Our trip started tentatively on Thursday morning, right after the devastating tornadoes hit GA and AL. We saw plenty of tornado damage on our way up 75 north.
We made good time and stopped at Keeneland racetrack on our way to KHP. Watched 2 races( bet on one and lost) but it was so much fun.
The first day, we missed the competition, so we just got our bearings and walked the Cross Country Course. They have the most amazing fences. They are truly a work of art!
This was one of my favorites. I love the detail of the fly on the tongue.
On Friday, we watched the Dressage and did some shopping. Rolex is known for it's fabulous deals on shopping. I got a nice pair of Ariat boots.
Here's a shot of the Dressage Arena:
We also took the opportunity to walk around the park and visit with the racehorses, past and present.
Here's Cigar in his pasture:
He wasn't feeling sociable that day. So we didn't get to really visit with him.
We also visited the grave of John Henry.
Saturday was Cross Country Day! What an extrodinary event that is. It's amazing to see up close and personal. We had so much fun. Then that night we had tickets to a reining event that they were holding at the horsepark. It was Freestyle Reining and it was a blast to watch.
Sunday was Stadium Jumping and the final day. Luann and I got there early to watch the jog, then scoped out our seats in the patron tent. We did manage to get some more shopping in also! The Stadium jumping was fun - but a bit anticlimactic since we already knew who was going to win. There was no way that anyone was going to catch Mary King. But it was historic because no one has ever won both first and second at Rolex.
And you never know who is around you at these events! Luann and I ended up sitting next to, and chatting up, the Chief of Naval Operations for the US. He was such a nice man! We really enjoyed talking to him. We had no idea who he was till we got in the car and googled him :).....
We made it home safely and I am exhausted, but I want to do it all again next year!!!
