Churchill Downs and The kentucky Derby Museum a repost

A ‘My Quality Time” visit to Churchill Downs & The Kentucky Derby Museum ( FELLOW BLOGGERS SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND TO COMMENT LATELY)


The Kentucky Derby Museum first opened its doors in April 1985. The Museum sits adjacent to historic Churchill Downs Racetrack.

Linda and I enjoyed; Historic Walking Tour (included with admission) & The Behind the Scenes Walking Tour


F.Y.I.:: Hoverboards are the only 2016 addition to Churchill Downs' list of security “do's and don'ts” for the Oaks and Derby, set for Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, respectively, Read More



Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that, in 1973, became the first U.S. Triple Crown winner in 25 years. He set race records in all three events in the series – the Kentucky Derby (1:59²⁄₅), the Preakness Stakes (1:53), and the Belmont Stakes (2:24) – records that still stand today. He is considered to be one of the greatest Thoroughbreds of all time. Read More

Whirlaway won the U.S. Triple Crown in 1941. Whirlaway was widely known as "Mr. Longtail" because his tail was especially long and thick and it would blow far out behind him during races, flowing dramatically in the wind.


As many as 120,000 mint juleps will be downed at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

The mint julep as we now know it became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1938. By then, Kentucky bourbon,  had replaced its more saccharine cousins as the main spirit in the cocktail.

Did you know:: “Mint juleps were served in pewter julep cups with crushed or shaved ice for a specific reason: The purpose of the cups isn't immediately clear to most drinkers because they are holding them wrong. Julep cups should only be held by the top or the bottom so that the crushed ice inside them can create a frost on the outside.”

“Hold on to your Derby hats for a thrilling new, “The Greatest Race™” - ten years in the making and projected larger-than-life in one of the world’s only 360°, 4K theaters. An immersive sound and visual experience that will send your heart racing and emotions soaring - only at the Kentucky Derby Museum where every day is Derby Day.” This theater is really neat……………………….

Moving on…



Note: World's Largest 4K Video Board at Churchill Downs…. The 171-foot wide by 90-foot tall video board will sit 80-feet above the ground and will top out at 170-feet in height so that fans throughout the racetrack will be able to view crystal clear racing content. Read More..

Heads Up:: If you get to the first or second Behind the Scenes Walking Tour you will probably get to see some of the horses “working out”.

That horse wants to be going a lot faster,but the rider is holding him back… notice the position of the horses head. (says the tour guide)

Look at the depth of that sand… That is finer sand than a lot of golf courses I play at. “The track surface plays a vital role in safety.  Experts have long considered Churchill Downs’ dirt track to be one of the safest surfaces in horse racing. The one-mile oval stretches 80 feet in width and has a unique 12-inch resilient clay base on top of a 25-foot sandy loam sub-base. Eight inches of carefully sifted and mixed materials sit atop the clay base: a blend of 75% round river sand, 23% silt and 2% clay. The silt and clay function as a bind for the sand. The top three inches are fluffed and act as a cushion for the horse, while the compacted, resilient five-inch cushion underneath protects the horse from ever reaching the sturdy base. Churchill Downs’ stretch is one of the longest in horse racing, with a distance of 1,234½ feet from the turn for home to the finish line.” Read More 

The twin spires atop the grandstands are the most recognizable architectural feature of Churchill Downs and are used as a symbol of the track and the Derby. They were designed by architect Joseph Dominic Baldez and built in 1895.



“The horse owner typically pays a monthly retainer or, in North America, a "day rate" to his or her trainer, together with fees for use of the training center or gallops (if the horse is not stabled at a race track), veterinarian and farrier (horseshoer) fees and other expenses such as mortality insurance premiums, stakes entry fees and jockeys' fees. The typical cost of owning a race horse in training for one year is in the order of £15,000 in the United Kingdom and as much as $35,000 at major race tracks in North America.”

Where the money is::: “It's that time of year again. With each passing day, more and more little ones are running through the fields here in Lexington, Kentucky with their proud moms. From now until June, more than 20,000 Thoroughbred foals will be born in North America. Of the foals born this year, only 20 of them will make it to the starting gate in the 2018 Kentucky Derby. A great deal of work goes into producing a healthy, thriving munchkin. The process begins long before a thoroughbred racehorse is ever born.” Read More.. What is the “covering process?” Did you know stallions are quirky and may balk at certain types of mares (some stallions will not cover grey mares for instance).

These are the top 250 Active Jockeys in North America. Check the ratings ..how many are women?.. Has a woman jockey ever won the Kentucky Derby?
Owners & Trainers 


“Every Kentucky Derby winner since 1938 has been led to the infield presentation area to be honored. Since 1944, the winner's circle has included a landscaped horseshoe floral arrangement that the winning horse is led into for photographs.”

According to Chris Goodlett, Curator of Collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, KY, the mint julep has been part of the Kentucky racing tradition since the 19th century. You might try the Henry Clay Mint Julep..

For all you ladies:: “When selecting your dress for the Kentucky Derby the recommended practice is to keep it simple, so it doesn't take away from your hat.
AND THE WINNER IS:::


We hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of The Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs. Louisville, Kentucky is a great city to visit and spend some time, especially if you like museums and horses…

Technorati Tags: KENTUCKY DRBY MUSEUM,CHURCHILL DOWNS,KENTUCKY,WANDERING,MY QUALITY TIME

“It took us 12 years to genetically engineer him. We are going to make millions.”

Make America Great Again the WEEKLY ROUNDUP

 

Trump heads to New Jersey golf club for working weekend… “Rather than causing a big disruption in N.Y.C., I will be working out of my home in Bedminster, N.J. this weekend. Also saves country money!”

Man Wielding Knife Kills One and Injures Three at University of Texas

Gunman Killed After Mass Shooting at San Diego Pool Party

Portland Police Arrest 25, Saying A May Day Rally Devolved Into 'Riot'

An eighth-grader was fatally shot Monday near her school in Montgomery, Alabama, police said. The student, 14, was killed about 500 feet from Bellingrath Middle School. Police are searching for suspects who they believe were classmates of the slain girl, a police spokesperson said.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A former South Carolina police officer who killed an unarmed black motorist in an encounter that was captured on video pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday.

It is hard to believe this is happening, but it’s real: The US Department of Justice is literally prosecuting a woman for laughing at now–Attorney General Jeff Sessions during his Senate confirmation hearing earlier this year.

The FBI has confirmed one of its translators travelled to Syria and secretly wed an Islamic State recruiter whom she had been investigating.

Two dead after shooting at Dallas area college, police say

Make America Great Again.

5/5/2017

A Really Lame Political Joke

_{When you have a “BLOTUS” instead of a “POTUS.”}

_{President Trump opened a box of animal crackers and spread them all over his desk. “What are you doing?” Mike Pence asked him. “Well it says you can’t eat them if the seal is broken,” he explained. “So, I’m looking for the seal.”}

Have a “GREAT DAY”

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Trees and Inspiration

  #8 count down to 500th blog post…….amazing…

A QUALITY TIME POST

“Trees in particular were mysterious, and seemed to me direct embodiments of the incomprehensible meaning of life. For that reason, the woods were the place that I felt closest to its deepest meaning and to its awe-inspiring workings.”  C.G.Jung

An Often forgotten principle: Go to the Woods to Meditate.

Those “woods” may be  referred to as A wilderness,A hill or mountain,A forest,Our secret places,A place apart.Where is your “secret place?

“Listening to trees is  a relaxation and meditating exercise. Listening to the communications of trees  is a way of attuning our hearing and paying more attention to what we hear around us rather than letting sounds invade our space unawares.” Find a suitable place for spending time with the trees. Choose a place that is convenient and relatively easy to get to yet as isolated from the noises of humanity as possible.Be prepared to spend a decent amount of time (in my case several hours). Notice the silence and the sounds with greater precision. For the rest of the story CLICK

Woods Does & Don'ts:: Never step over a log or fallen tree if you can’t see what is on the other side! Always check above for widow makers and dead branches before starting your meditation/listening.Carry your cellphone with you in case of emergency (no reception at my spot though) but turn it off while meditating. Make sure someone knows generally where you are going and be prepared. Most importantly, be comfortable and if you have time/inclination pack a lunch.


In the beginning there was silence, and it was good. When I visit my “secret spot” in the woods the only sounds I hear are of nature but for one exception, an occasional airplane overhead. This past fall Linda and I went into the woods and spent an hour or so listening to the leaves fall and hit the ground and each other. The time spent that day I will remember forever.

“Silence has the ability to centre us and connect us with the essential harmony of the universe.” The Joy Of Silence… Silence: "the dissolving of the limits of selfhood until the infinite alone seems real". Tennyson

“When I enter a forest, the first thing I smell is the damp earth combined with old fallen leaves. For me this earthy smell has an instinctive calming effect.” Several years ago my son and I were camping in the Canadian “Bush”. My son went outside the tent and came right back in and said,”Dad there is a wolf on the other side  of the inlet.” I was comfortable in my sleeping bag and really wasn’t sure about the wolf so I said, “it’s time to get some sleep  no wolf is going to bother us.” Well, the wolf got at lot closer to the tent.  The smell was unmistakable and powerful. I then thought Oh…..Shi…….t…..Photo below from that camping trip.
 My hair wasn’t white then LOL.(Summer of 1989).. Take a handful of leaves and crush them,inhale deeply and enjoy the aroma. 

Lying on my back in the woods admiring the intricate interplay of branches and breeze….Once in awhile a short nap is appropriate. Photo below is about the same spot at a different time of year


This is “my spot”….A small short ridge with the land falling off in three directions and  easily accessible from only one direction.I can be there in about 45 minutes. A short drive and hike. I know you are suppose to “STAY ON THE TRAIL” BUT “MY SPOT” is about 100 feet off a little used trail and it is quiet.

 Thanks for stopping by and get out there and enjoy the day…………
Meditation and Love of the Woods/Trees for some real QUALITY TIME

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Another good read::  The Smell Of Nature
I almost always start my meditation with this prayer: Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love.Where there is injury, pardon.Where there is doubt, faith.Where there is despair, hope.Where there is darkness, light.Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Ludwig Richter

 

 In the HOCKING HILLS OF OHIO

Just A Garden Post… Mostly a Tomato Post… LOL

A special thanks to Burpee and Jung Seeds….for this years garden. I really enjoy starting all my plants from seeds. I usually get started about Feb. 1st of each year.

I am basically a tomatoe and green pepper gardener.


I need some more garden area soooooooooo..

I constructed two new 4’ by 8’ raised beds for the tomatoes. I have four different areas about this size for the tomatoes and one of about 25 square ft. for the green peppers.
TOMATO AND PEPPER SELECTION FOR 2017::
1. Mountain Merit Hybrid Tomato An AAS Winner!
If you like Celebrity Tomato, you'll love Mountain Merit! (VF,F,N,TSWV,LB) We think this tomato matches all the fine qualities of the popular Celebrity tomato with some notable improvements. The 3" to 3.5" round, beefsteak-type fruits are larger, weighing in at 8 to 10 ounces each. They have deep red color inside and out with smooth, crack-resistant skin and barely noticeable blossom end scars. A mild, true tomato flavor along with a firm texture makes them perfect for slicing and sandwiches. The determinate, compact plants offer superb resistance to multiple diseases common to home grown tomatoes, including resistance to Fusarium 123, Verticillum, TSWV and Late Blight. Plants grow 4 to 5 feet tall and yield a prolific supply of tomatoes in a 4 to 5 week harvest window. Harvest first fruits about 75 days after transplanting.
2. Celebrity Hybrid Tomato 1984 AAS Winner!
(VFFNTASt) Outstanding disease resistance and hybrid vigor make this tomato a standout. Strong semi-determinate plants adapt well to bush, cage or short stake production. Fruit is large and deep red with exceptionally good flavor. Very productive with the ability to produce under a broad range of conditions.
3. Amish Paste Tomato This Amish heirloom dates back to the early 1900's. One of the largest, meatiest, and best-flavored paste tomatoes. The oxheart-shaped fruits weigh up to 8 ounces or more, and have thick flesh with few seeds. Superb for sauces and one of the few paste tomatoes that tastes great fresh. Indeterminate vines.
4. Mariana Hybrid Tomato VFFNA) Extra large roma-type fruits keep exceptionally well. The blocky, 4 to 6 oz. fruits are very uniform with deep red, smooth, unblemished skin. The tomatoes have excellent firmness with thick walls and rich red internal color. Determinate plants are small to medium size with excellent vigor, disease resistance and heavy fruit sets. Flavor is top notch, making Mariana an excellent choice for canning, salsas, sauces and juice. Tasty for fresh salsas and salads, too! The fruits have excellent shelf life so you'll have tomatoes long after the tomato season is over.
5. Defiant Phr Hybrid Tomato (VFF)-This is the first tomato to crack the genetic code for late blight resistance. It has high resistance to late blight, intermediate resistance to early blight and great flavor, all in one. The 6 to 8 ounce globe-shaped, bright red fruits are smooth with medium firm, deep red flesh that has great, old-fashioned flavor. The high-yielding plants are widely adapted. Determinate.
6. Opalka Tomato Without a doubt, this is one of the best tasting sauce tomatoes you'll find. Flavor is much richer and sweeter than other paste tomatoes, so delicious you can eat them right off the vine. Sauces using the nearly seedless fruits are something special. The bright red elongated 3 to 5 inch fruits are produced in clusters of 2 to 5 on vigorous, high-yielding, indeterminate plants. Fruits hold well on the vine.
7. Pepper, Sweet Great Stuff Hybrid A colossal stuffer at 7" long and 5" wide, ripens from green to dark red. Full Description The right stuffer! This Burpee exclusive produces enormous peppers at 7" long and 5" wide, ripening from green to dark red. Very productive and disease-resistant. Produces excellent yields under varied conditions. Days to maturity are from time plants are set in garden. For transplants add 8-10 weeks. Space plants 18-24" apart.
………………………………………………………………..
As far as planting I’m trying a couple different things.
This is what goes into the bottom of each hole::
Yes…. egg shells and banana peels… 10 Ways To Use Banana Peels In Your Garden As Fertilizer….. Homemade Eggshell Plant Fertilizer.. I didn’t do anything fancy. I just put some of the above combination in the bottom of the hole then covered with a small amount of peat moss.
Next::
I made a solution of Miracle grow to which I added two 5 grain aspirin tablets…. Why the Aspirin tablets??? Using Aspirin For a Healthier Tomato Plant.. I added two cups of the above solution to each hole on top of the peat moss. (will use aspirin spray later)
Next::  I planted the tomato plants using… Extreme Gardening Mykos we will see…. LOL

Mykos Pure Mycorrhizal Inoculant… Mykos is a fast-growing, beneficial fungi that is needed to break down, cycle, and retain nutrients, providing plants with a balanced intake of food, moisture and a front line of defense against pathogens and disease. This greater nutrient availability leads to a 'xplosive root and plant growth and an 'xceptional harvest! READ MORE

This is the above ground planter by my shed.. contains Mountain Merit tomato plants.. Yes they are probably planted to close together but I’m going to try what they call “extreme pruning” if I have any problem with leaf mold. (maybe not this extreme)
This is my “Quality Time” garden.. The tomato plants I chose were based on flavor/disease resistance/ and the use for the tomatoes…eating or sauce/canning…. Wish me luck. I am probably a little obsessed  about my tomatoes, but for me it’s a lot of fun…..and good eating…
  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day…. P.S. I don’t get a lot of hiking done when I’m working in the garden. LOL

Technorati Tags: TOMATOES,GARDEN,SPRING.HEALTHY FOOD,MY QUALITY TIME

In Honor Of Mr. Bannon’s Demotion a Pro Republican Joke

As some of my readers know I am not a President Trump fan. Finally, some good news from the White house:: Trump Removes Stephen Bannon From National Security Council Post.  So just for today a pro republican anti democrat joke…

 

_{Tragedy in Alaska -   Alaskan  Bear ..... Mt. McKinley National Park: This is a very sad story about a bear... Everybody should heed the warnings not to feed wildlife because they become dependent and don't forage for themselves any longer. It is such a tragedy to see what has been done to our country's wildlife. The US Forest Service photo below captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect U.S. wildlife.}

_{Animals that formerly were self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democrat Party. They have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance. This photo is of a black bear in Alaska turned Democrat. He's nicknamed Bearack Obearma. It is believed that he has become a campground organizer. Remember: "Black Bears Matter!"}

Linda and I recently visited

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and had a great time…  I hope every one has a “Quality Time” day……………..

 

Technorati Tags: #republican,#democrat,#politics,#jokeS