hasn't done in a while. She has some pretty good moves for a 23-year-old!

Horse Racing Nation: Life After the Finish: Riley (a.k.a. Garth Man)

 As a way to thank the off-track Thoroughbreds in my life--past and present--that have shaped me into the equestrian I am today, I will periodically run photo blogs spotlighting off-track Thoroughbreds (a.k.a. OTTBs). Entitled "Life After the Finish", these blogs will feature horses that have left behind the racing industry to become show horses, personal riding horses, and/or companion horses.

When I considered which horse I should feature first, it wasn't difficult to choose, for at the barn I board at--across the aisle from my own horse--is a handsome chestnut gelding named Riley.

Continue reading at Horse Racing Nation...