Monday, April 14, 2008

Keeneland Photos

(Someday I will go back to writing dog stories.)




First, thank you to dear reader Gail D. for sending me these photos she took at Keeneland when she was there last autumn.



This is the infield, which was brilliant spring Bluegrass green last week




And this is the paddock, where Jeannie and I got to play big shots, while Jake and the other trainers saddled the horses. Thank you again, Gail; it's fun to show these.




Looky what Jake emailed me last night.



This is after the 16th pole when the big dark bay horse had caught up with him, and Xela (pronounced "Zella," by the way) was taking off again.






This is the official win photo, showing the finish line on top, and the Winner's Circle underneath.



Closer of the Winners Circle. (And you can click to enlarge; use your back button to return.)
L to R - One of Jake's other owners, the Friendly Tour Bus Driver, Jeannie, Jake's kind mentor (in the hat and shades), smilin' mom, Jake's awesome groom, Xela, rider John McKee, Jake.





And finally, a close up of the official win photo. I didn't notice what Jake had the photographer do, until I was printing the photo. "Mom's Day at Keeneland" appears on the official photo!! How fun and crazy is that?

Thank you for sharing this fun day, this miraculous minute and ten seconds with me. No matter how well prepared a trainer has a horse, there is still racing luck. A horse can stumble coming out of the starting gate. A horse can get bumped or squeezed. A rider can not follow instructions. A million little things can go wrong.

If you click to enlarge the next to the last photo, and look at Jake's face, I think you can see all of the things which went wrong last year. Right after the photo was taken Jeannie asked him how he felt, and he said, "It hasn't set in yet. Ask me again when I come to visit at Christmas." I can see that in the photo.

Now, he's smiling. I haven't stopped.


Hug the everlovin' daylights out of your hounds

14 comments:

  1. I feel privileged that I've gotten to share this piece of your happiness with you. As I said before I will never be able to hear or see "Keeneland" again without thinking about your heartwarming (true)story. Thanks for the photos, it's just the icing on the cake. Big congrats to Jake!
    Love,
    Sheila & Lady

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  2. how exciting!!! i'm sure you are grinning from ear to ear :)

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  3. Made me teary again! So,So happy for all..I was going to say Jake looks so serious-glad to hear he's smiling again! Martha and P-Doggy

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  4. Nice pics. I love to look at racing horses.

    Luv
    Snowball

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  5. thanks for sharing all those pictures!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  6. Patience
    What a magnificent howsie Xela is!!! You look like a vewy happy pwoud Mom as you should..Jake is a lucky guy! Allthose gowgeous whippets fow siblings and a gweat howse and a fabulous Mom..lucky boy!
    smoochie kisses
    Asta

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  7. Congratulations to Zela, Jake and the mother who supported him. You all have every right and duty to be smiling

    gussie

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  8. That is wonderful! What a thrill! And the photos are gorgeous.

    Having relatives who live in Louiville, we know how horse racing can grab ahold of you and not let go. How exciting!!

    Congratulations!

    Love and Koobuss Kisses,
    Koobie

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  9. It is always nice to put faces with names and stories, thanks for sharing these!

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  10. Incredible photos! And you have proven to your readers that you did not make up the story ..... as many of us know you are a brilliant fiction writer as well!

    Hug your boy(s), again and again! r

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  11. Yep PL2 got a litle teary eyed agian too!! Love A+A

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  12. Congratulations!!

    Thank you for sharing your story with us!

    XOXO

    Dog Lover

    aka HORSE LOVER, too!

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  13. Yay! We're still doing the happy dance over here, too! ;)

    Love the pix - and the mom's day part!

    Ane & crew

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