For the past two and a half years, I have been working on a series of videos showcasing the beauty of the Thoroughbred at all stages of life. Click here to read the first post in the series. I have recently published the second video in the series, covering the racing years. The video is shot at 120fps to give it a cinematic quality. To accompany the video, in this post, I will be sharing some photos I have taken of horses training and racing. Keep reading to watch the video at the end of the post!
Every year, 40,000 Thoroughbreds race in the United States. Of those, less than 50% ever win a race, less than 1% win a stakes race, and even fewer than that win a graded stakes race. Mary Union Ave (above) is won of those more than 50% who never won a race. In nine starts, she never hit the board, but she gave me the thrill of being an owner. I owned a piece of Mary with Under Our Tree Stable, and I got to watch her train and race during her rather brief career. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. She is pictured here arriving at Saratoga as a two-year-old in 2023. Trainer Robbie Davis is meeting her here for the first time.
Horses hit the track as early as 5:30 in the morning for training. Since this is before sunrise, a very fast lens is required to capture the horses and riders in low light. Getting this shot of multiple graded stakes winner National Treasure taking a jog on the track at Saratoga before running in the Whitney last year was worth the early morning wake up call.
Nothing beats a good sunrise at Saratoga. This shot from 2014 at the Oklahoma Track is one of my absolute favorites.
When I was at Keeneland last April, I spotted trainer Brendan Walsh hugging 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous. These are the moments I love in horse racing.
A Chad Brown trainee is exercised at Keeneland in April 2023.
This is another one of my favorite sunrise photos. I captured this shot of exercise rider Lyndsey Buttice on Mudpie at Saratoga’s Oklahoma Track in the summer of 2022 when I was shooting for Saratoga Living Magazine. This photo ended up being used in a spread the magazine did about the 2022 meet.
2021 Travers winner Essential Quality is exercised by Katie Tolbert over Saratoga’s main track in the early morning hours.
Leading up to the Kentucky Derby, it’s fun to watch the contenders out on the track at Churchill Downs. Above is 2023 alum Rocket Can, who finished ninth in the Run for the Roses.
Horses train in all sorts of weather, including a torrential downpour! I was sure happy I was undercover when I took this photo at Churchill Downs last April!
Some horses draw a crowd. Such was the case with 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, when he came to Saratoga to run in the Travers. The day before the big race, the Bob Baffert trainee galloped around the track for 30,000 fans. Although he lost to Keen Ice by 3/4 of a length, he went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, making him the first and, to date, only “Grand Slam” winner.
Training occurs at tracks beyond just when the meets take place. At Saratoga, the summer meet occurs from mid July through Labor Day, but training begins in mid April and lasts through mid November. Fall is one of my favorite times of year to shoot at the Spa. The beautiful fall foliage coupled with the horses and riders makes for beautiful photos. Above is a photo I took in the fall of 2014 at the Oklahoma Track. This happens to be one of my three favorite photos I’ve ever taken. In 2020, this photo was on display at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as part of their Photo Finish Juried Exhibition.
While horses exercise almost every day, they only do timed workouts, or breezes, occasionally (typically at most once a week and often less frequently). Above is 2022 Whitney winner Life is Good breezing at Saratoga in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he finished fifth.
After their morning exercise, horses are led back to the barn for a bath and hot walk. Above is multiple Grade I winner She Feels Pretty is ponied by her trainer Cherie DeVaux at Saratoga.
A horse gets a bath in the early morning light at Churchill Downs.
2024 Preakness winner Seize the Grey gets a bath at the barn of his trainer D. Wayne Lukas the day before the Belmont, where he finished seventh.
Like children or adolescents, sometimes horses, especially younger ones, don’t always behave the way we wish they would. Above, 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage gets a little frisky at the Oklahoma Track. Assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr. handles the situation calmly and professionally.
Hot walker George Grey walks Phil Serpe trainee Miscreant at Saratoga last summer. I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with George, who, back in the day, hot walked Onion when he worked for H. Allen Jerkens! For those who don’t know, Onion is the horse who famously defeated Secretariat in the 1973 Whitney.
Exercise rider JJ Delgado poses with 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage at the Oklahoma Track.
Trainer Melanie Giddings hot walks Mel’s Baby Sister at the Oklahoma Track after her first breeze in 2023.
It’s not uncommon to see horses wearing blankets while they are being hot walked, especially in the colder months. The blankets used in warmer months help the horses cool off and the blankets used in colder months help the horses stay warm. Above, Thorpedo Anna is hot walked at Saratoga after one of her final breezes leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, which she won.
2023 Champion Male Turf Horse is walked to his stall after being hot walked at Keeneland in 2023.
Grooms care for the horses in their stalls. Owners, trainers, exercise riders, and jockeys often at the horses’ stalls to visit with them as well. Here, groom Ana Urista gives 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish some pets.
Erma Scott feeds multiple graded stakes winner Art Collector a carrot at the Oklahoma Track in 2023. Sadly, Art Collector passed away a couple weeks after this photo was taken.
Exercise rider Priscilla Schaefer smiles at 2024 Belmont and Haskell winner Dornoch at his stall at Saratoga.
Jockey Jackie Davis gives some affection to then two-year-old Vallelujah in September 2021. The filly, trained by Jackie’s father Robbie Davis, won three times from 21 starts and Jackie rode her in each of those starts. Sadly, Val passed away early last year at the age of five.
In the days leading up to a race, horses often school in the paddock. Above is 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike schooling in the paddock before the Travers.
On race day, horses are led to the paddock to be saddled for the race. Above, eventual 2023 Grade I Whitney Stakes winner White Abarrio is walked to the paddock at Saratoga while media attention is pointed at favorite Cody’s Wish right behind him. Both horses were finalists for Horse of the Year, with the latter getting the honor.
Carson’s Run is led into the paddock at Saratoga for the 2024 Grade I Saratoga Derby, which he won.
Cindylouwho is saddled in the paddock at Belmont in 2023. Behind her is a giant sculpture of Secretariat to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his Triple Crown sweep.
Mary Union Ave gets pets while being saddled in the paddock at Aqueduct in 2024.
Multiple Grade I winner is walked around the Belmont paddock prior to the 2023 Grade I Jaipur Stakes, which she won.
After the horses are saddled and walked around, their riders mount them and they head out to the track. Above, Mary Union Ave is led out to the track at Saratoga with Katie Davis onboard.
Chancer McPatrick makes his way out to the track at Saratoga in 2024.
The field for the 2023 Grade I Manhattan Stakes heads out on the track at Belmont.
After heading out to the track and warming up, the field heads for the starting gate. Above, a field of horses heads towards the starting gate at Keeneland in 2023.
The field for the 2024 Belmont Stakes heads towards the gate at Saratoga.
The gate crew helps the horses load into the gate. Above, eventual 2023 Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo is the last to load into the gate for the race.
And they’re off! The break from the gate can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing. Above, the field for the 2024 Grade I Acorn Stakes breaks from the gate at Saratoga. The number 9 horse, Thorpedo Anna, won the race.
A field breaks from the gate on the Saratoga backside in 2023.
A field heads toward the first turn at Keeneland in 2023.
The field for the 2023 Travers Stakes heads around the first turn at Saratoga.
Sometimes a horse gets loose during a race. Above, Triumphant Road canters by after unseating his rider at Saratoga in 2023.
Outriders do an incredible job to keep the track safe when situations like this arise. Above, an outrider prepares to catch Screamin’ By after he got loose at Saratoga in 2021.
Big moves are often made as the horses round the far turn. Above, the 2022 Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes field heads for the far turn at Saratoga. Jack Christopher, #6, won the race.
The crowd roars as the horses head down the stretch. Above, a field heads for the wire at Saratoga in 2022.
Some wins are just special. Vallelujah’s 2022 allowance level win at Saratoga was just that. The three-year-old filly rallied from last to first, giving jockey Jacqueline Davis her first win at the Spa. Jackie’s father Robbie Davis trained the filly, and the winner’s circle exploded with joy as her ownership group, East Ave. Racing Stable and Sisu Racing Stable, celebrated.
Some wins are close. So close, in fact, that a photo is required to determine the winner. Above, Spirit of Esther (inside) breaks her maiden at Saratoga in a three-way photo finish in 2024.
After they cross the wire, the horses gallop down before heading back to the front side. Above, Forte gallops down after winning the 2023 Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
The winner of the race is walked around a few times before being led into the winner’s circle. Above, Leslie’s Rose is walked around after winning the 2024 Grade I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.
Photographers line up to get a photo of Measured Time as he is led into the winner’s circle at Saratoga after winning the 2024 Grade I Manhattan Stakes.
Javier Castellano celebrates winning his first Belmont Stakes on Arcangelo in 2023.
Jockeys often customarily throw the flowers from the flower blanket in the air after winning a Grade I race. Above, John Velázquez celebrates atop Fierceness after winning the 2024 Travers.
After the winner’s circle photo is taken, the jockey dismounts the horse and the horse is given a bath before heading off to the test barn. Above, Amelia Green gives champion Nest a bath after winning the 2022 Grade I Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.
Elio Alvarez leads Dornoch to the test barn after winning the 2024 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, while exercise rider Priscilla Schaefer carries the flower blanket.
Olympiad gets a bath after winning the 2022 Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Saratoga.
Raging Sea is led back to the barn after a visit to the test barn after winning the 2024 Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga.
Finally, here is the second video in the series. Email subscribers, click here to watch the video.
Later this year, I will be publishing the third video, showing stallions and broodmares standing at stud.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos and videos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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Wonderful!!