Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
![]() I am pretty sure I mentioned this a few months ago, but the day has finally (nearly) arrived! Early tomorrow morning we're headed to the 31st annual Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park. We bought our tickets months ago. We've been to Santa Anita Park twice this year, box seats (purple), but for this event, we had to settle for seats that were a little less grand. Normally, box seats run about $15 each, but for this event, they were around $1,000 each, so um … no. We spent $125 (each) for the Club Apron seating (yellow seating), which is okay, but not quite the view we've come to expect. Basic grandstand seats, which are quite a ways from the finish line, are normally around $5 but were $75 for this weekend. The Club Apron seats are just a little bit beyond the finish line, but the promoters guaranteed us a massive television screen for our area to improve the view. Hopefully it's as massive as they advertised! The photo below was taken earlier in the year, but the Club Apron seating is just down to the right from this view. The finish line is at the pole in front of and to the right of the gray horse. Our ticket package arrived a week or so ago. The tickets are those big plastic things that require a lanyard. We also got brochures and discounts for Breeders Cup wear; hubby has already ordered a polo. My husband has become the horse racing guru. He bets every weekend with his Twin Spires online account. He already has his picks for this weekend circled. Me, I am not such a big gambler (breeches to buy, dontcha know!) so I am taking $5 for each of the 12 races. I will however, be bringing along a little extra for my beverage of choice, of course. A friend has a friend who has a horse running, Sweet Swap, ridden by none other than Corey Nakatani, so I am definitely betting on that horse. And of course, what Californian is not betting on California Chrome? I promise a full report later next week, and hopefully I'll get some decent pictures. Have a great weekend, and I'll see you all on Monday.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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