A friend of mine talked me into getting tickets for Gold Cup this year. I had no idea what was in store for me …and I still don’t because it’s this coming Saturday. But I’ve been stressing and planning and hording and starving. I think I’m as ready as I’ll ever be - except I’m not at all sure what to wear.
Gold Cup is a pretty big deal around these parts which means there will be quite a few around-town-folks I know and that know me in attendance. Not to mention the 8 guests we have invited - all of whom but one (my sister) either work for my husband or are a spouse. Why does that stress me out? Why? Because I have to throw a small dinner party on someone else’s freaking lawn. It’s like having a formal picnic for Pete’s sake. But I’m fine. I’m happy. I’m thrilled. I’m excited. I’m hungry.
We got the box right next to my friend - who is also my realtor. She’s been to the event a bunch of times so I’m following her lead. I just know I’m going to end up on my face though. It’s like I can predict the future : “Almost Skinny Blonde Stumbles With Her Foot In Her Mouth and Breaks Her Forehead at Gold Cup”.
If that happens, please do not laugh. K fell down and broke her crown…
Speaking of horses, I am in love. I’ve been taking riding lessons for almost two months now and am totally smitten. I’m effortlessly posting, controlling my horse though corners while keeping him on the rail and am learning to watch my diagonal. All of these things were like Spanish or proper English to me a few months ago. No clue.
When I groom my horse, I can’t help but tell him a million times how pretty he is and how much I love him. I just stare into his big beautiful eyes and melt. No, he is not really my horse. Can you imagine if I actually had one? I’d probably let him sleep on my bedroom rug with my sweet Lil.
I have my 7 year old daughter to thank for this. She opened the door to a new and cherished hobby. Isn’t that wonderful? We take each lesson together and chat like school girls afterwards. It amazes me to tears.
Do you ride? Go to races? Have any idea what I should wear?
Want to stop by for a mimosa? I’ll be on the South Rail.
Oh dude. I had a love affair with my horse. I constantly referred to him as my steadfast boyfriend. He was totally committed to me, and I to him. He never let me down, and he was always a good listener. We shared pop (seriously … I have a picture somewhere of him drinking from my red pop bottle), and I would blow into his nose. He just stood there, memerized. He knickered at me whenever I entered to barn to feed him, and he was always happy to see me. J.R. was the best boyfriend I have ever, ever had. Seriously.
Horses are magnificent. Look into leasing one. And then you can decide whether you want to buy one. Leasing is a great option. You are responsible for them, but you get the satisfaction of “having” a horse. I leased a horse for a month or so before my parents bought J.R. for me. They wanted to see if I was serious.
J.R. and I rode some English, but he was a doggy Western Pleasure horse, so I could never get him to extend out to a good English-style trot. There is nothing like watching a horse trotting slowly and a rider trying in vain to look like she is doing a good job of posting. We never got into that natural posting state together. I did take English riding lessons on another horse who was a natural English trotter … now there I got into a good groove. But I could always tells that J.R. didn’t like the smell of other horses on me.
Oh yeah… and I lived in Lexington, KY for a while, so I would go to the races at Keeneland. I have also been to the KY Derby a few times.
I haven’t ridden since I was a girl scout. And we rode Western.
The last time I went to the races, it was for fun, not for show.
I wore jeans. Maybe a brown and white polka-dotted dress and a large brown straw hat. Or did Julia Roberts do that look alread?
I knew nothing about horses until I acquired a pre-teen horse-crazy girl who couldn’t sleep the night before the Derby (first weekend in May for all you non-Derbians out there). And the Preakness and Belmont and Santa Anita . . .
Get a great hat!
Ahhh mimosas… I’ll be having mine on Sunday after the younger set depart, thankyouverymuch… Mimosas - is that a hobby? Maybe that will be my new hobby - perfecting the mimosa… mmmmmm
Horses - a ton of work… fun to ride and groom when someone else is feeding them and mucking their stalls… You would definitely have yours in the living room if it was raining or cold… you’d best borrow one and get your horse fix that way.. I loved riding when I was a kid….
Actually my favorite hobby is handbell ringing.. I love that so much. I’m good at it. It’s nice to be good at something, you know?
Here’s the thing I don’t like about horses: they’re REALLY BIG.
Me, I’d wear sneakers and jeans. But we all know that I am helpless in the fashion department.
This is a closeness with your daughter you will cherish forever. Remember everything you can. Take pictures, for tomorrow will come fast.
I think you are going to pull this race thing off just perfectly. Send some photos of you all on those horses, woman!
we are going to be at the same place at the same time again. haha. unfortunately, i will not be enjoying the race, i will be working it. my Jaycee chapter park cars at both the spring and fall Gold Cup races to raise money for the chapter.
i am usually at Member’s Hill (which sounds like where you’ll be), but this year i think i’m getting placed at Gate 4. if you get a chance to wander around, come find me! just don’t pay attention to the unkempt, unsnazzy old jeans and Gold Cup Staff t-shirt i’ll be wearing, the no make-up look i’ll be sporting, and the unstyled hair that will be put up in a baseball cap.
And some day you’ll just feel the right diagonal and if somebody asks you about it you won’t even be able to tell them, your muscles will just have to show them.
Last time I rode I fell off and broke my sternum… and my helmet. Yeah, I’m not getting back on. But that’s ok because my wife liked my horse better so she sold hers and stole mine. Oh well!
I’m just catching up now…
Gold Cup sounds like so much fun. And I just know you’ll be fabulous!
It’s great you and your daughter have found something to bond over. I’m sure your relationship has benefited and that you will always cherish these memories. Good luck this weekend!
I lived in Kentucky for quite a while (Richmond) and have NEVER been to a horse race! Thats like blasphemy or something up there LOL A formal picnic huh? Never done that either! It’s always been like “here ya go buddy, have a burger or a burnt hotdog” !! But, you’re probably really good at that kind of thing