by Margaret Thomas
On Saturday, May 18th, our excited residents packed up and headed for our 3rd annual Breakfast at Belmont trip, and just as a true horse race. We started out of the gate slowly as the early morning weather was grim and grey. Once we were ready, we were off!
We enjoyed our delicious homemade breakfasts overlooking the beautiful racetrack and watching the early morning workouts of the horses. Our excitement grew!
After breakfast we visited the Paddock area for a brief lesson on the incredible anatomy of a thoroughbred with a LIVE horse as our guide.
Following the live thoroughbred demonstration, we headed to the “Belmont Tram”, which transported us around the entire backstretch area. Our guide was quite knowledgeable and provided us an in-depth explanation of the care, maintenance and housing of the horses. We even learned there is racetrack green house, backstretch restaurant and most importantly, the racetrack chaplaincy at Gate 6.
Filled with fascinating facts and a delicious breakfast, we were ready to run. We headed to the Official Starting Gate. Oh what fun!!! When the gates opened the Sisters, Residents and volunteers all scurried out as fast as they could go laughing and smiling all the way.
The official winner emerging from post position 9 was our very own Resident and retired winning thoroughbred trainer himself, Mr. Philip Horn Jr., whose joy and laughter was contagious to all.
As we headed back to home looking forward to our visit with the Horses next year, we are reminded that many of our greatest saints have served the Lord while on a horse, and that our Blessed Jesus was BORN IN A STABLE!
“And We’re Off”… to Breakfast at Belmont