As we pulled up to Churchill Downs I was speechless. The twin spires pointed towards Heaven and my heart lifted with them. We walked past the gates that the horses break out of during the race. I laced my fingers through the wire fence and pressed my head against the metal straining for a closer look. They were absolutely beautiful. I envisioned myself on a racehorse breaking from those exact gates. I began taking pictures and then my mom offered to take my picture in front of them. We continued our walk to the main entrance and paid our $3 to get in. I simply couldn’t believe that a place so magnificent and legendary would only charge $3 for admission! I had been to racetracks countless times in my dreams, but never in reality. Close to the main entrance horses were being tacked up for the next race. I leaned against the fence to the paddock soaking in the beauty and grace of the racehorses. They began the walk onto the track and we followed suit. For $3 we could sit anywhere on the apron of the racetrack – that meant we were right next to the track. I could lean out over the railing and take pictures as the field of horses came thundering down the final stretch. I took picture after picture marveling that the best seats in the house were only $3! Some might prefer to sit higher up where they can see the horses race down the backstretch, but I loved to be up close and personal and feel the ground shake as the horses made their final rally to the finish line.
Being from Mississippi, a stranger is only a friend we haven’t met yet. Before long my dad had struck up a conversation with a petite woman with dark brown curly hair who appeared to be in her mid 40’s. My dad told her about my dream of riding racehorses and that we were there to look at colleges. Her face lit up. “Would you like a tour of the racetrack?” she asked. Her name was Cindy, and she was without question a gift from God. She knew everybody at the track. Knowing that only the truly horse crazy people preferred the cheap seats right on the track, she took my parents up to a box on the next level. All she had to do was smile at the guard and he let us all shuffle into prime seats where you could see all the way around the track. We bid farewell to my parents and 2 strangers united by our love for horses became best friends for the day.
The behind the scenes tour of Churchill Downs had begun
Lesson for the day: A stranger is only a friend you haven’t met yet. You would be amazed at what opportunities will open up when you simply open your mouth and talk to the people around you.
Soli deo gloria,
Sarah
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