Monday, July 29, 2013

Atlantic Grand Circuit Week at Truro Raceway

 Night Race
 Grey Ghost at night
 Racing in the Rain- Trotters
Trotters on Tuesday

Atlantic Grand Circuit week just wrapped up here at the track. With all the recent upheaval it was great to see the event take place. Unfortunately Mother Nature was having a "moment" and it rained so hard on Tuesday I am pretty sure it washed the L'Oreal right out of my hair!
There were large crowds each day I was there and it was good to hear the conversations of the new people who came to the track to watch the best of the best race.
On Tuesday Night  they had a live band singing and I was rather in favour of that until they started to sing "I love a rainy night." No longer a  fan of that particular little ditty!
Photographing racehorses in the rain is a bit challenging at the best of times but add to that the black looming rain clouds that occasionally burst upon the poor humans below and then you are left wondering just how water proof your camera seals are! I got some great shots and hopefully you will see something that inspires you to go to your local track.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The Last Race

 CTV came and experienced the thrill of being in the bike!
 Monster stride on this mare who is motoring those sexy bike wheels!
 The start of the race is always thrilling
I love photographing the horses from the infield
Yes this is at the track between races

My last post was quite somber. My heart was heavy with the fear that the local racetrack was closing. My daughter and I went on Sunday for what was to be the last race.

Then something wonderful happened. A group of local business men, people who are horsemen themselves, stepped up to the plate to help support, organize and manage the track. It is not a guaranteed success story but it lightens the load and the heart. They haven't asked for a government bailout, they are handling it themselves and it is actions such as this that give me hope for my home province. For too long we have allowed others to control our futures and whether it was intentional or not, left matters in complete disrepair. Here's hoping that more people will take a "hand up" vs the "hand out" approach to keeping our community vibrant and alive.

I hope you enjoy the photography from last weeks races. It is not the last day!

Friday, July 12, 2013

Truro Raceway Closure

It is with a heavy heart that I make this post. For years I have been visiting the local Truro Raceway. It has been a great place for me to immerse myself in all things horse. The smells, sounds and touch of these lovely animals allowed me to destress as I clicked away with my camera. The people who worked here humoured me in all sorts of weather and many of them became friends.

It has been announced that Sundays race will be the last one ever. 138 years of tradition gone due to finances and crippling debt. 300 horses will need new homes and 150 people will be out of work. I am glad that I had the chance to capture this glorious sport both with camera and paint brush.

The horsemen are trying to create some sort of workable solution that will save their track but it is still up in the air as to the future. I keep my fingers crossed that they are successful.

This is an unfinished painting, rather like the track.  Perhaps when it is finished there will be horsemen at the track to see it.