As I walked the streets of NYC trying to wrap my mind around the massive buildings, taxis that honked unnecessarily and the constant flow of people that always seemed to be going somewhere, I was taking metal notes in my brain. If you’re planning on traveling to New York City – or even if you’re not – here’s a compilation of random thoughts and observations I made about the city that never sleeps. Continue reading
My idea of an epic travel adventure involves a lot of hiking, scenic views and unique cultural experiences. Of all the places on my travel list, New York City was never one of them.
I had this preconceived notion of tall ugly buildings, noise pollution, air pollution, yellow taxis and Broadway Musicals – none of which I cared to experience.
My friend Katie, who I worked with at The Saratoga Special last summer, decided to up and move to New York City in the fall (a very brave and commendable move, I might say). “Can I come visit?” I asked jokingly one day over text. “Of course!” was her reply.
Of course I wasn’t serious. At first.
For those of you who know me well, you’ve probably heard about my love for Frank Sinatra music more than once. Good ole’ Sinatra sang me tunes of love and encouragement throughout a very grueling fall semester. He also sang an easily recognizable song about New York City.
Maybe it was the insane amount of homework, or the stir-craziness from being cooped up inside during the winter, or Frank Sinatra himself that went to my head a little bit. But the cogs starting turning in my brain, and I found myself buying plane tickets for two trips in succession: first to Lexington, then to New York City. Continue reading
A mare with her foal at the Keeneland January Sale
A year ago around this time, I was attending the Heritage Place Winter Sale in Oklahoma City, which is comparable to Keeneland but for Quarter Horses only. I worked at the sale as the online communications and publications intern for AQHA, taking photos and networking. However, I was intrigued by the way the sales worked on the equine side with the buyers and sellers. Potential buyers studied the pedigrees of consigned horses from a large book, and came around to their stalls to look them over, watch them walk and analyze their movement.
While working for The Saratoga Special this past summer, I took in the Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Sale. Although it was the same concept as the Heritage Place sale for Quarter Horses, there was a lot more money involved, it was set up differently and the agencies who consign the horses are different. Continue reading
The horse racing industry is big and small at the same time. It’s comprised of multiple components, including breeding farms, racetracks, sales, and media, and every one of these branches is interconnected.
I love diving in and learning about the different aspects of racing. The majority of my experiences have been concentrated in journalism and communications, however I’ve also worked as a clocker, gallop girl, pony girl and taking entries in a racing office.
Thoroughbred sales were an area that I had less experience with, so I took it upon myself to learn more by actually working a sale – the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. Fun fact: Keeneland is the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house! They hold multiple sales every year, with the largest ones in September and November. Continue reading
Taking a pic with Big Lex
As soon as I stepped off the plane in Lexington on Friday the 8th, I was welcomed into horse country U.S.A. by a giant mural for Keeneland racetrack and sales. Further down the hall was an enormous photo of “Big Lex,” a horse who symbolizes the fine thoroughbred bloodstock and bluegrass the state is famous for.
I stayed with a friend for the night so we could explore Lexington together and tour a few stud farms before I started working at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale for Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Some people get excited about going to concerts and seeing famous musicians. On Saturday I got to spend the entire day fan-girling over studs – and I don’t mean hot guys. I’m talking Thoroughbred stallions at WinStar Farm, Spendthrift Farm, and the American division of Coolmore, Ashford Stud.
We started off the day at Ashford. Coolmore can be described on the most basic level as an empire within the horse racing industry, and is active in a number of countries. The conglomerate was founded in Ireland and is owned and run by the Magnier family. In 2014 American Pharoah was sold to them for stud duties, and stands at Ashford for $200,000, the cost people pay to breed their mares to him. Continue reading
My brother and I had a conversation yesterday about New Year’s resolutions. We were wondering why people wait until the new year to make changes in their lives that are good for their health and wellness.
At the turn of every year, people somehow think they’re getting a new start. I’ve never thought this to be true, because you’re not actually starting over. You’re adding another chapter to the book you’ve already begun.
New Year’s resolutions are akin to my book analogy.
I love reading, and when I get started on a good book I can hardly put it down. Especially not in the middle of a chapter. We become so wrapped up in our lives that even when we know we have to make changes or add something new to our routines, it’s difficult. It’s like disrupting a riveting book in the middle of a chapter. Continue reading
Picking up where we left off in Advice for study-abroaders, Part 1, Part 2 will review how I selected my country, university and program, and the considerations I had to make for each one.
When you study abroad, the most important thing to keep in mind is that your ULTIMATE GOAL is to graduate from college. But whether you’re determined to graduate in exactly 4 years or you’re OK with taking an extra semester to make up a few credits can play a role in deciding where to study abroad.
If you have a country in mind that seems perfect, aligning with your travel aspirations of swimming in the ocean, climbing mountains or learning French and whatever else floats your boat, head to your university’s study abroad office and see what advice they can offer you on programs and universities. Because even if you’re dead-set on going to a particular country, your decision might change depending on what universities are available and the courses they offer.
Examples of study abroad program books
My university’s study abroad department has a little online search engine where I can enter the duration of time I want to study abroad, my major and the country I wish to visit, and it will bring up a list of options. Most study abroad advisers will also hand you a bunch of program books, such as API, CEA and AIFS that offer study abroad in your country of interest.
But to be completely honest with you, Books + Online Materials = Confusion & Uncertainty!
All of this can add up to information overload, so take it S.L.O.W.L.Y. Start planning in advance so you’re not trying to take it all in a week before the application due date. Continue reading
Some of you may or may not be aware that I am preparing to study abroad during the upcoming spring semester, and I plan on taking YOU along on my adventure through my blogs when I’m in Chile!
Having recently resurfaced from drowning in a vast ocean of study abroad program application paperwork, I would like to lend y’all a few tips on how to prepare for the initial ups and downs of deciding on and applying for a study abroad program.
There are a gazillion awesome places to visit in this world, and studying abroad provides an opportunity to live in one of those many incredible lugares and get to know the people, language and culture. Great! So where do you start?
In a nutshell…
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’re dealing with:
All of this varies depending on your major. Some countries have several cities with multiple universities that offer classes for a number of majors. Others might have one university available to foreign students and only offers a limited amount of classes.
Also, different study abroad programs give you access to different countries and universities. For example, one program might allow you to study in Puerto Rico while another doesn’t give you that option. Or perhaps you’ll have three different study abroad programs that offer Chile as an option, but they might be for different universities. It all depends.
Keep these in mind when we dive into the deep stuff! Continue reading
Suits in the print of hundred dollar bills, plaid suits, patriotic suits. If I have one regret from Travers day, it’s that I didn’t take any photos of all the crazy men’s suits. Usually it’s the women who shine when it comes to fashion, but the men milling around Saratoga were absolutely killing it!
Despite the large quantities of people, the track didn’t feel overwhelmingly packed as I feared it would. It seemed much the same as the day of the Whitney Stakes, with the only difference being you needed a special pass to go anywhere.
Paddock patrons flash their badges.
A black dot on your media badge to enter the press box, a special sticker for the paddock for the first five races and when the stakes races began, a special badge. So many rules put in place because of American Pharoah’s upcoming appearance.
The first few races were spent adjusting to the chaotic atmosphere and snapping a few winner’s circle selfies with The Special team. Of course we worked as well, but work never really felt like work at Saratoga.
One of my favorite trainers, Barclay Tagg – conditioner of 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide – won the fourth race that day with a 2-year-old colt named Tale of S’avall, so I grabbed him for an interview. Continue reading
Now that I’ve had a few days to recuperate after jet-setting across the country for a final weekend of racing at Saratoga Racecourse, it’s time to get back to blogging. My productivity level took a nose dive when it came to doing anything school related today, and this seemed like a far better option than reading an organizational communication textbook. Plus, I’ve been itching to dig through my photos from Travers weekend!
Last Friday morning (the 28th) I was in definite danger of going slightly crazy. My bags were packed and ready to go, my flight itinerary was memorized and I had texted my Saratoga friends about a million times reminding them of how excited I was to return. After surviving nearly the entire first week back to school, only one class stood between me and my flight returning to the place I’ve now deemed my second home.
One. Class.
My parents were probably as anxious for me to leave as I was, as they had to endure an entire week of my crazy ups and downs. For those of you who’ve seen the Disney movie “Inside Out,” I pretty much bounced back and forth between resembling the characters ‘Sadness’ and ‘Joy.’ One moment I was moping around the house, complaining about how down in the dumps I was to be back and what a grind school is, and the next I was bouncing off walls, wildly singing and dancing, reveling in the fact that I was returning for the Travers Stakes.
As you probably gathered from my last blog written on Friday, I was pretty excited.
Despite the amount of traveling and the number of plane rides I’ve taken over the years, I’m still not a fan of planes. Airports yes. Planes no. Airports are equipped with the best people watching you could possibly find. Airplanes are stuffy and confining, cold, dirty and not to mention a gazillion feet up in the air. Unless I’m mounted on a horse, I like my feet to be firmly planted on the ground, thank you very much.
I flew into the Albany airport around 10:20 p.m. that night and got to bed at some point after midnight. When my alarm went off at 4:30 Saturday morning I might have questioned my own sanity, but only momentarily. By the time I arrived at the track at 5:30 my worries galloped away with each passing Thoroughbred. It was almost as though I had turned back the clock and the week spent in school never even happened. I watched the sun rise over the track, illuminating the steam that blew in puffs from the horse’s nostrils into the crisply chilling late summer air as they galloped along. Continue reading
Annise's Anecdotes 