Barbara Livingston's Near Miss

By Eliza

I don't think this is the first time I have raved about Barbara Livingston's photography, and she's not exactly undiscovered.  However, this is an amazing slideshow up at www.drf.com of an almost-accident that happened during Belmont training, in which I'll Have Another almost got hit by a runaway horse.  Cameo by Lava Man.  Hi, Lava Man.

New Post up at Raceday 360

By Eliza

Getting ready to watch the Belmont and see if I'll Have Another can make history with a Triple Crown win?  Check out my most recent Outrider column over at Raceday 360 to learn about Sir Barton, the first horse to win the Triple Crown. . .even though no one called it that.

Acrostic Poem: Horse

By Kitson

My third grader has been writing acrostic poems in school this spring. He has inspired me. Hardly a better subject to write a poem about than the...

Preakness and Turf Writing

By Eliza

Because of my long-standing preoccupation with the racehorse Exerminator, I read a lot of historic turf writing, often from the 1910s and 1920s.  I love it; writer were unafraid to gush, to write passionately.  It was like watching racing movies all the time. I thought of those older pieces when I was reading Joe Drape's article about the Preakness.  This is an exciting year; in I'll Have Another we've got a horse that could go all the way and be a Triple Crown winner.  His article reflects that.

Looking for a Preakness pick?

The middle jewel in the Triple Crown is often the middle child, overlooked all too often, but this year the Preakness has an exciting question:  Can the Bob Baffert-trained Bodemeister take the victory he, many believe, should have had in the Kentucky Derby?

Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper Headed to London

By Kitson

Mystery Whisper behind the scenes during his winning weekend at Jersey Fresh,
all photos courtesy of Joanie Morris.

Last month I chatted with Phillip Dutton as he drove south from his farm in Pennsylvania to Kentucky for the Rolex 3-Day Event, which was an "observation" event as part of the selection process for the Olympic team. I asked him about his preparations and hopes for the 2012 Olympics, and the four horses he's campaigning (Mystery Whisper, Ben, Fernhill Eagle and Mighty Nice, more info about them here). He told me -- when it comes to making the Olympic team, "It all depends on how these horses go. So many things can happen, we just do our best and wait it out.”

Katherine Bateson-Chandler's New Ride

By Kitson

Alcazar, photo courtesy of Katherine Bateson-Chandler

I got a little horsie eye candy yesterday from Grand Prix dressage champion Katherine Bateson-Chandler: a picture of her new horse, who started out as Alonzo but as of yesterday had been re-named Alcazar. The 7-year old Dutch-bred Warmblood gelding (recently purchased by Jane Clark) arrived at Katherine's barn in Wellington last month. Check out an article about this gorgeous creature at Eurodressage.com.

The Onion Takes on the Kentucky Derby

By Eliza

A very funny moment from the writers over at The Onion, as they imagine what Derby winner I'll Have Another must have been thinking.  A selection: "Then a horn sounded and it scared the hell out of me and everyone was running," the horse added. "And all I could think was, 'I'm only 3 years old. Please, God, I'm only 3.'"

Speaking of Secretariat...

By Kitson

Three weeks ago I blogged about a little great-grandson of Secretariat being pulled out of a dismal and neglectful situation. Here's a updated picture of the chestnut foal and the TB yearling, Willow who suffered the same neglect. They look so much better and appear to be solidly on the road to recovery at Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue.

Doodle 4 Google Secretariat contestant

By Eliza

Those of you who have kids may have had them enter the Doodle 4 Google art contest, in which young artists drew a Google image about a place and time they wanted to visit.  Piper F., in Grade 7 in Heath, Texas, said she wanted to see Secretariat win the Triple Crown.  Gorgeous "doodle" (these are really full-fledged works of art).  Vote for Piper F.!  Click here to see her work.

Story about racehorse trainer Max Hirsch

By Eliza

Derby week racing focus continues with a link to a story I wrote about the great trainer Max Hirsch. . .
Click here.