The National Museum of Racing

So this morning I headed for the horse racing museum.

I found Saratoga Racetrack and the museum before the museum opened so I parked and walked down by the racetrack.

First, horse racing doesn't start in Saratoga this year until July 19th...I knew that when I went there. I'm sure it would have been impossible to enjoy, in almost complete SOLITUDE, all of the things I was able to enjoy. I was THE ONLY PERSON in the museum this morning. Do you know how NICE that is? I could see everything and read everything and take as long and stare as much as I wanted. I LOVE museums!!! I watched all of the videos!!!!

Looks like Wally World

Anyway, I looked longingly at the racetrack and can't wait for the day when I go back and see it in operation. I'm also wondering why I didn't go to Ag College when I had the chance :(

Anyway on to the museum.

Outside of the museum is a bronze of Seabiscuit.

In the courtyard is the famous bronze of Secretariat. These are very nice but the bronze of Barbaro in action at Churchill Downs is still the most impressive horse statue I have ever seen.

Okay so at this point I entered the museum. The woman at the desk told me I could take my camera in but I could only take pictures in the hall of fame area and the children's area.

So, I'm sorry, I'm a rule follower. I took no photos. But I really enjoyed not taking pictures and just enjoying the artifacts.

The museum is filled with bronze statues of all the famous race horses. Beautiful original oil paintings of all the famous race horses. Riding silks, saddles, boots and all sorts of artifacts. I love bronze statues. If I had an ounce of artistic ability I would make statues in bronze. I did not touch any of the bronzes at the dance museum and they were certainly touchable. But all of the bronzes in the racing museum were in cases...I would have had trouble not touching them. Bronze statues tempt me to touch them, I think that's why I like them so much.

I was amazed at how small the ballet costumes in the dance museum were. I was even more amazed at how small the jockey's saddles were. I am going to say what went through my mind. I thought, "My goodness they are riding those horses on large leather maxi pads!" They had a western saddle for you to compare it to. I was amazed. 

See, you don't want me NOT to have a filter between my brain and my mouth. There is a reason God made me a QUIET thinker. You don't really want to know what my mind is thinking.

So I took a few pictures in the children's area.

This starting gate scared me.

In the hall of fame I took some photos of the plaques of some of my favorite horses.

Of course Ruffian is my favorite.

Go For Wand

Silks

And then there was this part of the museum. (I was also permitted to take pictures here.)

I learned a lot of interesting things.

For example did you know the acceleration of a thoroughbred race horse is greater than the acceleration of a Ferrari.

A race horse pliés in the starting gate to start that acceleration.

The difference between you and any animal that can not climb trees is your collar bone.

Horses run on their toes like ballerinas. 

When picking a good race horse starting at the head the first thing you look for is large nostrils and large eyes.

After that it's all geometry kids. A horse can see 330 degrees. Is that a full circle? No, but close!!

This is the human jaw, which has a two directional grinding motion. The horsey chews in a circle. The lion's jaw is scary when you turn the wheel...lots of torque.

So do I still have time to become an equine vet??

Heading Out

I'm heading out this morning to the horse racing museum.

And then...the road.

My Stomach is going to...

...Explode!!!

I went to Hattie's restaurant this evening and ordered their famous fried chicken.

This restaurant was featured on a Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network.

It was sooooooo good.

They give you four pieces of chicken, a breast, thigh, leg and wing.

It comes with two sides...you have some choices...I chose the succotash and smashed potatoes.

I only wish I had a bigger stomach. They served it with cornbread and biscuits.

I then walked around Saratoga Springs looking for a cupcake. Of the 3 places Emily had suggested only 2 are currently open. Shops in Saratoga can be seasonal and it is not quite racing season. I also found Flakes.

I did get a cupcake from the other two places...and the one was not edible...partly because it had "armor" wrapped around it and partly because when I finally took a bite it tasted weird. The other cupcake was edible from Bettie's Cake...nothing that would make it special and certainly not a friendly place at all. Though they were playing Elvis music so they get a point for that.

I think I'm dehydrated from the pooh water today. I have downed 33.8 ounces of Poland Spring water since 8 o'clock and still no urge to pee.

Naked Day!!

Spa day is finally here!!!!

I booked a spa day at the Roosevelt Baths. I have observed 3 historic large bath houses in this town. The Lincoln, Roosevelt and Washington Baths. So I guess if you are going to create a bath house you must name it after a president?

So my bath today was at the Roosevelt Baths. 

My appointment today was at 10:30 am...I was scheduled for the "Queen of Spas" package.

The actual spa is hard to find on the property. I had to ask for directions at least 3 times. It is sitting in the middle of a state park. It's absolutely beautiful. Tall pine trees, walking paths, big rocking chairs, people RELAXING...everywhere.

So...I finally found the place. I went inside and told them I had a 10:30 appointment.

I'm going to compare this to my Half Moon Bay experience at the Ritz Carlton.

The people at the front desk who took me into the spa were fantastic. They showed me the taps that the mineral water comes out of and asked me if I wanted to drink some. I said..."sure...I will try anything." So she gave me a little cup with a swallow at the bottom. I smelled it and it smelled weird. I gulped it and it tasted weird. I said..."okay thanks for that experience!"...so she assured me that there would be regular water available but if I wanted to drink from the mineral tap it was very good for me.

So I snapped a few shots before I got naked.

The protocol is the same as Half Moon Bay but things were explained much better. Of course I now had spa experience so maybe that was it.

Get your clothes off, put in locker, go to relaxation room.

I sat in the relaxation room and Don came in and called me back. We went past the "water" fountain again and he asked me if I wanted some...I said..."no thanks...had that experience already!"...he laughed and told me they should have a hidden camera there.

They take you back to the bathing rooms and things are modernized but they have kept some of the feel of the old bath house.

So I went into a room with Don, who introduced me to a white porcelain bath tub filled with pooh water. It was brown...maybe rust...??? Anyway he explained to me that he would leave the room and I could get in the water. I thought he said it was 50 degrees...but that doesn't seem right...it was very warm. Anyway, my big concern was...how do I know when to get out?...he said he would knock and then come in with a towel. So he left and I got in the tub...he explained to me that the tub is 4 inches deeper than the floor so I should be careful getting in. 

It was very deep and then...you float... :)

So 20 minutes in pooh water is a long time...so what do you do?...I played Free Willly with my feet for a while and then my feet started doing synchronized swimming...I thought about Whitney Houston and the way she died...finally Don knocked on the door and put my towel on the chair and told me to get between the sheets face down on the massage table.

The massage was awesome....best I have ever had...she massaged my left butt cheek forever!!! I must have had a hell of a knot there. (Thanks Dillinger!!!)

So after each treatment they leave you a little envelope with the persons name so you can tip. So after Sherri's massage, Serena's facial was good but not as good as Half Moon Bay. But my face looks good... :)

Back to the relaxation room.

So now it's after 1 pm...I'm shocked at the amount of time that has gone by.

So Emily came in and got me for my mani/pedi....not as good as Half Moon Bay but that woman in Half Moon Bay did a lot of work on my feet.

Emily was FULL of information however regarding where to get a good CUPCAKE!!!!

So I gave everybody a $20 tip and handed in my envelopes and left rejuvenated and beautiful.

So after my shower I am off to Hattie's Restaurant for some food network famous grub and to check out some cupcake shops :)

Later...I love Saratoga Springs.

Harness Racing

I decided to end my day by going to the casino and race track.

At this time of year Saratoga only has harness racing. I was okay with that.

A smoke free casino.... :)

Get on board Pennsylvania.

Harness racing is more calm than regular racing. The horses look bigger...or maybe they just seem bigger because you see them close up.

I broke even at the casino. So that's a good day :)

I am beyond bushed today...tomorrow I go to the mineral springs and get rejuvenated.

The horsey tried to kill me!!

His name was Dillinger.

Okay so they called me at about 12:30 and told me if I drove up to the stables they would take me for a ride.

So I eagerly stopped what I was doing and dressed for the woods/riding and headed north on 87 to exit 21 and Bennett's Riding Stables. 

Great place, very hospitable people. They really went out of their way to get a ride in for me. I didn't get dinner, but that's okay.

Mount Crumpet (Beach Mountain)...I'm about to scale it on horseback!

My guides horse.

The last good photo.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how people shot guns from on top of a horse, never the less pictures.

And it was maybe the most peaceful and beautiful 2 hours of my life. We climbed through mountain trails and across babbling brooks. Beautiful trees that I don't know the names of but have seen people try to capture in paintings. I was riding along peacefully thinking, I could have done Charro! with Elvis this is a piece of cake (or pi). A deer came darting across our path and was so close to us. I tried to take some pictures during the ride but the asshole, I mean horse, wasn't cooperative.

Blurry but you can kind of see the deer.

Babbling brook...the horse moved at the last second.

Fortunately when you get to the top of mount crumpet (Beach Mountain)...you dismount in an attempt to take some photos to prove you made it to the top.

It was breath taking, spectacular, scary to stand at the edge.

Man made lake...supposed to look like the United States.

Dillinger...looking at me like... "I'm not carrying your ass back down that mountain!!"

If you look at the clearing down there...that's how far we climbed.

It took two hours...we passed the deer again on the way down. Thank you Dillinger.

I hurt EVERYWHERE!!!!