The Kentucky state flower is the Goldenrod. The tall and spindly plant thrives in many conditions and soil types. The flower has green and prominent yellow foliage that actively blossoms in the summer. Here is an image of the flowers at the Arboretum.
Goldenrods at the Arboretum
The Arboretum is a 100-acre public garden located on the campus of the University of Kentucky in the heart of Lexington, Kentucky. They aim to showcase Kentucky landscapes and serve as a resource center for environmental and horticultural education, research, and conservation.
We will post images of flowers and exhibits in the garden.
Arboretum in Lexington
A Flowery Landscape
We end our series of images from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, with an art piece depicting the most impressive races run there.
Art at Churchill Downs
On the clubhouse level of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, there is a stunning glass replica of the racetrack created by Craig Colquhoun. Using heat, metal, and glass, this master artist skillfully and successfully constructed 4,000 detailed glass pieces to fit inside the 30-foot racetrack sculpture.
Master of Glass Artistry
Churchill Downs in Glass
Churchill Downs Seating in Glass
Glass Horse Figureines
The race is over at Churchill Downs, and the results and winnings are posted on the LED screen. The hoof marks on the track indicate that a race was run.
Posted Results
Hoof Marks on the Track at Churchill Downs
One horse has a sizeable lead and will cross first at the finish line marker at Churchill Downs
A Sizeable Lead
Finish Line Markers
Horses racing down the stretch at Churchill Downs
Running Away
Galloping Horses
“Down the Stretch” is the “home stretch” in Thoroughbred Racing. It can also be called the “last leg,” but certainly not as often. The home stretch is the last quarter of a mile to the 8th of a mile of the race and is parallel to the backstretch.
Here are the horses coming down the stretch at Churchill Downs.
Down the Stretch
One horse takes an early lead out of the gate at Churchill Downs
One Leads at the Start
One of the biggest challenges of the starting gate is having a horse on their toes and ready to break sharply but also relaxed and confident during the process. Here are horses breaking off in the race at Churchill Downs.
Off they Go
Racehorses are being led to and carefully placed at the starting gate at Churchill Downs
Getting Horses to the Starting Gate
Here are video shots of a horse being led out for the race on the large LED screen at Churchill Downs
Led Out for the Race
Led Out for the Race on the Screen
A starting gate, also called a starting barrier or starting stall, is a machine that ensures a fair start in horse racing. Here is a starting gate at Churchill Downs.
Horse Race Starting Gate
Narrow Gates
Most track ponies at Churchill Downs are thoroughbreds, ex-racehorses. It’s their second chance at life, horses that didn’t run fast enough or got hurt. But they must be level-headed thoroughbreds because they have the same stride as a racehorse.
Track Pony Leading a Race Horse
Two Riding Together
The slick Thoroughbreds in their colorful saddle cloths at Churchill Downs catch everyone’s eye. That is, until a large, lead pony steps onto the track!
As a track “pony,” such ponies must be calm, confident, and strong to safely lead Thoroughbreds to the starting gate.
Companion Ponies Waiting for Race Horses
Riding Together
Churchill Downs has a 15,224-square-foot, high-definition LED video board.
The bottom edge of the 171-foot wide video board is 80 feet above the ground and tops out at 170 feet in height. The video board and supporting steel structure weigh more than 1 million pounds and must withstand winds of up to 85 miles per hour.
Huge Display Board
LED Screens at Churchill Downs
Ready to race at Churchill Downs!
Often referred to as the parade ring, the horse paddock is where the runners in the forthcoming race are paraded for racegoers to get a proper look at them. The parade also gets the horses moving and relaxed.
Pre-parade Ring and Parade Area
Pre-parade Ring and Parade Area Balcony
After his racing career, Secretariat stood as stud at Claiborne Farm until he passed away at 19. Here is the nameplate of the barn where he was stabled.
Secretariat’s grave is in an understated horse cemetery, past two brick pillars with granite roosters atop them. It is a simple headstone often surrounded by flowers, apples, and peppermints left by fans.
Secretariat Nameplate
Secretariat Tombstone
Kentucky Derby Museum celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Secretariat’s Triple Crown sweep and recognizes all aspects of the Secretariat’s greatness with a brand new, immersive exhibit.
The display of Fastest Finishes shows the speed of Secretariat and how far he was ahead of the other winners.
In 1999, Secretariat became the first Thoroughbred to be selected to have his own commemorative United States Postal stamp. It honors Secretariat, his iconic 1972 Triple Crown victory, and his record-setting pace during the Kentucky Derby.
Fastest Finishers at Churchill Downs
Secretariat Stamp
We saw a distinctive horse at the barn at Churchill Downs. “Albino” horses are a color type of horse born white and have pink skin, but they are not true biological albinos. They have slim heads, muscular necks, compact bodies, sloping shoulders, muscular croup, and long tails. Their eyes are blue, dark, or light brown rather than pink. Their hooves are often weak, but they have flat, smooth gait.
Albino Horse
Blue Eye of a Horse