Tour of Horse Farms

July 17, Thursday: Up early and off to the Horse Park to meet up with our guide who is going to take us to see the Keeneland Race Track and some Horse Farms. As we were driving around Sam, our guide, pointed out a few housing tracks and commercial building that used to be old horse farms. A true look at the modern times where a lot of the farms are being sold to big developers and some are being taken over by "corporate farms". They are predicting that in 30 years most of the Farms will be gone.
Our first stop was the Keeneland Race Track. This track is alot smaller than Churchill Downs. We both really liked the smaller track. This race track is not only known for its racing but also for the auctions that are held twice a year. This is where the yearlings are auction that hopefully will make it to the Kentucky Derby and other races.
Next stop is the Stud Farm. As we were driving up to the really nice "house" it turned out to be the Stud offices with the stables behind it. These horses live in better houses than most of us. One of the studs was bought for $21 million. He is studded out around 300 times a year which takes place over a 3 to 4 month period at $300,000 for each service. This payment is not due until the foal is born. If you do the math that is $90,000,000 a year. Not bad for a $21 million investment. Sam was explaining how this is really where the money is. The racing is a very small part. It is the breeding that Big Business is into.
After the tour we stopped at this quaint tavern to have lunch. OHHHHHHHH good food.
Now we get to see the brood-mares and their foals. Almost all foals are born between January and April. All foals are deemed 1 year old the following January. So you can see the earlier they are born the older "1 year-old" they are. They start racing when they are 2 years old. If you want to enter your colt or filly in the Kentucky Derby, it has to registered at its first birthday for $25,000.00 then another $25,000.00 on its 2nd birthday. Now remember there are only 20 horses that run in the Derby. There are anywhere from 35,000 to 40,000 foals born just in this area each year hoping to make it to the Kentucky Derby.
Now I have to say most of the previous comments of our day are from Larry because you do not want my ranting and raving of this whole process. If you would like to hear some of my comments (many of which Larry agrees with me) e-mail me.
We were glad to hear about some of the retirement farms for some of this magnificent animals. But what about all the others???????????????
It was a 3 hour tour so time to go back for a little walk with the dogs before we walked through the Saddleback Museum. We even made it all the way through this one.
Quiet evening. Sat outside with the dogs before getting ready to head out tomorrow.

For some reason I am having trouble with my pictures hopefully (after I stop cussing) I can retrieve them to show you.