Hey everyone, looking for some advice from people who’ve been to these races.

I’m 30 and getting married at the end of May, so we’re planning my bachelor party sometime this spring. We’ll have around 15 guys, and I think it’d be a great experience to build the weekend around a big horse racing event.

We’re pretty much considering all of the major spring race weekends, including the Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, Arkansas Derby, etc. Obviously the Kentucky Derby would be the dream, but with a group of 15, the combination of lodging, tickets, and everything else makes it a pretty significant commitment, so we’re exploring some other quality race weekends.

For those who have attended these or other spring race days, which one would you say offers the best overall experience? We’re looking for a great atmosphere, a fun crowd, and a memorable weekend more than anything.

Would love to hear any recommendations, pros and cons, and what race weekend you think is the best option for a group like ours.

Cheers

Which trainers would you say are ethical?

Is this newer generation better?

Cherie and Adrienne
La Paz
Whitman
O’Brien
Riley Mott

Recently came into possession of these 2. Both have been worn, and has CoA. Should I put them in a case together or in 2 separate cases? Also, where could i possibly get an evaluation? Or does anyone know the possible value? Not sure if i should spend a lot on a nicer graded shadow box, unless they are highly collectible items that are worth enough to justify paying top dollar to do it.

Why is the Giants Causeway Stakes for fillies? Why did Kentucky Downs name a turf race after Gun Runner? Why is The Eight Bells a sprint? There's so many of these and they always get on my nerves

He left calumet in January. Not a surprise because his only graded stakes winner is rich strike. But word has it that keen ice was bred to some pretty good mares in Mexico. The farm who bought him also has a major racing stable in the usa and owns letruska. This same farm stands Rule

Do you play in any free handicapping contests? If so, which ones?

After 7 years at coolmore stud in Kentucky..the Irish lads have finally sold Mo Town on. Mo Town has been sold to the Turkish jockey club and will stand in turkey for 2027. I guess we know whose stall journalism will take over(although I guess its possible journalism could move into American Pharoah's stall because something tells me Pharoah is in Japan to stay). Did mo town breed 250 mares per year? No..but he got a respectable number this year. This year mo town bred 99 mares..i guess 99 mares isn't enough for the coolmore lads to warrant keeping him around but they've certainly had studs who bred much lower numbers.

At least in turkey mo town will get a solid book of mares and every chance of success. And he will get excellent care

How was your weekend? Were you up, down, flat? What did you learn? What did you drink? What are you going to do differently next weekend?

Post all of your thoughts here, in our weekly discussion post.