I've been trying to stay cool and not "race around" while writing my post this week! The Belmont Stakes will be held this Saturday, June 11, at Belmont Park in New York. Because it is the longest (1.5 miles) and the final race of the Triple Crown series, it is called the “Test of the Champion.” It’s also called the “Run for the Carnations” because the winning horse is draped with a blanket of white carnations after the race. Pure white carnations stand for love and luck, and it takes approximately 700 “select” carnations to create the 40-pound blanket!
The first winner of the Triple Crown was Sir Barton, in 1919. There were three Triple Crown winners in the 1970s: Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed. In 1973, Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths, in a record time of 2:24! His record still stands as the fastest speed for the Belmont Stakes. My cousin, Gary Getalong, is going to try to beat Secretariat's record this year!
If you’re not going to the race, maybe you can go to the Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches on June 11, or the Blanco Lavender Festival June 10-12.
Mark your calendars for June 18 and celebrate life with dogs! Fido Fest features a walk through the trails of Westchester Park, followed by games, activities, and shopping for the whole family. The dog walk begins at 9 am (try out a little "doga" stretching and relaxing beforehand!) Microchipping will be available for $40, including registration. Two ways to register--both include event t-shirt, dog bandana, and goodie bag.
Saturday, June 18, 2011, Westchester Park, Flower Mound, TX
8:30 am - 1:00 pm, Walk begins at 9 am
Look who else is staying cool this week!
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| Come on - it's nice and cool under the leaves! |
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| It's cooler stretched out on a tree limb! |
