(The walk home is sometimes a lonely road / All Photos by Holly M. Smith)

Editor’s Note:

You never really know where the next great friend, or the most amazing person will come from or how they enter your life. You just leave the door open, and it happens. Such is the case with Holly M. Smith, one of the most kind, generous, quiet, non-assuming, and, yet, most talented people I have ever met.

Without starting this blog some years ago now, I probably would have never met Holly. In fact, I don’t even remember now how or where it happened (which happens more and more often these days, lol). But I was searching for a photographer to help brighten up these pages and my days and, somehow, I was introduced to Holly. She has been a constant in my life ever since.

She is an amazing talent, who shares a passion for horses and a sport that sometimes runs right past us both. But I am so blessed by her professionalism and the fact that I never have to worry. She is always there.

On this week where we pause to give “Thanks,” I have to start with some of the people that give me a whole lot more than I give them. Thank you Holly. You are the best.

And, here’s a few of her looks from Saturday at Churchill Downs — when she made a full day of it:

Dragoon Guard, winner of the 2024 Indiana Derby: 

D. Wayne Keeps Watch: 

Talented 2YO Colt Named Barnes: 

Covey: 

Eclatant: 

Good Cheer: 

Chasten: 

A look and a pat: 

Good Cheer: 

Filoso:

Eclatant: 

Good Cheer:

Eclatant: 

Royal Spa: 

Two Sharp: 

Taxed: 

Two Sharp: 

Trust Issues: 

Banned for Life: 

My Boy Prince: 

Lagynos: 

Evade:

Lagynos: 

The walk back is lonely sometimes…

Golden Gamble: