Racetrack Photos

Elmer and Janice, who own the barn I board at, also run a stable for Thoroughbred racehorses. Last summer, to help out and to earn some extra show money, I worked as a groom at the racetrack. It was a very educational experience, in all possible ways, good and bad. I found I could get into the daily rhythm (up at six or seven o'clock, depending on how hot it was, bike to the track, start mucking, and finish with untacking and hot walking if I'm lucky). Race days were exctiting, getting the horses bathed and all spiffed up for their one- or two-minute sprint that night. The satin hoods and jockey silks reminded me of boxing.

On the down side, thirty horses in a racing stable is a lot of work, sometimes with seemingly little reward.

I also started taking photos. I'd like to make them into a book about last summer but haven't had time to sit down with them yet, so I thought I would post a few on my blog. The photo above is the first time I sat down to photograph at the last turn heading for home. I got this amazing picture of the horses all stretched out, dirt flying... and spent the rest of the summer trying to get another one like it. Better luck this year I guess! You can see some of the other track photos I posted on my website.

In other news -- I'm looking forward to returning to Scottsdale with Results on February 14, for the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. I'll have a good camera this time so I'm hoping I'll get some photos I can use for the News. Watch for photos and updates on this blog and the Canadian Arabian News' Facebook page.