(A stretch run at legendary and historic Churchill Downs / All Photos by Holly M. Smith)

Editor’s Note:

Thanksgiving is truly a grand holiday that honors our heritage and our future. It is a time of both reflection and anticipation. It is a day to stop, smell the roses of KY Derbies and lives past and plant the seeds of hope and dreams of those yet to come. On this Thanksgiving, my beautiful wife, LA, and I journeyed out to Churchill Downs, as we have done in years past.

On our way in, we saw Bill Mudd — one of Churchill Downs’ top executives — coming in the entrance beside us. Just like the rest of us. With family and friends in tow. We stopped and chatted. Friend to friend. Fan to fan.

Our our way out, after the final race, we saw Bill Carstanjen — the person that leads all of Churchill Downs — going out the same gate as all of us had entered just a few hours before. Right along side. Just like the rest of us. With this beautiful wife, Julia, and some of his children alongside. We stopped and chatted. Friend to friend. Fan to fan.

In-between, we had plenty of chance encounters and pleasantries exchanged.

We saw and gathered with friends near the old paddock, which will soon give way to a new and much, much, much improved one.

We saw and gathered with friends that I had not seen in nearly 40 years along. Longtime basketball coach Bill Sargent and his family had come up from Georgetown. Along the rail, we leaned and we chatted. About old times. About new times. About old friends. How time had passed, but the memories had stayed.

We saw racetrackers and race goers.

We saw families huddled and cuddled.

We saw celebrations both large and small.

And, we saw community of people there to celebrate Thoroughbred racing and life.

It was a joyous time together. Just like what I think happened on that first Thanksgiving Day. A joyous time together.

We also saw one other great friend at the racetrack on Thursday. We saw our very own friend, and fantastic photographer Holly M. Smith. On the track. Cameras on shoulder and hand. Right where she wanted to be on this day. For just a second, I gave her a call in-between races and asked if she would come over and take our picture. For not a second did she pause. Immediately, she turned her steps and attention our way.

Suddenly, Holly M. Smith went from track photographer to family photographer and she captured a few photos of me, the beautiful LA and our family/friends Bill and Kelly Sears.

Suddenly, I knew exactly why I like Holly M. Smith so very much. She is a world-wide talent. But she is a world-class person, on top.

Suddenly, I was thankful for so many more reasons that I ever knew going to the track. I was reminded of so many more people and reasons why we pause once a year to celebrate Thanks Giving.

Here a few looks at some of Holly’s “looks” on Thursday. Here’s a sample of  what she was able to capture for posterity, fun and memory. For us.

As always, the photos and the forever images are as beautiful as the person who captured them.

Dalika, a Stakes-Winner at Churchill Downs — Again:

Played Hard — A Stakes Winner at Churchill Downs, Too:

Disappearing Act:

Bellamore:

And, So Many More:

Thanks Giving to All of You, From Some of Us: