Frank observations at Del Mar
July 22nd 2011 06:33
Thoroughbreds Worldwide and RacingWrite offer some unique and different observations on horse racing around the world. As editor of Thoroughbreds Worldwide I am always looking for new voices, and unique images.
And although I have been involved in the thoroughbred industry since age fourteen (in many guises) I enjoy both the observations of the expert, and the interest of the rank amateur. And on this note - the eyes and observations of the ‘racing rookie’ - I welcome Frank Rodrick to the list of contributors to both racing publications.
Frank is a self-confessed racing novice: but through his eyes and observations we may all learn more about racing as Frank begins his ‘thoroughbred journey.’ Today I publish his first set of racing photographs, and his ‘outsider’ observations. It should be quite an interesting journey for us all as we follow Frank around the racetrack, today and in the future.
Below begins our journey with Frank:
Opening Day at Del Mar
words & photography by Frank Rodrick
Opening Day at Del Mar ("Where the Surf Meets The Turf") is a big see-and-be-seen event for the young lovelies of San Diego: Hat Day. Girls who don't know a hoof from a mouth endure two hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic to then walk a mile through the dirt parking lot to the grandstand. But then they were 'At The Races'--and they did look good. Call me a ‘connoisseur’, but who can resist a constant parade of long legs, short skirts, and floppy hats? The men were there, too--I think. A few with hats, a few who actually cared about racing. But not many. Despite our world-famous track, San Diego is not a big racing town. But we sure are a big see-and-be-seen town.
The first race ran at 2:30 and they continued on for another 7. The weather was perfect: high overcast, 72 degrees, and a light breeze off the ocean. Standard San Diego--and I should mention that Del Mar is a suburb indistinguishable from San Diego except for the real estate prices. But it just blends into La Jolla which blends into Pacific Beach which blends into Mission Beach. . . but I digress. Perfect day, and there was a record attendance at the track. Who raced, who ran, who won--those I can't (really) tell you.
I think this is the third race, with Classy Lion winning it. But don't trust me!
This must have been Race 5, on the grass track. Number 2, Last Sting, ended up winning it. Of course, I missed that part. Here they are coming out of the gate, with Last Sting taking an early lead he later gave up.
Race 6 was my last. Here's Mentidoso coming from number five in the final turn to take the race. You can see the jockey looks pretty pleased about it.
And although I have been involved in the thoroughbred industry since age fourteen (in many guises) I enjoy both the observations of the expert, and the interest of the rank amateur. And on this note - the eyes and observations of the ‘racing rookie’ - I welcome Frank Rodrick to the list of contributors to both racing publications.
Frank is a self-confessed racing novice: but through his eyes and observations we may all learn more about racing as Frank begins his ‘thoroughbred journey.’ Today I publish his first set of racing photographs, and his ‘outsider’ observations. It should be quite an interesting journey for us all as we follow Frank around the racetrack, today and in the future.
Below begins our journey with Frank:
Opening Day at Del Mar
words & photography by Frank Rodrick
Opening Day at Del Mar ("Where the Surf Meets The Turf") is a big see-and-be-seen event for the young lovelies of San Diego: Hat Day. Girls who don't know a hoof from a mouth endure two hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic to then walk a mile through the dirt parking lot to the grandstand. But then they were 'At The Races'--and they did look good. Call me a ‘connoisseur’, but who can resist a constant parade of long legs, short skirts, and floppy hats? The men were there, too--I think. A few with hats, a few who actually cared about racing. But not many. Despite our world-famous track, San Diego is not a big racing town. But we sure are a big see-and-be-seen town.
The first race ran at 2:30 and they continued on for another 7. The weather was perfect: high overcast, 72 degrees, and a light breeze off the ocean. Standard San Diego--and I should mention that Del Mar is a suburb indistinguishable from San Diego except for the real estate prices. But it just blends into La Jolla which blends into Pacific Beach which blends into Mission Beach. . . but I digress. Perfect day, and there was a record attendance at the track. Who raced, who ran, who won--those I can't (really) tell you.
I think this is the third race, with Classy Lion winning it. But don't trust me!
This must have been Race 5, on the grass track. Number 2, Last Sting, ended up winning it. Of course, I missed that part. Here they are coming out of the gate, with Last Sting taking an early lead he later gave up.
Race 6 was my last. Here's Mentidoso coming from number five in the final turn to take the race. You can see the jockey looks pretty pleased about it.
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