Uncertainty for the First Time

Tonight I played the last intramural flag football game of my college career. I can still remember playing in my first game as a pledge for Phi Gamma Delta’s “C-team” in September of 2007. Tonight I played for our “A-team” and I played, not as a freshman pledge, but as a senior brother. When the clock ran out, I don’t think that it had hit me yet that it was my last game; however, it’s hit me now.

Lately I have been doing a lot of thinking about the future and tonight’s game was just another reminder that a chapter of my life will soon be coming to an end. I’ll be graduating from the University of Kentucky this May and everything will be different. After the game, one of the freshman asked if I would still be in town to cheer on the team next year. I told him I hope I’m still in town, but I’m not sure. I know a year from now I’ll be in the “real world,” I just don’t know exactly where in that world I will be.

Uncertainty is a new feeling for me and I can honestly not think of a time where I couldn’t give an exact answer to the question, “Where will you be in a year?”

Will I be in Lexington? Will I move back to Louisville? Will I be working in the horse racing/breeding industry? If not, what will I be doing?

I cannot answer any of the above questions with certainty and that is very scary.

The only thing that I do know is that I’m going to be alright. I may get a great job right out of college and I may not. I may get the opportunity to continue working in the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry and I may not. But regardless of where I am and what I’m doing, I’ll have the love and support of God, my family, and my friends. I know that they’re all going to be there for me and, with support like that, I know I’m going to be just fine.

Here are some pictures of a few of those people that I know will always be there for me. This isn’t everyone, but it’s a good chunk.

 

 

 

Charlie Goes for Win #5 on Friday

Just wanted to let the readers know that our good friend Charlie (aka Usain Again) will be making his sixth start on Friday at Calder. Charlie will attempt to record his fifth win in the eighth race of an eleven race card. He will be making his first start at a distance under a mile and this race will also mark his first time going one-turn. Hopefully, Charlie will be able to overcome the odds again and cross the wire first. Best of luck to Charlie and to all of his connections! Go get ’em, boy!

“Usain Again Wins Again!”

“Usain Again wins again!” These words came from Calder’s track announcer Bobby Neuman last Friday at the conclusion of the fifth race when Charlie (now named Usain Again) crossed the wire first for the fourth time in five races. He simply loves the game and tries as hard as he can every time. He put his talents to the test outside of the claiming ranks for the first time and wasn’t given much love at the windows (going off at 8-1), but he beat the odds and recorded win #4. As he entered the winner’s circle at Calder on Friday, Neuman congratulated the connections and it was great to hear, “Usain Again was bred in Kentucky by the University of Kentucky.” I will make sure to let everyone know the next time Charlie is entered to race. Thankfully, I was able to inform the blog’s readers of Charlie’s last race several days in advance and I am hopeful that a few readers were able to cash in on his latest victory, where he paid $18.60 to win. I know one of the blog’s most faithful readers, “Observer,” put a few bucks on Charlie and I hope you did too.

Updates from the Library

Tomorrow I have a test in Plant and Animal Biology that will determine 33% of my grade in the class. I haven’t had much time to study because I’ve spent so much time at the Keeneland yearling sale, so now I’m at UK’s library and studying for the next several hours.

Right now I am taking a quick break from studying to give a couple of updates.

On September 6th I posted a story about a horse that I groomed for a class at UK when he was a yearling. “Charlie,” now named Usain Again, won his 3rd race on the 6th and improved his record to 3 wins from 3 starts. The full story can be read at https://reachingforroses.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/my-boy-charlie/. Well Charlie had his 4th career race on Thursday and he ran a very respectable 2nd to a horse that got loose on the lead. He is already entered in another race and will make start number five in the fifth race at Calder on Friday. This will be the first time that Charlie will test his talents outside of the claiming ranks. Good luck to Charlie and all of the connections on Friday. Go get win #4!

Also, a quick update on my time with Bluewater during the September sale. It has been an amazing experience. I have been doing a little bit of everything; including, turning in information to the repository, running cards, entering reserves, putting in updates, dealing with our clients, and working with potential buyers. Bluewater Sales has currently sold 28 yearlings for a gross of $3,245,500. The sales topper for the consignment sold on the opening night of the sale. Hip 73, a colt by Smart Strike out of Minister’s Mom, by Deputy Minister, sold to Ben Glass, agent for $475,000.

Well back to studying for me. I will post again this week with pictures from the sale. Until then, everyone have a great week!

Update Time!

Happy September, everyone! I am up a little bit early today and so I’m getting a post in before I head off to my 8 AM class. I’ve had 8 AM classes every semester since I’ve been in college and sometimes I’ve had trouble making it to class; however, this summer changed all that. During the summer I was waking up at 5:30 AM, six days a week. Now that I am back in school, I get to sleep in till 7 AM and get a weekend! I no longer have a problem getting up early. I definitely learned to be an early riser this summer.

Also, thank you to everyone that congratulated me on correctly selecting the exacta for the Travers Stakes. What an amazing race it was and congratulations to all of the connections of Afleet Express. To quote Allen Jerkens, “The epitome. A Travers. There’s nothing better than a Travers.”

A few quick updates.

• I may have another part-time job for the month of October! I did some volunteer landscaping with a few fraternity brothers at the UK Senior Center last Monday and apparently poison ivy was all over the place (six out of the eight people in my group have been affected). So, yesterday I went to the UK Clinic to be treated. I waited in the patient room for a few minutes and then the doctor came in and the first thing she said was, “I like your shirt!” I was wearing a Travers Stakes shirt and was slightly surprised that she commented on it. Unfortunately, unless a person is involved in the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry, very few people in Kentucky have ever heard of the Travers Stakes. We then started talking about horses and she told me that she knows the woman who owns and operates a horse farm tour company and they are looking for help. They are booked solid in the month of October due to the World Equestrian Games being in town and need people to assist in giving tours of Lexington horse farms and Keeneland. I got the woman’s contact information from the doctor (as well as some medicine) and called her later that day. I have an interview with the owner of the company on Thursday and I’m looking forward to it. I think it would be a lot of fun to be a tour guide of Keeneland and major Lexington horse farms. I love to talk and I love horses. What could be better than a job where I talk about horses?
• Sky is doing very well and beginning to show her pregnancy. She has definitely put on some weight in the last few weeks. She also is taking extremely well to the weaning of Skype and is happy in her new paddock.
• As some of you may know, I am assisting in the writing of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Bio Book. The book consists of trainers, jockeys, owners, and breeders with horses pointing towards the 2010 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Recently I spoke to a few of the trainers on my list and I am now working on putting together their biographies. The BC Bio book is due to release at the end of October, so make sure to keep a look out for that.
• I met with my adviser on Monday and everything is in order for me to graduate in May. After this semester, only 15 hours of credit will separate me from my B.S. degree in Equine Management with a minor in Agricultural Economics.

Well, I need to start getting ready for class so I will leave everyone with that. Quick note; however, now that school is back in session I will be unable to post as often as I did over the summer. My goal is to post at least twice a week and maybe even get a third post in at the end of the week. We’ll see how it goes.

Take care!

Spreading the word about Keeneland

Classes at the University of Kentucky start on Wednesday and the first week of school is referred to as “K-Week.” K-week kicked off last Friday and it consists of several events aimed at introducing freshman to the University and making them feel more at home. This afternoon there was an event called “Lex-Mart,” which consisted of several companies in Lexington handing out free gifts and information to freshman. I ran the table for Keeneland and had the opportunity to tell thousands of freshman about Keeneland and what makes it so special. I came with hundreds of flyers, pens, and magazines and everything was gone by the end of the event. In the “About Me” section of this blog, I have written that going to Saratoga Race Course for the first time was what flipped my switch from casual fan to fanatic. Keeneland is an amazing place and definitely has the power to flip the switch for people. I hope some of the young men and women I talked to today go to Keeneland this October and fall in love with the sport. I hope I talked to some future owners and breeders today. Thoroughbred horse racing is a sport like no other and there are few places that display the greatness and beauty of the sport as well as Keeneland. Plenty of freshman at the University of Kentucky will visit Keeneland this fall for the first time and that’s very exciting. If you are in the area and have some friends that haven’t had the opportunity to visit Keeneland, then make a trip with them there a top priority in October. They’ll thank you for a great afternoon and the whole industry will owe you thanks for doing your part to help grow this incredible sport’s fan base.

The Plan for the Next Few Months

I am finally back in Lexington, Kentucky and all moved into my new house. The last few days have been busy with unpacking and decorating, but I think I’m finished for now. Today I am going to let everyone know my plans for the upcoming months.

My first job is to be a student at the University of Kentucky. I only have two semesters left before I graduate and that is both exciting and incredibly frightening! My first day of classes is August 25th and for those of you who may be interested, here are the classes I will be taking this semester.
Calculus I
Livestock Marketing
Principles of Biology II
Business Writing
Hospitality & Tourism Marketing

I will also be working this semester at a variety of places. I will be working for the Breeders’ Cup as a writer. The BC is putting together a biography book, full of information on the BC horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, etc, and I will be assisting in the writing of that book. I’ll also be working the Keeneland September Yearling sale with Bluewater Sales. I worked with Bluewater at the last Keeneland January sale and it was a great experience. If things go well in September, I may also work for them at the Keeneland November sale. My hope is that I will also be working with Keeneland during the racing meet in October. I’ve worked for Keeneland the last two racing meets and would love to make it three in a row.

So, here is how the next few months are shaping up for me.

August: School, Breeders’ Cup Bio Book
September: School, Breeders’ Cup Bio Book, September Yearling Sale with Bluewater Sales
October: School, Breeders’ Cup Bio Book, working with Keeneland during race meet
November: School, working Keeneland November sale

To add-on to that list, I’ll also be spending lots of time with Sky and Skype, working with my church in Lexington (Southland Christian), staying active in my fraternity, and trying to have a social life and enjoy my final year of college. It’ll be a busy few months indeed, but exciting ones as well.