Tag: horses

Week-end Update

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn 2017, Spring at Sonnystone, week-end wrap-upLeave a comment

I bet the winner at the Kentucky Derby across the board, but he wasn’t the horse I was rooting for.  I’ll take my winnings, however bittersweet.  Preakness next….

After the monsoons let up—I thought it would take forever—I scrambled outside to the garden (visit Growing Every Season–my gardening blog),  stopping only to celebrate my #2 grand-daughter’s #9 birthday.

Olivia Mayne Casey, birthday Queen

We’re packing up for a few days,  trailer trippin’ to Cades Cove campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  I’ve got a hankerin’ to hike back to Laurel Falls.   We’re still learning about dry camping, and Wink will be coming along, so it’s kind of a science experiment, too.  We never tire of GSMNP and have been dozens of times, but have only seen a bear once.  We’re told that the bear population around Cades Cove has increased and that we will have no problems seeing lots of them!  I don’t know if that’s good or not, but Casey thinks it’s great.

Remember when we were there (at another campground) in late October?  Just before we went out of cellphone range, the news broke that Comey had re-opened the Hillary email investigation…when we came home 3 days later, she had for all intents and purposes lost the election.  Now as we go back into the wilderness, Comey has been fired and…you know…

 We will be gratefully off-grid, and on the lookout for Bears…

Peace

the Horses…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn TravelogueLeave a comment

Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm and “educational theme park” that gives you opportunities to get up close to the horses.  The International Museum of the Horse traces the evolution and lineage of horses–every kind of horse there is.  If it hadn’t been such a pretty day, I could have spent more hours studying the displays, but we went through fairly thoroughly and then got outside to enjoy the grounds.

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There was Every Kind of Horse represented at the Farm, most of them on loan, but some retirees live there year-round.  The barns buzz with activity.  The Park grounds are sprinkled with statuary of the magnificent equus, some giving tribute to the Great Thoroughbreds such as Man O’ War, others whimsical.

Later that day, we stopped by Keeneland Thoroughbred Racecourse, arriving at the end of the 3rd race.  Keeneland is always packed, and reserve seat tickets had sold out by the time we decided to visit, so we mingled and strolled, watching some from trackside…DSC_0131

 

some from the turbo…which should be a whole lot bigger…

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I made a couple of bets…this is Cory Lanerie on #11, racing to the finish to win me a couple of bucks…

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#7 and jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. added to my coffers in the 5th…

The giftshop was festooned with hats, tempting even the most frugal buyer…the Derby is the first Sunday in May—less than 3 weeks…and I’ll be in NYC–a hat-wearing, mint-julep carrying, winner-betting, JoJo, finally getting to spend some time with the Jose’ Fam…

It was a great trip and we learned plenty about our RV, too.  Looking forward to many more trips, but for now…back to the garden..!

 

 

 

Photo Finish

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn Sonnystone Summer SpectacularLeave a comment

Monday at around 5pm I locked it up and packed it out of the First Aid Station.  It was a weird week-end, and a long one.  The races had been cancelled 2 weeks prior and it was looking bad on Sunday as the jockeys mounted ponies (not the horses, the ponies that the outriders ride) and checked out the standing water.  The park was packed with more people than had visited in 2 years and a lot of $$ was on the line, so we all breathed a sigh of relief as the horses came into the paddock after a 40-minute delay.  It turned out okay, though, as the track conditions moved from sloppy to muddy by the last race.   I did a little match-making, hooking up the wt. clerk with a gal he hadn’t seen since high school;  took some pictures;  actually had to work a little as the oppressively humid heat took a few patrons down.  Walking out on Monday, I told my guys in Security, “Before I return next year, you need to review the policy on sexual harassment.”  Boss-guy replied in true KY style, “Why? Ain’t you gittin’ harrassed enough?”

It’s just like the carnival…full of colorful characters, excitement, and drama and comedy.  The racing office personnel and stewards, the Horsemen, owners, trainers,  the jockeys and their agents, have all moved to Churchill Downs where a Live season starts this Saturday.  I’m invited to visit them there, or at their next stop at Keeneland in October, but right now I don’t want to watch another horse-race for love or money.  Sick. Of.  It.   I don’t know if I’ll go back next year, but, as one co-worker noted, “It’s like childbirth.  The next day you say you’ll never go through it again, but a year later you’ve forgotten the pain and ready to go.”

Last Race, Ellis Park, 2014  

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So, I’ve got a while to think about it.  If I go back, it will be because I miss the great people I work with…

Or maybe it’s because I’m a carny at heart…

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week-end scenes…part two

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn RandomLeave a comment

At the Track…

Thanks to my buds at the track, I got Sunday off to make enjoy the kids, my cousins, my sister & bro-in-law, and the dollar beer…but the best…look who showed up!!

Yes, Folks, Cousin Ronna is the life of the party and always a winner…here she is in the Winner’s Circle with John McKee…

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We’re leaving this morning to drive the NewYorkers  to Indy where they’ll visit with Eric’s family before flying into LGA on Thursday.   I have enjoyed every minute…

I’ve missed you…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn RandomLeave a comment

It’s been a busy almost-2-weeks since I’ve sat down and shared with y’all.  Part of the reason is that I have felt like Crap, Poop, and Mostly Snot for the week leading into July 4th, prompting me to cough, sneeze, blow my nose until I look like Bozo, take more medicine that I care to (didn’t help), gripe, complain, and constantly explain that I’m not crying, I’m not high (hardly), it’s just my damned allergies.  I’m not one of those people who actually knows what they’re allergic to, but my suspicion is molds.  The rainy weather that sat on our area for 6 days, inundating us, is the culprit.  Even the first glimpse of blue sky was quickly covered back up, a tease that only made my head ache worse.  This morning is beautiful–sunny and clear–and I’m still snotty and raspy, have used a half-box of kleenex, and half-dozen cough drops, but wherever there’s sunshine, there’s hope.

Back at the track (Ellis, that is)…

Ellis began its 90th season of thoroughbred racing on 7/4 this year.  I checked in on the first and got the First Aid Station all set up, then worked through my pain and discomfort, griping my way through the week-end.  Despite some set-backs with the dirt track (somebody is verrry cheap out there), there were plenty of horses to fill the race slots for 9 races each day but Friday.  I had to buy a KHRC license this year and I feel so, um, horsey?  official?  cool…

I did manage to make $2 yesterday, but have mostly made bets for the EMT’s that I work with…it’s more fun to watch other people lose their money.  The one gal I’m working with has never been to the races before and her “beginner’s luck” and her excitement was delightful…

Our ambulance, driven by my friendly co-workers, is always close behind…

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Mark your calendars…

Please note that Melissa and her daughters will be arriving at Sonnystone on Saturday, July 13 and staying until July 31.  Most of our friends know that I just open up the house and you can come by anytime, but I want to make it clear to all:  Please come by anytime.

I may or may not have a party, but even if I do, I don’t want that one time to be the only time you visit.  We want Emma and Eliza to see all of their friends while they’re here:  L, MJ, Sophie, Silas, Fiona, Archer, Berkeley, Briley,  Ben, Noah, Sam, and just everyone.   We’ll have the camper set up, there’s some craft work to be done, and I’ll try to feed them.   I know Melissa will be making the pool tour at Kristi’s, Elaine’s, Lauren’s, Sandy’s, and Burdette.  Give me a call and we’ll make some final plans for them.  I have to work several of the days they’re here, so don’t count on me;  I’m just the co-ordinator.  (you can see me anytime).  I’m sure Olivia will be hanging out most of the time, too, so come on!!!

special note to cousins:  it would be a Great time to visit..!  

I’ll be bugging you about this, so don’t think you can ignore me.

 

the Coldest Derby Ever…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn Random1 Comment

I’m accustomed to the rainy derby experience…about half the time it’s wet.  Kentucky Derby 139 was the Very Coldest, not to mention how dreadfully drab…   The track was so muddy that I couldn’t actually see the number of the winning horse…but Orb was one of my picks to show, as well as the third-place finisher, Revolutionary.  So I broke even!!!    That’s the same as winning, isn’t it???

I think so…

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Next Saturday is the First Saturday in May…

On By Jo Mayne CaseyIn RandomLeave a comment

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That’s Derby Day, folks!!  It’s time to pick our horses, whether by name, number, color, or any other winning formula that you devise.   I’ve been studying up over at http://www.kentuckyderby.com/.    I’m feeling pretty good about Will Take Charge, a Lukas horse with Jon Court riding, owned by Willis Horton; and I thought I’d support both of my jockey-friends by betting on Revolutionary, a Pletcher horse from WinStar Farm, jockey’d by Calvin Borel.   That’s my first impression, anyway.  How about you?  Really, help me pick a winner…so I can move on the more important decision:

What chapeau should I sport?  

kyderbyhat2Let’s just hope it’s not a rain bonnet…