Derby Day at the Track

This past Saturday, my husband's parents were out of town so Todd (my hubby) and I went down to the racetrack in Idaho Falls to watch one of the famly's home-bred Thoroughbreds race. If she won, somebody needed to be there for the winner's circle picture.

The horse is a four-year-old and she was born on Kentucky Derby Day, so she was named Derby Cat. We always just called her Derby. The day she was born, the in-laws were again out of town. They're long haul truckers, so they are usually out of town and Todd and I run their operation as well as our own horses. Todd and I checked the mare in the morning, went home and watched the Derby, went back out to check and there was little Derby. I did a lot of the begining work with her and after a stint with a trainer that didn't work out, Todd and I worked with her as a three-year-old and now she's finally racing.

I don't know how many people out there have connections with racehorses. I know most of the people who are involved have some serious money behind their horses, but at the lower levels there are a lot of people who just have a couple of horses trying to break into the big money races. It's terribly expensive but, WOW! So exciting.

I've been a race fan and watched the Triple Crown races for as long as I can remember, way before I met Todd and his family. I used to name my toy horses after my favorites; I felt like I knew them. But it's an entirely different deal when it is a horse you know. My heart was in my throat for the whole race and I didn't have any feeling of let down at the end when she didn't win. In fact I was thrilled that she got fourth out of ten, because she had a miserable start and had to come from way behind. Heck, as keyed up as I was, if she had won my head probably would have exploded.

Well, anyway, it was fun, I'm definately going to be at the track for future races and I'll let you know if and when Derby wins. I've got my money on the fact that someday soon will truly be Derby's Day!