KY Oaks / KY Derby Photo Album for Friday, April 22: Through the Eyes & Lens of Holly M. Smith

(Barber Road gets a breeze in at Churchill Downs on Friday morning / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

Editor’s Note:

It was a glorious morning at Churchill Downs this Friday, and there was a lot of glory to go around for just about anyone.

There were the blooms from the Bradford Pear trees blowing like snow in the wintertime.

There were the hearty souls of the exercise riders, who have been waiting for Spring to finally spring loose, tossing and turning their individual steeds through their regular morning regiments. The chitter chatter met in perfect harmony with the pitter patter.

There were the trainers, with binoculars in tow or in use, staring into space and sitting about as chilly as jockey Joel Rosario on a 1-5 shot.

There were the grooms standing at the gap and anxiously awaiting the arrival of their very best of friends, of the equine variety, to return from their morning drills.

And, of course, there were the horses. Big. Small. Gray. Dark bay. Some preparing to race again in mere days. Some preparing for serious races in some days. The stars of the show. The leading actors of this film session. The Oaks fillies, sprouting their pretty pink saddle towels on their individual backs. And, the Derby colts, sporting their handsome yellow saddle towels, as well.

It is not Derby week. Not yet. But we are getting close. So close, in fact, that you can sense the mood change; the cameras pop; the media blanket coverage. The nerves starting to tweak. The eyes starting to show signs of loss sleep. The guts roaring as if on empty.

Here’s a few looks of Friday’s action. It is building.

Scenes from the Churchill Downs’ backside this beautiful morn: