Churchill Downs

[Pugrpooh]

We went to the track yesterday, which is something we don't do often enough.
I was hoping to try my hand at panning but I forgot to read up on it beforehand so I didn't get any good examples of that technique. The forecasted thunderstorms didn't appear so I did get some good shots from around the track.

Before the opening of the spring meet, they installed permanent lighting for night racing, which has proven to be very popular. However, I wish they could do something with the light poles during the day. I decided I really didn't like them.

http://lynn59.smugmug.com/Other/Churchill-Downs-June-12-2010/P6124052edited-1/898860825_cYEKL-L.jpg

We were on Millionaires Row, 6th floor where they had a nice buffet set up and where we could get in from the 90+ degree heat.

http://lynn59.smugmug.com/Other/Churchill-Downs-June-12-2010/Millionaires-Row-6th-Floor/899238712_wTWQj-L.jpg

This was the first race and I had a bet on #3 ridden by Calvin Borel. He won and I won all of 10 cents!:banana:

http://lynn59.smugmug.com/Other/Churchill-Downs-June-12-2010/P6123973edited-1/899345928_FzChP-L.jpg

But I was really excited that Rachel Alexandra was racing! She is the 2009 Horse of the Year. I went down to the paddock to see her saddled up. Calvin Borel was riding her again.

http://lynn59.smugmug.com/Other/Churchill-Downs-June-12-2010/P6124041edited-1/898842397_Jxtsw-L.jpg

http://lynn59.smugmug.com/Other/Churchill-Downs-June-12-2010/P6124045edited-1/899207586_NBaWS-L.jpg

These statues of Aristides, the winner of the first Kentucky Derby, and Pat Day who I think has to be one of the classiest and nicest jockeys ever, are across from the paddock.

http://lynn59.smugmug.com/Other/Churchill-Downs-June-12-2010/P6124099edited-1/899237317_wihHE-L.jpg

I got as close to the rail as I could to see Rachel race. As an aside, the church you see rising up behind the starting gate is Holy Name Catholic Church where my dad went to grade school and my parents met. He lived two doors down from there and two doors down on the other side of him lived Roscoe Goose, who was the jockey that won the 1913 Derby on Donerail. He used to take my dad over to the backside to visit the barns. You can also see the newly expanded Papa John's Cardinal Stadium where the University of Louisville football team plays.

http://lynn59.smugmug.com/Other/Churchill-Downs-June-12-2010/P6124054edited-2/899358407_cnCfK-L.jpg

Here are some shots of Rachel Alexandra leaving the rest of the field behind her as she wins by 10 1/2 lengths.

http://lynn59.smugmug.com/Other/Churchill-Downs-June-12-2010/RachelAlexandra/899236017_qbJ52-L.jpg

http://lynn59.smugmug.com/Other/Churchill-Downs-June-12-2010/P6124091edited-1/899236680_7AKHv-L.jpg

Thanks for looking! I think this qualifies as my longest post ever!:goodvibes

[ukcatfan]

Thanks for the shots! I never got out to the track too often, but that is one of the things I really miss about Kentucky :guilty:

[My2Girls66]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing them:)

[Poohlovr]

Totally OT, but if you were on Mil 6, you may have seen my 17 yr old grandson! He works there during the spring and fall meets.

[Pugrpooh]

Totally OT, but if you were on Mil 6, you may have seen my 17 yr old grandson! He works there during the spring and fall meets.

It's a small world, isn't it? Does he work in food service? Most of the young guys I saw were refilling water glasses and busing tables. Do you live in Louisville too?

[DefLepard]

Thanks for my new wallpapers !!!

awesome pics of Rachel Alexandra :yay:

[Pugrpooh]

Thanks for my new wallpapers !!!

awesome pics of Rachel Alexandra :yay:

You're welcome and thanks! I'm flattered! I didn't know she was racing Saturday so I was quite excited when I saw her in the program.

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Lucky Ducky. How much is millionaires row? We were there this year for Dawn at the downs and loved it. How long is the food out for? Love the photo's Just wondering what kind of camera do you have?

[Pugrpooh]

Lucky Ducky. How much is millionaires row? We were there this year for Dawn at the downs and loved it. How long is the food out for? Love the photo's Just wondering what kind of camera do you have?

Thanks! We paid $36.50 per seat which included reserved seat, racing program and the buffet lunch. I'm thinking of going back 7/3 or 7/4 for Family Days on Millionaires Row 4th floor. That's only $27 per seat. The buffet included pulled pork BBQ, turkey at the carving station, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, loaded baked potatoes, cheese tortellini in cream and mushroom sauce and then salad and rolls were on the tables. Not to mention all the desserts and strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Around 2:30 or 3 I think, they took all that away and brought out potato chips, tortilla chips, nacho cheese, salsa, sausages with sauteed onions and green peppers and different desserts! And yes, I ate most of it!:rotfl:

We've done Millionaires Row on Oaks Day as guests, but it's much nicer going without all the crowds, although we did see George Bush the elder.

And I'm in the minority on this board with an Olympus camera. Now I have the E600 and use the 12-60mm f/2.8-4 most of the time, which is an awesome lens. The photos I took from the 6th floor of the races, I used the 70-300mm, which with Olympus's 2x crop factor is up to 600mm equivalent.

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Thanks! We paid $36.50 per seat which included reserved seat, racing program and the buffet lunch. I'm thinking of going back 7/3 or 7/4 for Family Days on Millionaires Row 4th floor. That's only $27 per seat. The buffet included pulled pork BBQ, turkey at the carving station, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, loaded baked potatoes, cheese tortellini in cream and mushroom sauce and then salad and rolls were on the tables. Not to mention all the desserts and strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Around 2:30 or 3 I think, they took all that away and brought out potato chips, tortilla chips, nacho cheese, salsa, sausages with sauteed onions and green peppers and different desserts! And yes, I ate most of it!:rotfl:

We've done Millionaires Row on Oaks Day as guests, but it's much nicer going without all the crowds, although we did see George Bush the elder.

And I'm in the minority on this board with an Olympus camera. Now I have the E600 and use the 12-60mm f/2.8-4 most of the time, which is an awesome lens. The photos I took from the 6th floor of the races, I used the 70-300mm, which with Olympus's 2x crop factor is up to 600mm equivalent.

Hmmmmm I might have to talk DW into going to CD on July 3. Good price for a meal and to get out of this HEAT!!:scared1: And no so much heat as it is 55%+ humidity:eek:

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Here are a few from dawn at the downs. The food was ok, but the view was soooo worth it.

What is looked like when we first got to Millionaire's row 6
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/kycruisecrazy40047/d3c31f35.jpg

Just got done eating breakfast
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/kycruisecrazy40047/741e954f.jpg

This was one of the favored Derby horses
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/kycruisecrazy40047/51443709.jpg

Need I say more??
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/kycruisecrazy40047/9e050ddd.jpg