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Friday morning KTTC members and
parents braved early morning storms to catch Belmont runners
going through their paces on the track. The rain stopped just
in time for the group to venture to the Belmont backside where
KTTC members met with owners Bob and Beverly Lewis, trainers
D. Wayne Lukas, Shug McGaughey, Bob Baffert, and Hall of Fame
jockey Angel Cordero, Jr. Lectures, photos and autographs combined
with some excellent member questions made the morning hours
fly by.
Perhaps the highlight of the
backstretch tour was a stop at Todd Pletcher's barn where the
entire KTTC group was invited under the shedrow to visit the
roster of runners. Every KTTC member found one or two horses
they wanted to take home.
Doug Reed, Coordinator of the
Race Track Industry program at the University of Arizona, spoke
to the group in the beautiful paddock just before the races
to point out various career opportunities in the racing industry.
The group also visited the
Belmont jockey quarters and colors room, where they met with
Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, and got to ride a mechanical horse.
The bright assortment of jockeys' silks added color to an already
bright morning.
The New York Racing Association
sponsored lunch for the group and then it was off to the races
for members and parents.
Friday and Saturday a group
of KTTC veterans staked out prime locations along the rail in
the paddock and the racetrack while essay contest winners enjoyed
excellent seats courtesy of NYRA.
A major highlight of the Belmont-day
race card was a group visit with jockey Victor Espinoza as he
returned to the jock's room following a race. Victor graciously
signed autographs and posed for photos with excited KTTC members.
The Belmont Stakes resulted
in a stunning upset at the hands of Sarava, but KTTC members
and parents weren't disappointed in the least, because they
had enjoyed a fantastic weekend of racing in the Big Apple.
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