...in other words, a Day at the Races....
Today I joined some 30 other photographers from one of my Long Island Meetup Groups for a trip to Belmont Park Racetrack. The weather started out a bit "iffy" but despite a chilly start the rain staved off and the cloudy day meant a lot less nasty shadows.....
The track was also quite wet and muddy which leant itself to some interesting pictures.
A winning jockey, one raced and one ready to.....
The Stewards who make it all go round...
And then.... my favourite image of the day.....
Man and beast ... both just as dirty as each other and a race well run......
Oh yeah and the one bet I placed for the day, on a whim, #3 in the 9th, Treasure Beach came in at 2:1 for a place. Just a shame I only put $5 bucks on him instead of 100K!! Otherwise I'd have been sleeping at the Plaza (or Waldorf) tonight!!
Marie, I think these are so beautiful. That sport is intense, grueling, punishing, and beautiful. And you've really honored it. It's got to be great fun to go out with like minds to a day of excitement and creativity.
Posted by: Chris | October 07, 2012 at 08:59 AM
Awesome pictures - love the last one best too!! (I seem to remember being covered in mud a time or 2 as a youngster - but that was usually because I got dumped into the mud after trying some fool stunt from horseback or from an over abundance of energy in my young one - I always rode bareback....)
Love all the clown pictures too!!!
Posted by: Tera | October 02, 2012 at 04:56 AM
I feel sorry for the poor soul who has to deal with all that washing!!! Fantastic captures! You really have got the essence of all that adrenline surging.
Your bet sounds like my $5 on the chocolate wheel when we go to Burswood (now called The Crown). And that's only once in a very blue moon!
Posted by: Cindy Lane | October 01, 2012 at 10:00 PM
what a great event to capture
Posted by: Chantal | October 01, 2012 at 04:54 AM
Got to love when a whim pays off!
What great action shots and that final one is just, well priceless, raw, gritty it really captures the moment of how challenging the race was, great stuff!
Posted by: Bren | September 30, 2012 at 06:31 PM
fabulous photographs ... and your 'winning jockey' (BIG smile), Mike Smith is a friend from my home state of New Mexico!
Posted by: Deborah | September 30, 2012 at 02:43 PM
Great photos - I like the muddy ones the best.
Posted by: joanne thieme huffman | September 30, 2012 at 09:57 AM
Great pictures, the hands of the older jockey tell a story in thenselves.OXOX M
Posted by: Mother Bear | September 30, 2012 at 04:23 AM