Blog

Sit Back and Enjoy

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:09:00 -0500

Sit back and enjoy this video by Phlip Bloom. Scenes like this are why I love horse racing.

Aha!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:54:00 -0500

Aha!

I know why Nick Nolte just happened to be hangin' around the track on a Sunday afternoon. He's going to play a trainer in HBO's series, "Luck."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib047da6a5b38efffb540da0fdd9263c5

Jockey B-Ball

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:47:00 -0500

Members of the Santa Anita jockey colony played Holy Angels middle schoolers in the annual charity basketball game, Feb. 25, 2010, at LaSalle High School in Pasadena, Calif. Also see my photos at the following link:

http://www.finalturngallery.com/g2/main.php/v/Greyhorse-s-Race-Photos/BBall02-25-10/

Celebrity Sighting/ Magazine News

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:20:00 -0500

Actor Nick Nolte, left, listens as trainer Jack Van Berg gives riding instructions to apprentice jockey Michael James before the fifth race at Santa Anita, Feb. 28, 2010.

I totally caught Nolte by sheer luck! It was a dull day, so I was I was digging deep for interesting things to photograph. I noticed James' name in the program, and since I had never seen him before I camped out to get some photos of him. I took this photo, and then someone came up beside me and said, "That's Nick Nolte." I didn't recognize the man who said that at first, but then I realized it was George "George O" Ortuzar, James' agent and a member of Hollywood Park's marketing department. I knew the name Nick Nolte, but not the face. So I took this photo before I even knew a celebrity was in it!

Some other celebrities I can remember seeing at the track: "jackass" Johnny Knoxville (who I was most excited about), director Mel Brooks (a racetrack regular), actor Dick Van Patten, actor/governator Arnold Schwarzenegger (twice), actor Kurt Russell, actress Bo Derek (many times; no big deal since she's a CHRB member now), TV host Alex Trebek, TV host Jim Rome (also an owner), chef Bobby Flay (owner, too), and others I'm sure I'm forgetting since I don't actually keep a list.

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Keep an eye out for the March 2010 issue of California Thoroughbred magazine, the official publication of the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. I have multiple stories and photos published in it! I completed my internship there last Thursday, Feb. 25, but the good news is I will continue to freelance for them.

LA Sports - Zenyatta

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:35:00 -0500

Zenyatta's Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr. 1) win was named the "Exceptional Athletic Performance" of 2009 by the Los Angeles Sports Council on Friday. She also finished second to the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA title run in top moment voting. No one will ever beat Los Lakers in an LA popularity contest, so I consider her runner-up finish quite an accomplishment.

The press release can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.lasports.org/lagreatest_moments/Press_Release_LAGSM_2009.pdf

Arizona & New Mexico

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:58:00 -0500

Four Kentucky Derby wins between 'em, trainers Bob Baffert (left) and Chip Woolley Jr. chat at the Barretts January Mixed Sale at Fairplex Park on Jan. 26, 2010. This, a short conversation between two people, was the highlight of both days for me. The sale was pretty depressing, with many mares, yearlings, and two-year-olds not even meeting the minimum $1,000 bid.

Ice Skating & Horse Racing

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:22:00 -0500

Random horse racing-related observation of the day:

The USA's two ladies' figure skating representatives for the 2010 Winter Olympics are from Del Mar, Calif. (where the turf meets the surf) and Arcadia, Calif. (home of The Great Race Place). This year's Winter Olympics will be held in Toronto, home of Hastings Park.

http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/figureskating/columns/story?columnist=ford_bonnie_d&id=4853945

First cover photo!

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:44:00 -0500

Right on the heels of my first Web photo for the Daily Racing Form, my first ever cover photo appeared in Wednesday's national edition! Head on over to my "Published Work" page to check it out!

Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:45:00 -0500

Q: What's soft, white, and afraid of peppermints?

A: The famous white nose of Australian Horse of the Year and Group 1 King's Stand winner Scenic Blast. The photo is of John Shirreffs' assistant trainer Frank Leal trying to feed the gelding a peppermint. Leal tried to get him to eat for a good 10 minutes, but Scenic Blast was afraid of it, recoiling each time it touched his nose. He is also afraid of carrots. He's a very laid-back horse, but I guess they do things differently down under. He's still adjusting to his new life at the Shirreffs barn after arriving about three weeks ago from his native country. He came here so he would be able to race with anti-bleeder medication.

Check out Shirreffs' videos of Scenic Blast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQBXPfWqgqg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih8T_6wILaA

Eeeeeeee!!!

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:26:00 -0500

My first photo published for the Daily Racing Form, currently on their homepage:

http://drf.com/news/article/110182.html

Of my favorite horse, no less. Now, if only she can miraculously win Horse of the Year tomorrow...