The first time I watched live horse racing, it wasn’t at a pristine track like Keeneland, or the timeless staple, Saratoga. There’s no sweeping grandstand or meticulously manicured infield. Instead, a set of shiny metal bleachers covered by a white awning overlook the stretch. A blanket of prairie grass dotted with cross-country jumps spreads across the infield.
The North Dakota Horse Park at dawn. Photo by Leslie Miller
Unless you’re from Fargo, North Dakota, you’ve probably never even heard of this track, and maybe never will again after you finish reading my story.
The more I learn about horse racing, the more global I realize it is. Name the country, there’s probably horse racing there. The sport maintains a sort of fluidity between different cultures. You don’t have to speak the same language to appreciate the impeccable breeding that has shaped the thoroughbred body into a smoothly-muscled, aerodynamic running machine.
My obsession, as of late, has been with the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse. While I should be studying, I’ve been shamelessly stalking the #HKIR social media team, a group of prominent racing personalities invited by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to provide coverage of the event. All I can say is ‘life goals.’ I would love for that to be me someday, because the experience they had was clearly second-to-none.
Because of the time zone difference, American racing enthusiasts must stay up into the wee hours of the night to catch the races at Sha Tin. But that didn’t keep me from tuning in after watching the movie Elf last Saturday night.
I was impressed, to say the least. I think the Breeders’ Cup is an absolutely wonderful event that showcases the nation’s finest racehorses, as well as representatives from other countries. But Breeders’ Cup still paled in comparison to the pomp and circumstance of the Hong Kong International Races. Continue reading →
Finals. Yes, they are upon us. And if you’re a fellow student who feels anything like I do right now, you might be wondering whether listening to Disney princess music while you study will magically teleport you to a kingdom far, far away. But take heed, my friends, for break is almost here!
My countdown:
Three days of classes, 3 final exams, 3 papers and one final project remain.
My superb vantage-point from a library window.
By Thursday I will have one exam, one paper and the project checked off the list. The project and paper are actually finished, but they’re burning a hole through my binder and they need to be removed, graded and never seen again. Continue reading →
Hola amigos! I need your feedback! In an effort to write more of what you enjoy reading, I’m conducting a poll of topics I generally cover. Let me know what you like or if I should try writing about something new!
I look forward to Mondays or Tuesdays, depending on which day I decide to blog. There’s something incredibly relaxing about settling down on the couch with my laptop. I tap away at the key board with a steaming cup of tea or hot apple cider next to me. I’m generally a hard-core chocolate girl, but when it comes to choosing between hot chocolate and hot apple cider, the cider feels decidedly more festive.
Some nights the writing comes naturally. Blogging can be a form of reflection, a way to get my thoughts on paper. Other times I have stories to tell of travels or horse racing or all the cities my mom and I have been lost in. But tonight I can’t bring myself to write anything overly reflective or adventurous.
Eight days of classes remain. Three papers, one project and two final exams stand between me and a 2 month break that I will fill with catching up on life and traveling, before I leave to study abroad. In 16 days I will be completely finished with the semester. It seems as though my life is a jumble of numbers and countdowns at the moment. Continue reading →
In 2012, the band Big & Rich released what I believe is one of the greatest songs of all time: “That’s Why I Pray.” If you’ve never heard it before, or even if you have, I recommend you take a listen before reading on. Regardless of your religion or whether or not you believe in God, the song is both humbling and uplifting.
I don’t need to tell you what’s going on in the world today. We’re bombarded with bad news every time we turn on a TV or tune into the radio. Terrorism attacks, shootings, riots, protests, refugees fleeing violence. This storm cloud of misery seems to hang over our heads, pelting us into submissive hopelessness. If you’re like me you might wonder if it’s even safe anymore to go to class or board a plane.
Now let me ask you, when was the last time you prayed?
And I don’t just mean at the dinner table, when you were really only thinking about food rather than giving thanks (I’m guilty of this).
In this day and age, it seems more important than ever to remind ourselves to pray. When our world was astounded by the devastation in Paris last Friday, it made me think about the last time I prayed – not just a little prayer thanking God for a sunny day, but the kind of prayer where I stopped what I was doing, closed my eyes and prayed with all I’m worth.
In all honesty, I can’t remember the last time.
So today I pray for awareness and change. I pray for peace and comfort. I pray to give thanks for all I’ve been blessed with. I pray for those in despair and those left with nothing. I pray for bravery and courage and guidance for you and me and our world leaders.
The approach of Thanksgiving grants us an opportunity to open our busy lives and remind ourselves to pray. Even if you’re not into praying, practice mindfulness and simply give thanks. Count your blessings, write a letter, donate money or blood or send a care package. Whatever it takes to make the world a little bit better place. Because the problems in this world probably won’t get better any time soon and they’re more than likely going to get worse in the near future. But praying is one small thing you can do to take a stand. And even small things can make a big difference.
Trainer and former jockey Herman Fennell talks bumpy roads and horse racing
Everyone in the horse racing industry seems to have a story. In order to highlight a few of the incredible people I’ve had the opportunity to meet and the stories they’ve shared with me, I’m going to begin writing the occasional feature, “Faces at the Races.” This article about trainer Herman Fennell was a piece I wrote while working as the summer intern for the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association. It ran in their August 2015 newsletter, but I wanted to spread the love and share it again, so enjoy!
Horse racing is a sport that can take you to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Anyone who has been in the industry as long as Herman Fennell has undoubtedly seen both ends of the spectrum.
I found Herman cleaning his shedrow at Canterbury Park on a sunny Friday morning in June. The horses under the care of the 66-year-old trainer stared contentedly out of their stalls as they awaited their turn on the hot walker. Herman filled hay nets and cleaned stalls as I stood by and admired his protégés. I commented that his horses appear to be happy. Continue reading →
We’ve all been there. Someone makes a nasty remark that was uncalled for, and you’re faced with the decision of either snapping back and putting that person in their place, or silently enduring a figurative slap in the face.
A while back I was caught in this situation. I unknowingly did something that upset someone, and rather than communicating this to me so we could work it out, they made a nasty comment that blatantly questioned my competence. Ouch! But instead of standing up for myself, I remained silent and let the comment pass. I stewed over the sting of it for several days afterward.
I will admit, I’m not very good with sharp comebacks when it comes to standing up for myself. I wouldn’t say that I’m anybody’s doormat and I allow people to stomp all over me. I just don’t have it in me to be mean, and that sometimes translates to letting people get away with unacceptable rudeness that should have been corrected.
So here’s my question: is there a way to turn the other cheek and be the bigger person while still standing up for yourself? Continue reading →
In the spirit of Breeders’ Cup 2015, here’s a memory from 2010
Meeting Garrett Gomez
The first horse racing magazine I ever opened was a copy of the May/June 2008 issue of Thoroughbred Style. I don’t even know if it’s in print anymore, and a Google search didn’t provide much for answers. I can’t remember how exactly it ended up in my 13-year-old hands, but I’m pretty sure someone at the North Dakota Horse Park gave it to me. On page 45 was an article called “Gomez and the Mig,” about now-former jockeys Garrett Gomez and Richard Migliore, by Steve Schuelein and Bill Heller. At the time I wanted to be a jockey, ignoring that I was nearing 5’7” in height. But I poured over that article to gain insight on the careers of two successful jockeys, hoping one day I would have their skill.
Later that year I tuned into the Breeders’ Cup on NBC for the first time in my life and watched Garrett Gomez take home four Breeders’ Cup victories, with my personal favorite in the Juvenile aboard Midshipman.
In September of 2010 I won a 4-H speech competition at the MN State 4-H Horse Show with a piece I had written about my favorite racehorse, Ruffian. I qualified to advance on to the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup held in Louisville, Kentucky in November. Lucky for me, the competition was at the same time at the Breeders’ Cup, so as an early Christmas present I received tickets to BC Friday. 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 →
Annise's Anecdotes 