Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Morning workout at the track


Arrive


Advise


Consent


Worry


Work


Clock it


Rest

37 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Nice DOF...Did u really get up that early?

Pasadena Adjacent said...

^ ^ ^

she did

Bellis said...

Me too! When you get there, it's worth it, you just want to go every morning for breakfast. They're getting ready for the St Patrick's day races this Saturday.

Karin, very ethereal image, and almost a black and white - were you pointing into the sun?

altadenahiker said...

I arrived way before you and Bonny. But yes, I pointed into where the sun would be, eventually.

Desiree said...

Love it--

Bellis said...

Love the photo story!

BaysideLife said...

Beautiful animals. You are so not going to like the quote I used on today's post!

Ms M said...

Nice photo essay!

Katie said...

Delightful photos, especially the top one. What a workout!

Margaret said...

Well I guess you had a nice morning.

Bec said...

*almost* makes me want to get out of the house early! Great photos

Anonymous said...

You caught two well known trainers.

Marjie said...

Because who doesn't like the ponies!

Mister Earl said...

I've been to Clocker's Corner, but I didn't understand the different things they were doing with the horses. When you watch, do you understand what they're doing? Some are going fast, some slow, some really slow, some seem to be fighting the horse....

altadenahiker said...

Earl, you pay for the coffee and toast, and I'll explain everything they're doing. Why some are breezing, galloping, why some have an outrider, why some riders turn the horse's head to the rail -- there's a million things going on out there.

altadenahiker said...

In fact, if you want, bring that day's Daily Racing Form and I'll teach you how to handicap, though I don't bet on horses anymore.

Paula said...

Do you have a pal there or is the public allowed to observe up close? It must be great to be near them while they're working. I can smell and hear the whole scene. Love horses.

Bellis said...

Paula, just go. Anyone can go to Clockers. Get there before 9 am, best even earlier.

Mister Earl said...

Deal. When are good days to go?

Rob said...

Love the images. I feel tired after this workout.

altadenahiker said...

Bellis, not as easy as it sounds. Paula lives in Florida.

Paula, anyone can watch the workouts, but you need to be credentialed to get into the shedrows -- that small, behind the scenes village that exists at the major tracks. And I no longer know anyone back there.

Earl, Wed - Fri are usually the best days.

Carolynn said...

How exciting to spend your day there. We just watched an old movie about a racehorse called "Dreamer". Very good, staring Dakota Fanning. You couldn't pay me enough to get on the back of a racehorse - way too much power and speed for this wus.

Banjo52 said...

Your photos really put me there. I smell it. Nice. I'm pretty sure that with any sport there are a "million" things going on once you're at a professional level. I think people who dismiss all sport don't get that.

TheChieftess said...

Giddyup!!! Can't say that I've ever made it to the track for breakfast...looks like it just might be worth getting up early!!!

Cafe Pasadena said...

You look good on a horse. (imho)

Petrea Burchard said...

One of my favorite spots.

Susan Campisi said...

A story told in 7 pics. I really love that first one.

sonia a. mascaro said...

Love these serie of photos!
When I was young, I used to ride. "Montar a cavalo" in Portuguese.

altadenahiker said...

Carolynn, I made a one-day attempt as an exercise rider at the track and failed miserably.

Chieftess, next time you two are in town...

CP, TY

Banjo, we always agree on that.

Susan, that's my favorite, too. It's fun to get there really early and watch the professionals trickle in.

Sonia -- maybe I'll learn Portuguese after all, one blog post at a time.

patti said...

Beautiful! I used to hang out in the horse barn while my (then) teenage daughter took lessons. I miss them. I would bring a bag of carrots and make friends.

Virginia said...

Since I'm clueless about all this, I was fascinated with your photostory. I 'd like to photograph you on a pony one day my dear.
V

Young at Heart said...

wow how funny as I've been watching 'Luck'..... brilliant!!

Terri said...

I know less than nothing about horse racing and little more about horses, but you take wonderful photos. And that's probably the last sincere sarcasm-free compliment you'll get from me in a while.

Kaori said...

I've always wanted to go to the races. How exciting!

altadenahiker said...

Not a fan of the racing scene, having witnessed some of the dark underbelly. But the exercise runs in the morning -- watching what the horses and the riders love to do -- that is, as you might say, a different animal.

Ken Mac said...

love that top shot! So California....

Tash said...

Oh, all the drama and all the pretty, pretty horses.