PTG's One Year Anniversary!

On August 19, 2011, I published my very first blog post on Past the Grandstand. It was the beginning of my blog, which is now home to more than 200 posts! I never imagined it would grow so large so quickly. This all stemmed from my love for the horse, the beautiful animal I have been around all my life.

In May of 2004, I watched as the gusty, lovable Smarty Jones galloped through the mud en route to a victory in the Kentucky Derby. Ever since, I have been in love with the sport of Thoroughbred racing. My adoration for the sport has absolutely skyrocketed since that fateful first Saturday of May, seeing me visit the racetrack countless times, including trips to two Breeders’ Cups. Fortunately, there are many more racetrack visits to come in the future, including another trip to the Breeders' Cup (and hopefully even more than that)!!

Miss Fifty and me at Churchill Downs
Photo by Terri Cage

I have been blessed with so many wonderful experiences since beginning my blog. From a spectacular visit to Churchill Downs for the 2011 Breeders’ Cup, to meeting some of my favorite racehorses, to riding the incredible geldings Lights on Broadway and King of Speed, to having my article on Lights on Broadway published on BloodHorse.com, to being humbled by the rescue of several horses from the Many, Louisiana horse seizure, to sharing my story withMiss Fifty with the world, to further delving into my dream of working in the Thoroughbred sales industry, to falling in love with Dover Heights, to meeting the rescued Asmussen mares, and many other awesome experiences, Past the Grandstand has become my way to express my love of the sport of horse racing – my passion.

Sometimes – okay, a lot of times – I get too caught up in the analysis of races, the assessment of pedigrees, the evaluation of conformation, and all that jazz and nearly forget the heart of why I do all of those dissections – my love for not just the Thoroughbred, but the horse. But I get that reminder multiple times a day when I go out to the barn.

Most of my readers know me as “a young, avid fan of horse racing.” Well, yes, at sixteen, I am young and yes, of course, I am an avid fan of horse racing. But what it all boils down to is that I’m a horse lover. That’s about as close as you can get to a definition of me.

Whether it’s playing with my two bratty miniature horses; loving on my beloved twenty-eight-year-old mare Tommie Sue; rubbing on my darling Paint filly Lily or giving a pat to her dam, Jesse; calling my sister to check in on my first OTTB Dexter or on our gelding Jasper; visiting, riding, and training my charming newest addition, Sidney; or spending time with the horse that is my best friend, Pebbles, I love spending time with my horses. In fact, I’m moved to tears sometimes because of how much I love and cherish them.

I will be the first to admit I am not tremendously eloquent with words, but I will admit that I can get very mushy when it comes to my horses. It’s when I’m talking about my horses that the cheesiest things come out of my mouth. They hold my heart and they always will.

I would like to thank all my fans and readers for their support over the past year. This past year has been a gift from God and I would like to thank every single person that has supported me throughout the past year – my parents, family, and friends, of course, as well as anyone else that has helped and supported me. It truly means a lot.

I invite you all to watch this video I made below, displaying photos and videos of my life not only throughout the past year I have spent with Past the Grandstand, but my life in horse racing and with horses in general. Again, thank you all!

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