I know this is a late post!! I just wanted to share with you all about my and Preston’s trip to Los Angeles for the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Park this year. It was such a blast and a whirlwind trip! We met some cool people and got to see old friends. The horses were so amazing and it was incredible to get to see some of the most talented Thoroughbreds in the world!
Santa Anita was MAGNIFICENT. I had never been to a track other than our local Emerald Downs. The history that is tangible in the grandstands is astounding. They have a gorgeous infield (which was regrettably closed), a pretty cool downhill turf course, and a GIANT mural of my favorite racehorse, Flightline. The decor and style are so steeped in the track’s history and there are commemorations of some of the most decorated thoroughbreds this world has ever seen. The way they decked out the entire grounds for BC was so much fun. Gold and purple EVERYWHERE. It felt so sumptuous and luxurious.
Thursday night after we flew in, we went to dinner where almost EVERYONE in the restaurant was there for BC. We met a handicapper from Indiana and a Breeders’ Cup organizer. On Friday night on our way back to our hotel room, one of our neighbors was a professional photographer who was shooting at the races. The biggest highlight was meeting Red King who was a competitor at the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover this year, and his rider. He was such a sweet boy and I just wanted to pack him in my duffle bag and take him home. Friday night after the races, we got to go to dinner with Jen and Rachel, who we met up with earlier in the day at the paddock. It was so nice to catch up and keep them updated on Ruffi.
Future Stars Friday as the first day of BC racing is called, is dedicated to the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow. International contenders put up quite a showing with 2 winners and 5 additional top 3 placings in the five juvenile BC races. Justify offspring didn’t disappoint either with two of his babies bringing home wins as well on the first day of racing.
Breeders’s Cup Saturday was even more thrilling. To watch horses that have become household names run was breathtaking; to watch Cody’s Wish pull it out one more time for Cody Dorman with the crowd screaming and out of their seats; to watch some of the biggest contenders in the sport, White Abario, Arabian Knight, Clairiere, National Treasure, Charge It and Zozos, thinking about it now brings tears to my eyes. What a rush it was to be on the RAIL as the Breeders’ Cup Classic went off, watching the best horses in the world thunder by, not once, but twice; breaking from the the gate and the last push to the finish. Just astounding.
After our trip this year, we will definitely be going back. We picked up a few souvenirs, a shirt for Preston, a mug for me, and pins for our lanyards, to commemorate our first time at the Breeders’ Cup.
See you next year at Del Mar.
A