Today’s tidbit: “A horse gallops with its lungs, perseveres with its heart, and wins with its character.” ― Frederico Tesio

After 5+ weeks of traveling I am back home, with my new MacBook Pro (old one died the day I returned from AU). While I was in gone my mom, who lives in upstate New York, watched Sammy for me. After an incredible 4+ weeks in AU I flew straight to NY and stayed for a week, visiting with family and trying to adjust being back in the US.

It was opening day at the track this past weekend, which worked out perfectly since I got a rental car and drove back to Maryland on Monday. When I was younger, I used to go to Albany, NY almost every summer to visit my grandparents and we’d go to the track. Saratoga Springs is a lovely area. As I’ve gotten older I have mixed feelings about racing… it shows the athleticism and beauty of the horses, and really anything horse related I love to be around, but I also know the abuse that goes into it, from training to what happens to many race horses (rescue links at the end).

Sneak peek image:

Be sure to click below to read more and check out more pictures. Enjoy!

{entrance + grounds} Saratoga Race Track really is a beautiful area, where lots of families spend summer days at the track. Last Sunday when I was here I enjoyed spending the day with my mom, aunt and grandma.

Last Sunday when I went it was a ‘give away day’ where everyone got a hat.

Once inside the gate there are plenty of picnic tables and seating under big trees with screens to watch the race. The fenced area is where the horses come through from the barn to get to the track.

 

{getting ready} As we walked around the grounds we were stopped for horse crossing, which I always love, and made it to a new paddock where the horses get tacked up and the jockeys get on before heading to the track. I don’t remember this from the other times I visited so it was nice to watch all the owners, trainers and handlers with the horses getting ready. Below are some of the pictures I took here.

 

{track +racing} After watching some of the groups getting ready at the paddock area I headed to the track.

These animals are so majestic, powerful and smart. I have a hard time when I’m on the sideline and you heard all the kids and families talking about their bets and how they lost (or won) money, and you can tell they don’t know much about horses or racing itself. After riding, showing and being around horses for many years it’s hard to watch (and I never bet) knowing what happens to so many of these beautiful animals when they’re deemed no longer useful to their current owner… in case you don’t know, many end up in a slaughterhouse. Race horses are started very young (much younger than you would for other disciplines of riding) and most retire by the age of 5, what will happen after?

Below are some of the racing pictures I took.

These horses need a future, beyond the finish line. This is one of my favorite sites, check it out and read the stories here: www.excellerfund.org. Below are two famous racehorses, who won many races and ended their life in a slaughterhouse:

Exceller: In 1978 he defeated Seattle Slew and Affirmed in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. In 1978 he won 7 stakes races including the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Hollywood Gold Cup and Sunset Handicap. In 1997 he was nominated to Racing’s Hall of Fame. In 1997 he died in a slaughterhouse. Read more.

Ferdinand: Just like Exceller six years before him, Ferdinand’s life ended in a slaughterhouse. Despite winning the sport’s most prestigious race, The Kentucky Derby, in 1986 Ferdinand is believed to have gone the way of so many horses who had no economic utility to their current owners. Read more.

There are many rescue groups out there, here are just a few and related links:

www.canterusa.org
www.trfinc.org
www.goodhorse.org
www.sctap.com
www.trottusa.org
www.aftertheraces.org
www.thoroughbredadoption.com
www.akindalehorserescue.org
www.secondstride.org

I wanted to share this because it was a lovely summer day at the track and I enjoyed capturing it, but I also wanted to hopefully create some awareness and make you think the next time you’re ever at the track. I personally know many people who have rescued off track Thoroughbred (or OTTB) and put LOTS of training, TLC and time into saving them and giving them a new chapter.

Check back next week as I share my first of many adventures in Australia!!