Presence of Something Special

One of the great pleasures of having family members in Saratoga Springs (just a few hours from my city, ideally travelled by train along the Hudson River and throught the Valley) is spending a summer weekend and the race track there.

In this classic setting, you can gaze upon many of the most beautiful, most impeccably toned athletes in the world at the peak of their powers, gleaming in the sun.

This summer, my daughter turns four. Even if she can't articulate it, I'd say she's just about old enough to appreciate these stunning equestrian beauties in all their glory. I'll get back to you in the fall and let you know how it went.

I live in an area of Los Angeles that is zoned for horses. There are all kinds of horses here. People ride western, English, or no saddle. They are the most elegant animals on earth. I think there is nothing more appealing to the eye than a horse and rider together.

We are also close to Santa Anita horse racing track. I haven't been in many years. I might have to remedy that...............

I believe it was Mark Helprin who wrote that "truth is what you find when you look deep within the eye of a horse. When you get close enough to feel the pounding of their hooves, I believe it replaces your heartbeat.

Forgive me for going off topic:

I read all of yesterday's dialogue (very busy day, didn't have time to contribute) and I want to tell ExPat how delightful it was to see the pride beaming as you talked about your two sons' accomplishments.

I am of your boys' generation, I am only beginning the journey that you have already experienced. But, thus far, after only three-and-a-half years, I have found that to be my favorite thing about fatherhood... the pride!

My favorite time of the year!!!!! Springtime in Kentucky is synonymous with bursts of color from tulips, forsythia, and lots of other blooming flowers and the landscape is bursting with colorful dogwoods, redbuds, and bartlett pear trees and then there's ....horse racing! Keeneland and Churchill are two of the most breathtaking sites you will find anywhere in the springtime.

It's sunny, mid 70's with a slight breeze and you are in a box right on the finish line jumping up and down like your life depended on it. Go 6, go... run #6... your heart is racing at the same beat as the horses as they make the turn at the final quarter pole and the excitement just steals your breath away. Yes....your horse just won the Kentucky Derby! There is no other feeling like it!

My family is fortunate enough to be in the thoroughbred horse industry so I naturally feel passionate about horses. Their beauty is undeniable, their grace and presence command respect even from those who aren't horse lovers. The mere fact that the Kentucky Derby is here once again only adds to the pageantry and glamour of the already beautiful springtime scenery. The traditional foods and drinks, the pre, during, and post derby parties are really a site to behold. If you are not from Kentucky you really must make arrangements to come to the Derby once in your lifetime. There are tours of the tracks, the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum, Thunder over Louisville Fireworks Display, the Hot Air Balloon Race, the many bourbon distilleries, the Kentucky Colonel Barbecue, the candy making shops, and much, much more. Derby time is truly a warm and sincere tribute to southern hospitality. If you are not going to be at the track on Saturday, then hook up your tv outside under a big shade tree, get out your lawn chairs, set out a tray of country ham and biscuits and then make a batch of Mr. Peterman's mint juleps, sit back and enjoy the show. Then afterwards call your travel agent and book your hotel/tour package for next May.

Being from Kentucky you can't help but pride yourself on such an amazing tradition. This time of year Kentucky comes alive, the sun cascades on the rolling hills of its horse farms, trees blossom on the glorious confusing back roads raping from Lexington to Louisville. Keeneland shines as it marks the beginning of racing season, the very spirits of people change during this magical time. It’s the first Saturday in May, known as the fastest moment in sports. People from all over the globe show up for the star studded event, Hollywood’s finest grace us with their presence. The horse's line up at the gate, the bugle player rings out a familiar sound, an announcer comes over the loud speaker "their off in the Kentucky Derby." The gates fly open, the horses thunder around the track, hopes are high, people are on their feet... and then its over just as quick as it begin, but that is Kentucky, that is the tradition... and now forever will the horse than won go down in history with honor and grace. Every Kentuckian is apart of the derby either in spirit of presence!

Everyone's a winner on derby day! Well, at least you one can feel like one with the aid of the perfect mint julep. The recipe above is spot on. But I'd like to recommend using Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon. It has a three-dimensional racehorse sculpture on the top of the bottle!

JP, thanks again for such an insightful post. It stirred up memories of the stallions we had as kids...

As for Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons's very astute comment, I'd say the same goes for religion. ...but that's a topic for another day.

As another Kentuckian, what more can I say? It has all been expressed beautifully. The only thing I can add is an experience I had some years ago. For a good while, I worked at the Univ. KY Equine Blood Typing Labs where we proved the claimed parentages for foals before they were registered. We had contracts with some 26 different breeds of horses (a reminder that there are more breeds than thoroughbreds). When VIP's came to town, we would give them a tour of farms around Lexington. If they were saddlebred people, we took them to saddlebred farms. If thoroughbred people, to thoroughbred farms. I can tell you that there was no more awesome sight than Secretariate up close and personal. I shall never forget the size, majesty, build, and also color of that beautiful animal. Simply breathtaking. I feel privileged to have had that opportunity.

All else is simply a ditto of your comments. Just don't forget that those juleps are best sipped from a silver julep cup.

To: DreadPirateRoberts

Thanks for your very kind comments. Fatherhood is a rich and rewarding experience. Your journey will be exciting. My purpose as a father was to make sure my children grew up to be who they wanted to be. I had a challenge in the last 5 to 6 years because I was a single father with custody.

It was important to me and my children that I didn't close my self off to the possibilities of life. I kept up with the advances in technology and even learned to listen to different styles of music that my children's generation liked. It made for more enlightened conversations then the usual negative comments that could have been made. They were always surprised I knew the difference between L.L. Cool Jay and Ice T, and the different styles of punk music.

Was I a "cool" Dad? not really, but I was involved and informed.

It's a great journey......you'll learn about yourself, too.

I'm the proud owner of a beautiful, spirited Arabian. I love this horse. What a special joy it is to be eye to eye, rubbing that velvet nose, and listening to his breath.

I've always been crazy about horses, and I particularly love their smell. I'll lift the mane, inhale deeply, and experience an unusual sense of well being. Sounds crazy, but if Peterman could bottle that special musk, I would buy it. Maybe it has something to do with pheromones.

Chanel No. 5 was brilliant, but it's got nothing on horse sweat.