November of this year 2011 a year of financial turmoil in some fields of human endeavour but on…read morethe Horse-Racing fields of Kentucky, there was no such sign of any such turmoil. This November had me stretching my wing span from Melbourne, Victoria Australia, to Louisville, Kentucky USA all in a matter of a few days to ensure track-side viewing of two of the world's greatest and most exciting race meetings. The first being the Melbourne Cup, the world's richest Handicap thoroughbred horse race and the second meeting, for two grand days and fifteen glorious races of sheer joy and racing bliss at Churchill Downs for the tremendous Breeders Cup. Entitled, as usual, by Americans when it comes to many sporting events as the World Horse-Racing Championship. (See photo below) There is nothing quite more satisfying than to sniff newly mown hay and Blue Grass Turf and to hear the soothing sound of a fit thoroughbred horse's neigh, which says quite simply, 'Let's get on with it' while standing restless in their protective stalls before being mounted by their skillful jockey to head towards the parade ring. Then, as they reach the starting gates, along with the uplifting roar of the huge crowds, the distinctive sound of these majestic creature's hoofs leaving their starting stalls and gathering speed, pounding through the first furlong embracing the course like there is no tomorrow and no end in sight. This 2011 Breeders Cup for me marked 7 years of Breeders Cup attendance and while there are question marks as to whether this particular feisty filly, myself, can still strut her stuff with the best of those who follow the yearly Breeders Cup pilgrimage, methinks she can still hold her head up high and sigh, 'well, I certainly 'aint an old grey mare to be put out to pasture just yet!' (See photo below) Traditionally the Breeders Cup is held at a different USA venue every year and while it once was known as the richest one day race meeting in the world now stretched to two days it has since been surpassed by the The Dubai World Cup which has a give-away collection of monies worth over $US21 million $US10 million on the main race card attraction alone. Pure pocket change, of course, to those wealthy oil magnates who live in Dubai and the Emirates and who have an oil well or two in their backyards, no less. Each Breeders cup race is a momentous one which covers various distances and track surfaces, but they all lead up to the highlight event, the very last race on the race card, the Breeders Cup Classic worth a cool $5million to the winner and run on a dirt track. There have been some simply spectacular wins over the years, along with a few bitter disappointments, as everyone no matter what their flight of fancy loves a champion to stay a champion, come hell or high water and to always get home first. The joy of seeing the great Kentucky mare Zenyatta coming from mother-less last on her own home turf and then on the turn and into the straight, weaving her way through the great wall of horses in front of her in her traditional style, and with her trademark of a late finishing sprint to the line to actually put her nose in front where it belongs was a sight unparalleled in any sport ever seen anywhere. Watch this 2009 event below to see the horse finish of the century. Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud_XPH6Eix4 After a steely career of 19 consecutive wins under her belt, which included two Breeders Cup wins and going for her 20th, her last year being 2010 in none other than the almighty Breeders Cup Classic, the 'Great Dame' of racing left her barrier stall very late and was once again, 'stone mother-less last,' except this time, it was if she was taunting her backers, and leaving her run to the finishing line even too late for her. She finished an agonising second with only a nostril in it and to the eventual winner, 'Blame.' An aptly named winner, I suppose, under the circumstances, much to the shock and dismay of the huge crowd. Who were more than happy to 'Blame' the unlikely jockey rather than the horse or the circumstances. Such is the bewildering logic of followers of thoroughbred horse racing. Optimists to the end in any race. (See photo below) However, as a racing fan myself, it's hard not to lay some 'Blame' for this heart-wrenching defeat squarely on the shoulders of the jockey, Mike Smith, a famous American hoop (Jockey) who I am sure will never forgive himself for his lack of timing and judgement in this famous racing event. And, while here, I can not forget the great Irish mare Goldikova who won the Breeders Cup mile three times in a row and was going for her fourth this year. Sadly, her defeat was inevitable as she was squashed in on the rail and to her adoring fans she had to settle for a disappointing third spot in a race that will be remembered for being a pretty scrappy event. (See photo below) During Breeders Cup week us 'foreign infidels' march into town in our droves from

Thurby is becoming quite popular and is now a tourist attraction itself. Typically by Thursday,…read moremost of the vendors are set up to welcome visitors and create photo opportunities. The track opens at 10a and the races start at 12:45pm. I encourage an early arrival to have the easiest experience with parking, shuttles, roaming the track, snapping pictures and checking out the program for your first bet. We use the Twinspires app, but they have several wager windows open. Races run every 30 minutes and it's a quick day. Our visit was in the Skye Terrace, which connects to Millionaires Row. Outside balconies allow outside viewing while still being covered for bad weather. Our ticket also included food and drinks. Based on cocktail prices, I love the set pricing. Food is average. I love Derby Week! Don't hesitate coming to Thurby or any day during this time.

Once upon a time, this truly was the day for the locals…read more Once upon a time, before it was branded with a very silly name and rolled in to the Derby week hubbub, it was fun but kinda chill and manageable. But that was once upon a time....and now we are here and it is called Thurby, and it is almost as big a deal as Oaks (give it a couple more years....and locals will be priced out of it soon enough). This year, I was invited as a plus one to a catered, open-bar, indoor-outdoor area group event. I don't know what it cost, as that was covered by the group she was going with. So I primarily attended because I could go for free AND have my food and drink for the day be included. The most affordable Derby-week activity! Parking was more obnoxious than we had hoped and expected, but after weighing all options...we discovered that parking at the Expo Center and a shuttle to and from the Downs from there was included with our tickets so we opted to do it that way. There was still PLENTY (too much) walking to be done, but less than if we parked at the on-the-day pay lot/rideshare pick up and drop off area. So that was a win. I was grateful to discover that regular, not-see-through-able purses are still allowed in here because I didn't want to have to try to get one on crazy short notice....and while I would have preferred to travel light...I wanted to have a change of shoes to inevitably become more comfortable and switch my heels to flats. It was a good choice, btw. Or...I might could have just done flats for the whole day. But I also won't pass up a chance to get fancied up! The food was fine. Better than expected and better than it looked. The drinks were pretty decent, and at least one bartender was fabulous! (the other, we discovered halfway through the day, had a hidden earpiece and was communicating with someone else where...we thiiiiink about stock needs. This explained a lot about his unfriendliness and apparent nonsensical words anytime he did speak). The lines for betting were totally manageable in our area, and the employees working were patient and helpful. I had a great day! It was a fantastic time, primarily thanks to the company I kept...

Attended Thurby at Churchill Downs. Churchill downs is Louisville. Derby week is such a fun…read morefestival time in Louisville. We were in the new updated Jockey Suites. I love that they have the all inclusive tickets now. Horses, fascinators/hats, mint juleps and lillies what more could a girl ask for! Oh and the fashion. The city showed out! I also enjoy taking pictures/videos with all of the fun vendors! I love that they offer free parking and shuttles to Churchill downs during the week.

I recently attended the Delta Day event at Churchill Downs, and overall the experience was…read moreabsolutely amazing. The facility itself is huge, but despite there being what felt like hundreds of people there, it surprisingly never felt overly congested. Everything was very organized and well staffed, and I appreciated how employees were constantly walking around picking up dirty plates and keeping the environment clean and inviting. There was plenty of room to move around, socialize, and even space for dancing without feeling crowded. I also really appreciated some of the accessibility accommodations throughout the venue. Luckily, there were no steps required to get into the building, which made entering much easier. I was also pleasantly surprised when I went outside to the patio area to look at the horses and saw accessibility ramps available because I honestly expected there to only be stairs. As someone with mobility challenges, those details truly matter and made the experience much more enjoyable. However, I did have to take off a couple stars because the parking situation was frustrating from an accessibility standpoint. When I arrived, there were no handicapped parking spots available near the first turn area, so someone I knew actually had to take my cart and park it for me while I got out in my wheelchair and made my way into the building. That part definitely could have been handled better for guests with mobility needs. The food was also pretty good overall. I had chicken and potatoes along with a few other items, and the potatoes especially were really good. My only other complaint was the price of the Oaks Lily. Oh my gosh! $18 for such a small cup was honestly kind of shocking. I could only justify getting one because the price felt a little ridiculous for the size.

The Homestretch Club at Churchill Downs is open daily for every meet not just during Derby week…read more The Homestretch Club is a membership that includes seating along with food and beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. It is a beautiful venue with its own bathrooms, expansive bars and well appointed buffet. There are refrigerators with water, beer and colas. The Homestretch Club has many seating options both inside and outside. Horseshoe booths line the rail. The first floor features standing height tables along with couches and access to outdoor stadium seating. The upstairs features two levels of covered tables and swanky private suites. It is a very nice, climate-controlled area that adds a new level of fun at Churchill Downs.

Had the best time last night year can't wait till I go back again this year in a couple of weeks…read more Food and the drinks were the best!!!!

We have been to Keeneland numerous times but today was different. We purchased tickets for 4 to…read moreenjoy a day at the 1936 Room. It was fantastic and I wish we would have gotten here at 11am instead of 1pm. Admission price includes a ticket, heavy appetizers and selected drinks from 11am-4pm. It was well worth it. You also have access to the outdoor area at one end of the Paddock and there is an outside bar and betting machines steps away. We didn't have to wait on drinks at the bar and the apps were well stocked and servers were walking around with apps that were not on the stocked area. The atmosphere and service were outstanding. As a plus to the experience you get to see the jockeys walk into and out of the Paddock after each race within a few steps of you. My suggestion is to grab a high top where the jockeys walk by. It was a great day.

Another spring stellar season with new spaces, new menus, and fabulous experiences! The 1936 room…read moremay be my favorite new spot, with all inclusive drinks and food, fabulous and comfortable decor, exclusive views of the paddock and - air conditioning!

Anytime I have an opportunity to visit Ashford, I'm there. The farm continues to enthrall. But for…read moreall it's beauty, it is Triple Crown winner American Pharoah that brings me back over and over. 54

The tour we had was awesome! Our tour guide was very informative and answered many of our questions…read morewith enthusiasm. As a uninformed tourist, I learned a lot about the studs and their lineage, the breeding process, and about the Coolmore farms. They showed us the barns and told us interesting facts about the horses that stayed there. They also showed American Pharaoh and Epicenter out of their stalls, which was a great photo opportunity.

As an animal lover, I was thrilled when my wife told me we were going to visit retired racehorses…read more With the cold and snow rolling in, I was worried the tour might be canceled--but thankfully, it was still on. We gathered with the other guests, warming up in the office before heading out. For us humans, the weather was a bit much, but the horses absolutely loved it. One thing that really impressed me was how interactive the experience was. We weren't limited to standing behind a fence--we were able to feed the horses carrots and admire them up close. It made the visit feel personal and unforgettable. About halfway through, we stopped in the barn to watch a short film about the farm's history and mission--an informative (and very welcome!) break from the snow. Afterward, we ventured back out to meet the remaining horses. Despite the chilly weather, we had a wonderful time. If you love animals or just want a unique, heartfelt experience, this tour is absolutely worth it.

What an amazing place!! The founder fulfilled his dream of offering a retirement space for retired…read morethoroughbreds. You are able to visit these fantastic athletes up close on the tour and feed them carrots. Gorgeous landscape of rolling hills on the farm. Easy to walk. Jill, our tour leader, was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the horses. If you love horses, you'll fall in love with this place. If you aren't a horse lover, you will likely become one by the time you leave!

This beautiful Jessamine County farm is a family affair, owned and operated by the four Taylor…read morebrothers. Founded in 1976, 1600 acres of land is home to stallions, broodmares and foals. In addition to being a successful thoroughbred breeding operation, they are one of the top sales consignors. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was raised on the farm.

We just returned from visiting Taylor Made Farm in beautiful Nicholasville, KY. We thoroughly…read moreenjoyed the "California Chrome Experience". We will be returning in the near future for the general farm tour but if you are a racing fan I recommend you get tickets immediately - Chrome will be going to Chile soon and dates are limited - I cannot emphasize what a great opportunity this tour presents. If you miss it this season put it in your calendar for next year. We got to see California Chrome up close and personal! We got a visit from our friend Liam who works with these fabulous stallions every day! The tour was presented at a very leisurely pace. We were truly able to enjoy our time at Taylor Made Farm. Our tour guide Carly was fabulous! She answered questions and gave a very interesting overview of one of thoroughbred racing's megastars. We toured the breeding shed and the stallion barns. We each got individual photos taken in California Chrome's stall after feeding him one of his favorite cookies! Horse girl heaven let me tell you! We then took a scenic drive over the farm to one of the barns where Chrome's and other sire's babies are housed. The "California Chrome Experience" is a very interactive experience. Lots of opportunities for photos and petting the horses. After the tour we had a meal at Daddy Joe's Bar & Grill which was included with our tickets. Great job Taylor Made Farm for putting together a tour designed with horse lovers in mind. I would truly spend the money to go on the "California Chrome Experience" again. It was that enjoyable!!!