One of my favorite things about horse racing are the morning scenes around the track. Some of the most breathtaking sights can be seen in the morning. The sun illuminates everything in an orange glow, transforming the horses into strong, silhouetted figures that gracefully dance over the track. The scenery is peaceful, but at times you can still sense the urgent anticipation radiating off of the horses and their team as they train for their next start. Everyone bustling on the track in the morning is up early with the same goal in mind:to win.
Nothing can quite compare to the tranquil beauty that can be found around racetracks in the morning. It is breathtaking to see these majestic animals train under the glowing early sun. I don't get to do it often, but whenever I do get the chance to visit the track at sunrise, I always cherish it. Below are some pictures I have taken over the years when the sun came up around "Old Hilltop".
I think the orange glow of the sun makes everything prettier.
Even when it's early the horses are still lively. It's very thrilling watching them power rhythmically down the stretch.
Above you can see a European Starling making the term "railbird" too literal. Below you can see a horse from the beautiful Sagamore Farm strutting his stuff around the track.
The morning sun has a whimsical way of making everything glow as it inches higher into the sky.
Will Take Charge
It's always fun to visit Pimlico when Preakness contenders are in town. You never know what famous face you'll see next. The horse above is Will Take Charge, and the one below is Goldencents when they training for the 2014 Preakness.
Goldencents and Satire
Satire, the lead pony, watched from the sidelines while his charge, Goldencents, breezed around Pimlico.
I think Satire was enjoying himself!
Mornings are a great time to see all that goes into getting these athletes ready for race day. There's so much more to it than just sticking them in a starting gate and letting them run. Every little thing that takes place in the morning all leads up to what happens at the finish line. As you can see in the pictures below, it isn't always easy for these brave exercise riders to get their horses to cooperate.
Below are some pictures from past Sunrise Tours that Pimlico hosts before the Preakness. It is always one of my favorite events.
Here is Illinois Derby winner, Multiplier, taking it all in one spring morning.
Below you can find Fountain of Youth winner, Gunnevera.
Here is Classic Empire before his narrow defeat in the 2016 Preakness Stakes
Below is a picture of Senior Investment. He went on to finish third in the Preakness Stakes.
A crowd of horse lovers always shows up early for the Sunrise Tours!
When you visit Pimlico in the spring there's always a good chance that you will see some famous figures. In the picture above you can see Kentucky Derby champion, Always Dreaming. He was heading off the track after a very early workout. Below are pictures of his exercise rider, Nick Bush on Moana.
There is always a lot of activity on the track if you visit during the Sunrise Tours.
After taking in all the sights on the track it's always nice to head over to the backside.
The horses get all cleaned up when they return to the barn. It's a very peaceful time for both the humans and their equine athletes.
Dedicated grooms put a lot of love and care into their horses.
It is fascinating to see what goes on behind the scenes. It takes a lot of care to get these animals ready for the races!
It's always fun to stop by and visit when the Clydesdales are in town!
I love how draft horses can appear so large and imposing, yet be so kind and gentle.
The feathering on their feet is one of my favorite things about them!
Barley the Budweiser Dalmatian was overseeing all the visitors!
Here is Keen Pauline the morning that she won the 2015 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. She wanted to eat the flowers that decorated the barn area. She may not have gotten to have flowers as a snack, but she ended the day wearing a cape of them instead!
There is so much beauty at Old Hilltop in the mornings. While the races in the afternoon are thrilling, there's just something enchanting about what goes on while the sun is rising. If you ask me, getting up early in the morning is totally worth it. There is a lot to be seen.
All of the men, woman, and horses that rise at the crack of dawn each day rise with the same goal in mind. All of the hard work and devotion that goes on in the mornings and on the backside is done with a single dream. That dream is to cross the elusive finish line first and end the day in the glorious winner's circle.
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Black-Eyed Susan, the Maryland state flower and official flower of the Preakness Stakes