On Saturday we were fortunate to win our first race at Turfway Park this year. We finally had a resemblance of a spring like day. Every year we get a week the end of February or first of March where every thing dries up. Lows 28-40 at night and daytime in the high 40's and gradually getting into the 50's. The sky is very clear at night and you can see all the stars. The farmers are all working furiously to get things done before it starts raining for a month. It is also the height of skunk breeding season in this area and the aroma is evident. There are a lot more of them flattened on the road (mostly males) do to their one track mind.

We have had six foals so far with a few mares over due. Speaking of breeding, we were awarded Champion Indiana Bred 3 year old filly (Trust N Seven) for 2009. This was the last foal we got out of the mare SEVENTIES as she died a day or two after foaling this Champion filly. This was quite an honor for us and our breeding program. We were also second leading breeder of Indiana Breds for money won in 2009. The winner was Swifty Farms who foals over 40 mares a year. He is the owner of Swifty Oil and has hundreds of gas stations.

Another home bred MOR CHANCES (NY Bred) has been nominated for New York-bred Male Sprinter for 2009 after winning four sprint stakes in a row and placing in the G-3 Westchester Stakes, going 1 mile at Belmont Park. He didn't run after July of 2009 due to some injury, but he has made one start this year so hopefully he will come back and do well.

We had the two Stake winners in 2009 and two stakes placed, all homebred from a limited number of mares. So, I think we raise a pretty good horse on our Shelby County farm. We have a lot of nice two year olds this year. All of which are available for purchase in whole or in part. Join us for an adventure in thoroughbred racing.

Last year the stable ended up winning roughly $715,000. 27 wins, 3 Stake Wins. A good year, but we are still striving to get to a million in purse winnings.

This year has not started out very well at all. The three days that Turfway runs is not good for racing. Lack of effort by Turfway is not going to help anything. The weather has been terrible across the country as well as this local area hindering the training/racing process.

I sent ten horses to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs Arkansas for the first time in 25 years. In hind sight I probably should have sent a couple more. We have done pretty well so far winning three races and hitting the board with others. Oaklawn is one of the bright spots in racing. It is a clean facility and they get good crowds. Everyone shows up in their blue jeans and they bet.The weather has been cooler than usual down there, yet still a lot warmer than Kentucky. They also have one of the best BBQ places in the country called McClard's. This week we got the honor of Barn of the Week and everyone is quite pumped up about it.

Well, my friends, I (Elizabeth) have been wrestling with my parent's blog's ability to post pictures for about one half of an hour – and frankly….I am not intelligent nor patient enough to upload the 30+ pictures here, too.  So head over to Lizzie Loo's Blog and enjoy more of our vacation!!!

FYI:  Funny times some of you may have had when clicking on one of the links…sorry about that…I'm a hardworking bridesmaid on the search for cute garters…thus the accidental link!  All is well now 🙂  Hope you got a laugh!  

One would think that the NTRA who sponsors the Eclipse Awards Dinner would not choose a National Holiday to air this important event. One would think they would choose a day that they alone would shine in the world of sports. Every Martin Luther King Holidayy, almost every NBA team plays and they televise the games nationally from noon to well after midnight.

It is also ironic that Santa Anita had to cancel the card today. Due to the weather, the plastic track couldn't take it. It has been quietly announced that any California Track that wants to go back to an organic surface can do so. If Stronach holds on through the bankruptcy, Santa Anita will most likely change back to organic surface (better known as dirt) by the fall meet.