Capturing Life's Little Moments: Lilies for the Fillies

Plum Pretty - Winner of the 137 Running of the Kentucky Oaks

Oaks Day is the Friday before Derby here in the Bluegrass State and always draws a huge crowd. The Kentucky Oaks race is a Grade 1 stakes race for three-year old Thoroughbred fillies. The race covers 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds on their back. The winner receives a $600,000 purse and a large garland of lilies hand sewn onto a silk blanket each year by The Kroger Co. A silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy is also presented to the owner of the winning filly. Throughout its 137-year history, the Kentucky Oaks has collected its own traditions, and like its companion event, the Kentucky Derby, features a namesake race, boasts a special flower, offers an official cocktail, and as of 2009, has adopted a signature color that has tickled all the fans PINK. The adopted color is in honor of the Oaks official flower, the stargazer lilly and the official color of breast cancer awareness. Oaks began partnering with the Susan B. Komen for the Cure and Horses for Hope in honor of those women who have unfortunately battled and/or survived breast cancer. It is customary for everyone to wear pink in support of all those affected by this terrible disease.

My mother-in-law, Suzy came to town so she could enjoy the experience on the backside of the track. We are fortunate to have a horse trainer in the family that gives us access to the backside where all the barns and stables are located. We are able to walk right up to the track to witness history being made right before our eyes. The thundering of the horses as they storm passed us is a sound that always brings chills to my skin and tears to my eyes. Thoroughbreds are gentle giants who have one purpose on race day and that is to run as fast as they possibly can. I have a soft spot in my heart for horses so every minute spent on the backside with my second most favorite animal makes my day complete.

Suzy is an artist and most of her sketches and paintings are of horses, jockeys and dogs. She has some of her work in galleries in New York and at Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington. The owners of Cross Gate are well known throughout the thoroughbred racing industry so it is quite an honor to have her work for sale and on display in their gallery.

She brought her professional camera so she could snap many photos of the horses that she will use as models for her art work. She has a keen eye with the camera so I was thrilled to have her spend the day with us.

Plum Pretty is the magnificent filly who crossed the finish line first this year. We had the pleasure and prime spot as Plum Pretty made her way off the race track. Suzy got some beautiful photos of her post-race. We also had the pleasure of meeting her owners and trainers as they made their way back to the barn with the garland of lillies draped across their shoulders. We walked with them and once the garland was resting nicely at the barn, the assistant trainer picked two lillies off the blanket and gave them to Suzy and I. We were more than thrilled to hold a piece of history in our hands!

Sit back, relax and enjoy some of our Oaks day:

Lilly off Plum Pretty's garland