Post Race, Post Haste

There are few more stimulating times around the Hoof Beats offices then the week after the Hambletonian, where we rush home to write stories, select photos, and put it all together for the September magazine.

I started writing the main race story during the nine-hour car ride home (those Pennsylvania tunnels were a challenge), and finished it up Monday, then wrote eight sidebars by Tuesday afternoon.

But I am just one cog in this wheel—T.J., Chris Tully, Ken Weingartner and all of our interns have also been churning out the work in high gear.

One of my favorite elements we put together today—a photo of the paddock crowd just minutes before the horses head to the track. As many people as we could identify were asked one question: What were you thinking at this moment in time. I bet some of their answers surprise you!

For the first time in my tenure (I can’t speak for any earlier editors), we are also having a contest to select the cover of the September issue. We have three very different shots of Muscle Hill, and the one that gets the most votes will be the cover photo. In the first few hours we had 250 responses, but I can’t tell you who is winning—it’s that close! Be sure to have your vote counted before the deadline next week.

One of the wonderful parts of Hambletonian week is seeking so many friends—those I have known for years, and those I meet that day. I cannot thank enough everyone who asked me about the health of my husband, Brian, who is in remission from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Your good thoughts got us through the tough times, and they make these good times even better. I am so grateful to report that Brian’s six-month CAT scan, taken Wednesday, showed no sign of cancer. It was a wonderful Hambletonian indeed!