Hello!
My last two posts have been about the trip my Dad and I took to Saratoga Springs, New York. He had a gig there and it just so happened to be the week of the Belmont Stakes which was being hosted at the Saratoga Race Course. We didn’t go to the big race on Saturday but we did go to a whole day of racing that Wednesday!
We did a deep dive into horse racing while we were there. It actually kind of started with this year’s Kentucky Derby, which we always enjoy!
Just being in downtown Saratoga Springs during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival really puts you in the mood, with all the shops and horse racing themed stuff! We also went to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. It was so much fun to go deep into it all!
For the nights that we were there, we decided to watch the new show on Netflix called “Race for the Crown”. It was a perfect time to watch it! We binged all six episodes in the few nights we were there.
What’s something you liked about it (and why)? I really liked hearing everyone’s stories! Before this show I didn’t know much about anyone in the horse racing business so it was cool to get to know some of them. I especially liked the trainer Kenny McPeek and the jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and how the show followed their wins of both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby in the same year. They both seem like really solid guys, I liked hearing their stories and getting to follow their journey a bit. I like how Brian has so many kids too! And I thought it was very cool when they showed the jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and his family praying in the car before a big race.
I also enjoyed how the show, in addition to sharing stories of the people, basically followed the 2024 Triple Crown Races and the timeframe around them. It added more of a storyline to it.
What’s something you disliked about it (and why)? I didn’t like the part where some of the people went to this weird spiritual place at one point. It goes against Christianity so it made me uncomfortable and I didn’t appreciate that part.
What was your biggest takeaway or lesson? This show shared some of what the horse racing business is like, and obviously we didn’t see all the parts of it, but from what they did share, it makes me want to be a part of this world even more! I love the action, the exhilaration, the horses, the people, how you get dressed up for the races, the colors, etc.! So, a big takeaway was getting to see even more of what it’s like and seeing how that makes me want to be a part of it all.
What is something you’re curious to learn more about as a result of this experience? I’m curious to learn more about some of the people they highlighted in this show, including Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr., Irad Ortiz Jr., Frankie Dettori, Katie Davis and more!
Thank you for reading!
God bless!
Lucy
