Odds and Sods: A Collection of Links, Ideas, and Eye Candy…

First and foremost, check out Spice Route and his mad scientist blinkers.

I’m on Twitter. Tweet with me.

Thoroughbred Daily News is on Twitter. Tweet with me and the rest of the TDN staff.

Top Ten Aachen dressage musical freestyle rides are online. “The Safety Dance” = best canter song ever :^) “Sympathy for the Devil” is a pretty sweet passage song, too.

Some very smart ideas for do-it-yourself cross-country schooling jumps.

Some fantastic photos by Mid-Atlantic racing photography wizard, Lydia Williams. Ashkal Way and Jeannine Edwards! Kentucky Derby-winning gutsy gelding Mine That Bird’s little half-brother. And a sweet shot of Fabulous Strike from last year.

And what would Potpourri Day be without a little LolCat humor? Thanks to pet columnist, author, and all-around awesome chick Gina Spadafori for finding this gem.

Breeders’ Cup goings-on by the green and game Dana Byerly.

Bring on the eye candy!

Check out this footage of the mighty Secretariat motoring around his paddock at the age of 12.

Here’s Angel Hearted, a handsome Thoroughbred who won at Monmouth Park over the weekend. He’s the Black Stallion of the Jersey Shore.

Solar Flare

The Roundhouse, a favorite of mine.

Cash, a Monmouth Park superstar track pony.

Stars and stripes on this pony:

Lastly, some visually impressive horse racing eye candy: Presious Passion winning the United Nations on the lead!

Belmont Stakes 2009: The Two Best Photos

The Triple Crown races were won by a gelding, a filly, and a colt. Two Birds and a chick.

Have you seen the Belmont yet? Check it out.

The blanket of carnations has been draped, worn, removed, and put away. Horses are on their way home.

Here it is, the best Belmont Stakes-related photo of 2009.

If you don’t have a free DRF account, why not?? It’s worth it to sign up, both for the photo and for the content on the website. Photographer: Barbara Livingston, whose Top Ten Albums of All Time were celebrated here at SKA-RNR-Blog a few months ago. The photo is sublime. It’s the ideal embodiment of the “hangover” (Chip Woolley’s words) after the hectic Triple Crown season. It’s peaceful. It’s an athlete in repose; a quiet moment after a colossal effort. Ears at half mast, powerful haunches at ease, tail soft and static.

And it’s executed as only a master can. Texture, shape, composition, color. Just when the rest of us racing photographers think we’re getting clever, Barbara takes us to school. I love it.

And then we have Best Belmont Photo Number Two. Rick Dutrow One Year Later, taken by Jason Moran. This photo takes your mind back 365 days, to Big Brown Mania, the loose shoe, the quarter cracks, the jockey, the owners, and of course, the trainer.

Rick Dutrow….One year later, originally uploaded by EASY GOER.

Why do I like these photos so much? By the title of the blog post, I bet you expected an action shot of the race, but they were taken nowhere near the finish line :^) It’s even better- the entire race replays in your head as you view these images. The viewer is engaged. A story is told. Editorial imagery at its finest.

As far as photos of the winners actually on track, I think Bud’s is my favorite so far:

Summer Bird Belmont Stakes Celebration, by Bud Morton

And the best chain of events of photography would have to be this: moments before I shot this…

Bud shot this of Heckle and Jeckle.

Charles Pravata and Sarah Andrew

And then Melissa shot this of Bud.

Budphoto! by Melissa Wirth

And Bud shot this of Jamie and Melissa. Got it? Good!

Belmont Stakes 2009: Bird-Mania

Mine That Bird arrived at Belmont Park on Wednesday, June 3. According to his connections, he has been adjusting nicely to the new track. I saw him this morning and he looked physically and mentally fit and ready for tomorrow’s action.

Can’t get enough of Mine That Bird? Neither can Steve Haskin. Neither can Dick Jerardi. Here are the picks of other turf writers. Dana just wants to know how much you are spending.

And then you have the doubters.

So what do you think? Will he do it?

What about Mr. Hot Stuff?

Mr Hot Stuff at Belmont Park ©2009 Sarah K Andrew

Or Summer Bird?

Summer Bird at Belmont Park ©2009 Sarah K Andrew

2009 Belmont Stakes Logo = Awesome

2009 Belmont Stakes Logo: Sweeeet!

Love it, love it, love it! I might even have to purchase some swag.

And speaking of the Belmont Stakes…

Will she or won’t she?

Will he or won’t he?

He will, but who will ride him?

Sidelined!

Lookin’ good…

And in other racing news…. It has come to my attention that there has been some jibber-jabber on the blogs about Zenyatta’s “conservative” 2009 plans. It has been said on the forums that the plans are unambitious. This complaint does not work for me. She’s the best horse in training. If an owner or trainer wants to challenge that notion, her schedule has been mapped out for all to see. Come and get her. In the meantime, she’ll work on being only the second horse in history to win the Distaff. And I must admit, repeating victories is one of my favorite things that great horses do.

And check out Zenyatta’s happy feet on Fran Jurga’s HoofBlog.

Underneath a Jersey Sky… Not For Long

The bad news: Rock and Racehorses: The Blog will be taking another hiatus for a few days.

The good news: I’ll be enjoying a long weekend of fresh air, trail riding, and good friends, and conducting a mini photo clinic in the mountains of Georgia.

I’m saying goodbye to….

and

and

And saying hello to…

and

and

and

When I return, we’ll have a Preakness winner to discuss and maybe I’ll finish wading through my Rolex and Derby photos :^)

Kentucky Derby 135: What a Ride!

I’ve been back in New Jersey for a few days now, but my head is still spinning from the amazing experiences I had in Kentucky. Rolex, the Derby, the Oaks, the farms, the Horse Park… it was an unforgettable adventure.

Churchill Downs, © Charles Pravata

When I first arrived at Churchill Downs, I must admit I was underwhelmed. It was raining, I was lugging a lot of equipment, and my amazing experiences at Rolex were fresh in my mind (more on that soon!). I expected to gasp at the sight of the Twin Spires and marvel at the experience, but it was not until Oaks Day when I was shooting the races when it really hit me. The history, the tradition, the horseflesh. Rachel Alexandra in her epic run. Mine That Bird battling the field and winning by 8. And I had the best seat in the house. I’ll break the weeks down into bite-sized pieces and share them with the RNR Blog community.