Aunt Kristyn took Elmo to work today at the Kentucky Horse Park. The KHP covers 1,224 acres. The park is home to some 115 horses representing approximately 50 different breeds during our main summer season.
She VERY busy preparing for the World Equestrian Games in less than 6 months! Everyone in Lexington is talking about this major worldwide event because it's estimated that up to 600,000 people will be visiting!
Elmo is all strapped in Kristyn's Infiniti and ready to go to work! Eric was jealous because he REALLY likes her car!
Elmo hung out in Kristyn's office since it was pretty cool outside for most of the morning.
Elmo was rescued from Kristyn's office by Christine and she gave him some chocolate! A definite reward for being so good all morning.
Elmo was very happy about the nice view from Kristyn's office window! So sunny and clear, Elmo was sure spring was here for good and winter was over!
Elmo was learning about horses by reading "In Stride" magazine.
After lunch it was warmer. He sat on a statue of a donkey named Happy Go Lucky. Christine and Kristyn said he was impersonating Sancho Panza.
Then he sat in the "Big Chairs."
In 1978, the Kentucky Horse Park became the first American host of the World Three Day Event Championships. The cross country phase of the championships featured some of the most challenging obstacles in the world. These chairs were two of the eight which surrounded fence number 10, the "Giants Table."
He wanted to go on a horse drawn tour, but they were over for the day. However, he did get to sit on the back on one of the trolleys.
Then Elmo went to visit some of the horses in the barns - he saw several big draft horses. Some were still in their harnesses from pulling the trolleys.
Next Elmo went to see the Secretariat statue.
The Edwin Bogucki Secretariat bronze at the Kentucky Horse Park depicts the incredible thoroughbred race horse that captured thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown in 1973 and won the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths. In this life-size statue, he is being led into the winner's circle after his win in the Kentucky Derby by groom, Eddie Sweat with jockey Ron Turcotte in the irons. The bronze weighs 1,500 pounds and is the centerpiece of the Secretariat Plaza at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Elmo was impressed with Man O' War's history. He asked Eric if it's the same Man O' War that he lives close to. Eric said yes, Man O' War Blvd. was named after one of the greatest race horses in history!
The Man o' War statue, sculpted by Herbert Haseltine (1877-1962), stands on a pedestal just inside the entrance to the park grounds. He was foaled in March of 1917 at August Belmont's Nursery Stood just north of Lexington, and was considered the greatest thoroughbred of the 20th century. Man o' War won 20 of 21 races, with his only loss ironically coming at the hands of a horse named Upset.
After retiring from the track to Sam Riddle's Faraway Farm in Lexington, he became one of the top breeding stallions country, and was the sire of the Triple Crown winning War Admiral.
The Man o' War statue first stood over his grave on the grounds of Faraway Farm, where he died in 1948. Both his grave and the statue were moved to the Kentucky Horse Park in 1977.
Lastly - he climbed on the little jump in the USHJA (United States Horse Jumping Association) lobby. Luckily, no one saw him do this as it would have been frowned upon.
Elmo had a fantastic day at the track with Aunt Kristyn and Christine. Elmo says thank you so much for the fun day. Elmo hopes he can ride a horse next time. Elmo remembers when he was in Calgary with Chaundelle and Elmo got to sit on a horse up there. Maybe Elmo can teach Lauren about horses when Elmo and Lauren go back to Calgary in July.
Elmo is so tired from his big day at work and Elmo needs to go to bed. Eric says there is more basketball and fun to come.
Love Elmo
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