On Saturday, we slept in a bit before getting properly caffeinated for the day. We then made a quick run to the park to buy raffle tickets and pick up our celebration models and special runs.
We usually go in the back way behind the covered arena so we don't have to look for a parking place in the lot and then traipse all the way through the park over to the covered arena.
While waiting in line to buy tickets, we admired the silent auction items on display.
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| Glossy versions of the Scandi Surprise horses |
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| Cassowary test for the Birds of a Feather series |
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| A factory custom test Foalzilla with a flippy tail |
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| Saturday raffle model |
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| Sunday raffle model |
While making a quick sweep through the arena vendors, we spotted Öjvind performing with other Gotland ponies. He's so tiny! Breyer featured him on the new Highland Pony mold this year which was a must buy for me.
We headed back to our hotel at that point to grab a quick lunch and leave our models in our nice cool room. We had hoped to spend part of the afternoon at the CHIN before
taking a shuttle back out to the park for the raffle. However, none of
the shuttles operated until about 5pm, so we opted to just kill a
few hours at the park instead. It was a hot, humid day (although
honestly not as bad as many years have been), so we thought doing some
things in the air conditioning like checking out the gift shop and
museum would be a good idea.
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| In through the front gates this time |
After you pass through the gates, you cross over a pretty stone bridge which usually spans a mostly dry creek. This year with all of the heavy rain, the creek was burbling and full.
Before we made our way to the visitors' center and gift shop, we took a detour to stroll down the shady avenue to pay our respects to Man O' War.
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| The most hallowed patch of ground in Kentucky |
Then, after mostly behaving ourselves in the gift shop...
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| We didn't do this, but we definitely laughed |
...we were pleased to see the auction models still on display. Not that we had the means to do anything more than ogle them, but they were fun to see up close all the same.
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| My favorite piece |
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| Not my favorite mold, but the pattern is stupendous |
As we left the visitors' center, we passed by this giant photo frame with blue Lexington...
...which, having given my sister the book Horse by Geraldine Brooks, reminded me of something I wanted to show her in the museum. Criminally, she has not yet read the book, so seeing the real Lexington in person probably fell a bit flat, but I nerded out enough for the both of us. The museum has been rearranged a bit since last we visited, but it's always a treat to see this hoary old legend of the turf. (The book is a fictionalized account of Lexington's life, but it's a terrific read. Kleenex required.)
When we entered the museum, a group had been out front demonstrating how horse hair pottery is made, and as we left the museum, the celebration horse, Flinka the Fjord, was there donating some hair to the project. We were delighted to have the opportunity to photograph and pet her. She was so flipping cute!
The sky was getting overcast by this point, and it was time to make our way back over to the covered arena for the raffle anyway. We followed some of the park's mounted police and detoured through their barn en route.
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| Oliver, a past BF celebration horse |
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| Obligatory barn kitty |
A very cute, on theme jump we passed near the covered arena.
We bought our usual $20 worth of raffle tickets (which used to get you 22 tickets but now only gets you 16), and to the surprise of absolutely no one, we did not win. (Although someone else who bought only $20 worth of tickets did get drawn, so it's not completely hopeless.) But I really never expect to be drawn. When you're only 1 for 37, it's more about masochistic tradition (and donating to a good cause) than anything else.
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| The raffle crowd |
This post ended up being longer than I planned, so I'll leave things here for now, and I'll share the wrap up and loot pix in a day or two!
