With the return of the regularly scheduled Derby programming for 2021, the Longines Kentucky Oaks is back this Friday, April 30th. The $1.25 million dollar race is sure to thrill with a field of 3 year old fillies competing for the garland of lillies.
The Horse Country connections run deep in the 2021 field and we’re excited to share them with you.
Pass The Champagne, running in the 2021 Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30, 2021, shown as a foal at Claiborne Farm in Paris, KY. Photo: Dell Hancock, Claiborne
Pauline’s Pearl – sired by Tapit, who stands at Gainesway Farm; bred, owned & trained by Stonestreet
Maracuja – sired by Honor Code who stands at Lane’s End Farm
The 2021 Pegasus World Cup is this weekend – Saturday, January 23 – and these 12 horses will be vying for the $3 million purse at Gulfstream Park. The field includes several Horse Country connections. Tune into NBC Sports on Saturday from 4:30-6PM to catch the action!
Want to read up more on the 1 1/8 mile race? Our friends at America’s Best Racing have put together this cheat sheet – check it out! Here are some Horse Country connections in the race:
Are you looking to beat cabin fever? Want to get out? We’ve prepared a long weekend itinerary for January + February in Horse Country. Grab a hat, coat and mask, and come see, learn, touch, move! If this itinerary doesn’t work for you, let us know and we can help you make a new one!
Are you ready to start shopping?!? We sure are and we’re thrilled to share with you our top picks for the horse- and Kentucky- loving person in your life. It’s an exacta of gift giving: give a unique and meaningful gift and support a small business! Happy shopping …we hope the holidays bring you joy and peace in an unusual year.
THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE Maybe we’re a touch biased, but we can’t think of a better gift than one of experience. Seeing, learning, touching new things – send a friend or relative on a Horse Country tour and you’re giving them not just a gift on one day, but memories for a lifetime. Gift vouchers can be purchased here.
THEIR NEW FAVORITE APPAREL A super soft tee or a Horse Country hat would is perfect for that person in your life who seems to live at the barn. Can’t have too many tee shirts or hats, can they? Check out our apparel here – all tee shirts are 20% off through Dec 4 with code TEETIME. Check out our full collection of apparel here and goods for the home here.
HORSE COUNTRY MEMBER MERCH – Give the gift of memories from a visit to a Horse Country tour, or some merch to rep a favorite tour location (in person or virtual!), a favorite stallion, or a bucket list experience! Linked here are Horse Country member locations with online shops – if you’re like us, the hard thing is what NOT to buy!
DONATE IN THEIR NAME Some friends and family are hard to shop for, or it seems they don’t need another thing. Consider making a donation in their name – Friends of Horse Country was established to futher the mission of Horse Country and support our work of fan development. To read more about the initiative and fund, click here.
The 37th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is here, a culmination of a year of racing that was at once irregular and totally exciting. COVID-19 changed everything, but the sport proved resilient, innovative and relevant. We look ahead to this weekend with a little sorrow that we won’t be in person at our home track Keeneland – but also grateful and ready for a weekend of top notch racing!
The two days of racing will be broadcast from NBC Sports & TVG, and events and activities will be streamed from various Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland streaming and social platforms. For a complete schedule & where to watch, check out the Breeders’ Cup site here.
Tune in this Friday and Saturday, November 6 & 7 for 14 races – the fields are set, full of superstar athletes competing for $31 million in purses.
The connections to Horse Country in these races are many, and here we’re taking a look at the fields for the Longines Distaff and Longines Classic. For the complete list of contenders in all races, click here.
Longines Classic Tacitus -sired by Tapit, who stands at Gainesway; fed by Hallway Feeds Tiz the Law – sired by Constitution, who stands at WinStar Farm By My Standards – Sired by Goldencents who stands at Spendthrift Farm Tom’s d’Etat fed by Hallway Feeds Title Ready Sired by More Than Ready, who stands at WinStar Farm Higher Power – Sired by Medaglia d’Oro, who stands at Godolphin at Jonabell, home of the Darley Stallions; fed by Hallway Feeds Global Campaign fed by Hallway Feeds Improbable – Sired by City Zip, who stood at Lane’s End Farm; partly owned by WinStar Farm; fed by Hallway Feeds Authentic – Sired by Into Mischief, who stands at Spendthrift Farm; is partly owned by Spendthrift Farm; fed by Hallway Feeds Maximum Security fed by Hallway Feeds
Longines Distaff Ce Ce -Sired by Elusive Quality, who stood at Darley Harvest Moon – Sired by Uncle Mo, who stands at Coolmore; fed by Hallway Feeds Dunbar Road – Sired by Quality Road, who stands at Lane’s End Farm; fed by Hallway Feeds Horologist fed by Hallway Feeds Swiss Skydiver – Fed by Hallway Feeds Lady Kate – Sired by Bernardini, who stands at Godolphin at Jonabell, home of the Darley Stallions; fed by Hallway Feeds Point of Honor Valiance – Sired by Tapit, who stands at Gainesway Ollie’s Candy – Sired by Candy Ride, who stands at Lane’s End Farm; fed by Hallway Feeds Monomoy Girl – Sired by Tapizar, who stands at Gainesway; fed by Hallway Feeds
Constitution, left, stands at WinStar Farm. Goldencents, right, stands at Spendthrift. Will either of them be the sire of the next Breeders’ Cup Longines Classic winner?
We are looking forward to cheering everyone on this weekend and are wishing for a safe trip for all!
In celebration of Breeders’ Cup 2020, we are welcoming fans & guests to virtual tours all week, to catch up with past champs and hear about hopes for future ones. Can’t watch in real time? No problem – we’ll update our Virtual Tours page of all the videos once they’re posted you’ll scroll to the bottom for Breeders’ Cup). Be sure to check back to this page as times for the tours are finalized/schedule subject to change!
Don’t miss a minute of the action this week – check out the official Breeders’ Cup schedule here for all things from the track and behind the scenes. Stay tuned for updates later this week of Horse Country connections to the Longines Classic & other races. Cheers to Breeders’ Cup 2020!
Monday, November 2
11:30am – Keeneland -go behind the scenes of the iconic racetrack, ready for this year’s Breeders’ Cup as well as 2022! Keeneland Facebook Live. Watch the replay here.
The 2020 Triple Crown series comes to an end this weekend as Pimlico Race Course. The Triple Crown isn’t on the line after all, but Authentic is coming off his KY Derby win in post 9 in an exciting field!
What’s at stake? In addition to the $1 million, the Preakness this year is considered a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifying race for Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. So who’s running? The field, outlined below in order of post position, is headlined by Authentic – but we’re looking forward to the race with these great runners & connections to Horse Country! Cheers!
Into Mischief, sire of KY Derby winner & Preakness contender Authentic, at home at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, KY. Photo by David Coyle
Excession: Sired by Union Rags, who stands at Lane’s End Farm
Mr. Big News: Sired by Giant’s Causeway who stood at Coolmore America
Art Collector: Sired by Bernardini, who stands at Godolphin at Jonabell, home of the Darley Stallions, fed by Hallway Feeds
Swiss Skydiver: Fed by Hallway Feeds
Thousand Words: Sired by Pioneerof the Nile, who stood at WinStar Farm; co-owned by Spendthrift Farm; fed by Hallways Feeds
Jesus’ Team: Sired by Tapiture, who stands at Darby Dan
Ny Traffic: Sired by Cross Traffic, who stands at Spendthrift ; fed by Hallway Feeds
Max Player: Sired by Honor Code, who stands at Lane’s End Farm
Authentic: Sired by Into Mischief, who stands at Spendthrift Farm; is partly owned by Spendthrift Farm; fed by Hallway Feeds
Pneumatic: Sired by Uncle Mo, who stands at Coolmore America
Liveyourbeastlife: Sired by Ghostzapper, who stands at Adena Springs
For more info about these runners, their race record and connections, check out America’s Best Racing’s Cheat Sheet. We wish the best of luck to all contenders and hope for a safe and thrilling ride for all!
One of the most fun things about Derby time is learning how other people celebrate – traditions, superstitions, wardrobe, food, wagering, hopes and dreams….Derby has a little bit of everything! We’ve caught up with Mill Ridge Farm Manager Price Bell & his wife Beth for a peek into their Derby memories – and their kitchen! We hope you enjoy our visit as much as we did. Pro tip! Scroll to the bottom for the text recipe including instructions on how to can the pepper jelly! Happy Derby, friends!
Beth, do you remember your first Derby?
Absolutely. The first time I went to the Derby was a few years before I met Price. I was a year out of college and a group of friends who live in Lexington and Louisville invited me to join. We had a picnic on the backside–I have no idea how we got over there or who let us in–but we posted up by a fence and got to see the horses up close which was awesome, although, we had no idea who won the race! Turns out, the winner that year was Barbaro, which Headley did the mating for, and whose mother La Ville Rouge lived at Mill Ridge! A sign of things to come? Very spooky!
Do you have any favorite Mill Ridge or Bell family Derby traditions? What’s so funny about the Derby in the Bell household is that we never know what our plans are until the last minute. Sometimes a client has a horse running that day and we let them use the tickets. We typically don’t know if we’re going and who is going until a week or so before, which makes planning a derby outfit and hat very tricky!
We love this pepper jelly recipe! What else do you love on a Derby Day spread?
Usually, fried chicken is a staple. Our dear Save-a-Lot on Southland Drive which makes the world’s best fried chicken recently closed, so that’s been a huge blow to our menu this year. I refuse to fry chicken at home. Thankfully, the folks at Critchfield’s are planning to re-boot the Save-a-Lot space and continue to sell fried chicken. Here’s hoping they get it up and running again soon!
Tips for sharing Derby fun with the kids? How to get them involved? I’m afraid we’ve introduced gambling fairly early with our kiddos. In years past, when we’ve had friends over to watch the Derby, we auction off the Derby field. Price describes each horse and their pros and cons and then we auction off who “gets” each horse. Then we pool all the money and if your horse wins you get the pot. We let our children participate, which is hilarious because the littlest ones have no idea what’s going on; the 8 year olds and up do and they are ready to play! I’m afraid we’re teaching them bad habits.
Beyond the Derby, how can people learn more about the sport and the tremendous care the horses receive year-round and beyond the track?
Visiting the farms where these horses are bred, born, and raised is such a great way to understand the full scope of how these horses eventually end up at the racetrack. Before I met Price, I don’t know that I had given it that much thought. After visiting Mill Ridge for the first time, it started to hit me just how difficult of a sport this is and how tough it is to make it to the Oaks and Derby. We are beyond fortunate to have so many Oaks and Derby connections throughout Mill Ridge’s history. We welcome visitors any time to come see us at the farm, pet a few mamas, and hear a few amazing horse tales (pun intended).
To stay up to date on all things Mill Ridge, be sure to follow them on Facebook & Instagram. Since mid-March, the team at Mill Ridge has conducted weekly virtual tours including visits with their stallion OSCAR PERFORMANCE, their mares and foals, deep dives into Mill Ridge history, and so much more. Be sure to check out some of those tours here.
Mill Ridge Farm’s Spicy Pepper Jelly Adapted from Epicurious.com Makes 4 to 5 (1/2-pint) jars
1 1/2 lb red bell peppers (about 3), cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups) 1-3 jalapeños and/or spicy banana peppers (with or without seeds, depending on how spicy you like it!) 2 teaspoons dried hot red-pepper flakes 3 tablespoons Sure-Jell less- or no-sugar-needed pectin (from a 1 3/4-oz box) 3 1/4 cups sugar, divided 1 cup white-wine vinegar 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 3/4 teaspoon salt
Pulse bell peppers with red-pepper flakes in a food processor until finely chopped. (Mixture will measure about 2 1/2 cups.)
Whisk together pectin and 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl.
Stir together pepper mixture, vinegar, butter, salt, and remaining 3 cups sugar in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot. Bring to a vigorous boil over high heat, then continue to boil vigorously, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Gradually add pectin mixture, whisking constantly. Return jelly to a vigorous boil, stirring constantly, and boil, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes (mixture will thicken slightly). Remove from heat.
If eating in the near future (next month), ladle pepper jelly into glass jars, cover with lids, let pepper jelly sit out until it reaches room temperature and then refrigerator. Consume within one month.
If canning, see equipment and instructions needed below.
Special Equipment Needed, if Canning: 5 (1/2-pint) canning jars with screw bands and lids candy thermometer canning tongs
Sterilize jars and lids: Wash jars, lids, and screw bands in hot, soapy water, then rinse well. Dry screw bands. Put empty jars on a rack in a boiling-water canner or a deep 8- to 10-quart pot and add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes. Remove canner from heat, leaving jars in water, covered. Heat lids in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil). Remove from heat. Keep jars and lids submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use.
Carefully remove jars and lids with canning tongs, then drain jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel and quickly dry lids. Invert jars and immediately ladle hot jelly into jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at top. (Last jar may not be full.) Run a clean plastic spatula between jelly and sides of jars to eliminate air bubbles. Wipe off rims of filled jars with a damp clean kitchen towel, then firmly screw on lids with screw bands.
Seal and process jars: Put sealed jars on rack in canner or pot and add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches. (If you have a jar that is partially full, do not process it. Cover it with a lid and screw band, then keep in refrigerator.) Bring to a full boil, covered, then boil jelly, covered, 15 minutes. Transfer jars with canning tongs to a towel-lined surface to cool. Jars will seal; if you hear a ping, that means that the vacuum formed above the cooling jelly has made the lid concave. Remember that you may or may not be around to hear the ping. The important thing is for the jars to eventually have concave lids. Jelly will thicken as it cools.
After jars have cooled, 12 to 24 hours, press center of each lid to check that it’s concave, then remove screw band and try to lift lid with your fingertips. If you can’t, the lid has a good seal. Replace screw band. Put any jars that haven’t sealed properly in the refrigerator and use them first (along with jar that was only partially full).
Cooks’ Note: •Check the expiration date on your pectin to ensure freshness. •If you are using jars with rubber rings (still sold, but not approved by the USDA), follow the manufacturer’s instructions. •Jelly keeps in sealed jars in a cool dark place 5 to 6 months.
We’re days away now from the Kentucky Derby and we know that many of you, like us, are making plans for (another!) Derby at home. If you’re hosting a virtual party, a small group safely, or watching it with your family/roommates/quaranteam, we’re here with some Derby day tips from Lane’s End Farm’s Tour & Hospitality Manager, Ande.
Ande knows what works well for a party: a snack board! Read on to learn about the Derby traditions that have inspired her 2020 snack board, and download Ande’s recipe for mini hot browns for your own Derby spread this weekend!
We’re days away now from the Kentucky Derby and we know that many of you, like us, are making plans for (another!) Derby at home. If you’re hosting a virtual party, a small group safely, or watching it with your family/roommates/quaranteam, we’re here with some Derby day tips from Lane’s End Farm’s Tour & Hospitality Manager, Ande.
Ande knows what works well for a party: a snack board! Read on to learn about the Derby traditions that have inspired her 2020 snack board, and download Ande’s recipe for mini hot browns for your own Derby spread this weekend!
Can you tell us about what has inspired your snack board?
Ham and Pimento Cheese Sandwiches We always drive to Louisville and back for derby day on a bus, one of the snacks usually packed on the bus is ham sandwiches! I put my own spin on your typical derby day snack by adding some pimento cheese to them! Trick’s Big Head Beer Cheese I love beer cheese, and Trick’s is one of my all time favorites! It’s a must for any Derby Party if you ask me! Merrick Inn’s Fried Chicken Every year after a long day at Churchill we have fried chicken when we get home, Merrick Inn has always had some of my favorite Fried Chicken in Lexington! Mr G’s Salted Caramel Corn Every Snack Board needs something sweet! I love caramel popcorn, and Mr G’s is a local Kentucky company that you can now find in Kroger! Cotton Candy Grapes Because I’m obsessed with them and can’t stop snacking on them!
Do you have any tips for a fabulous Derby party at home? One of my favorite things about Derby is being with a fun group of family and friends who enjoy a day of racing as much as I do!
Any particular memories of Lane’s End connections running in the Derby?
It is always so much fun if Lane’s End or friends have horses running the day of Derby. My Grandfather had Code of Honor running last year, and it makes the day just that much more exciting!
Lily or Mint Juelp?
I usually go for a Lily on Derby Day but love Juleps!
Hat or Fascinator?
Hat- Although I have found that fascinators are a bit easier to wear all day!
It is finally upon us – the first Saturday in…September?! Yes, that’s right – the Kentucky Derby, famously run the first Saturday in May each year, was postponed to run September 5th due to COVID-19 (and ultimately without spectators!). And notably, in a racing year unlike any other, the Derby is now the second of Triple Crown race series instead of the usual first.
Now that the race weekend is {finally} here, we’re looking at the line up and excited to share the many connections in the field to our Horse Country locations. Can anyone upset Tiz the Law? Whose your favorite?
Constitution, who stands at WinStar Farm, is sire of 2020 Belmont winner and Derby contender Tiz the Law. Photo: Linzay Marks
Finnick the Fierce sired by Dialed In, who stands at Darby Dan; was raised onHallway Feeds
Max Player sired by Honor Code, who stands at Lane’s End Farm
Enforceable sired by Tapit, who stands at Gainesway Farm; running on Hallway Feeds
Storm the Court – raised on & running on Hallway Feeds
Major Fed sired by Ghostzapper, who stands at Adena Springs
Money Moves – sired by Candy Ride who stands at Lane’s End Farm
Tiz the Law sired by Constitution, who stands at WinStar Farm
Authentic sired by Into Mischief whot stands at Spendthrift Farm, partly owned by Spendthrift Farm; running on Hallway Feeds
For more info about these runners, their race record and connections, check out America’s Best Racing’s Cheat Sheet. We wish the best of luck to all contenders and hope for a safe and thrilling ride for all! Let’s do this, Derby.
