Horsin' Around Sandy Ridge Hits the Ground Running

Horsin' Around

Sandy Ridge Hits the Ground Running

James Collier

The Ashland Beacon

And they’re off!

The words that echoed from the long-awaited sound system at Sandy Ridge finally became a reality when Ashland welcomed patrons to the track for the final weekend of its inaugural season.

I have always been a fan of horse racing, but I had never watched the ponies run in person until visiting Sandy Ridge on the final day of its first season of racing.

Arriving about 15 minutes before the first race allowed my wife and me to grab a position along the rail just past the start-finish line before the Maiden race broke from the gates. As the bell sounded and the horses raced toward the finish line, the thrill of quarter horse racing had me hooked in just under 17 seconds.

The official time in the first race was 16.708 seconds as Leaving U in Tupelo galloped past Mr. Unico at the line. As the field raced past, mud continued to fly into the air from the wet clay surface. The jockeys were covered with a ring around their eyes after removing their goggles during the cool-down lap.

As for me, I had to brush a clump of mud from my shoulder that had landed on me while I was still taking in the feeling of the ground rumbling beneath my feet as the field of eight raced past.

THE GROUNDS

Sandy Ridge has come a long way since the first stick of dynamite was fired during the grand opening of Sandy’s Casino. Now, the foundation has been poured after a successful inaugural season of racing, with plenty of reasons for patrons to return.

As the day moved along and each race was completed, the crowd grew larger, creating a feel of a country fair in the air. Several local food trucks offered plenty of options for lunch, with a variety of drinks available for all ages. Friends and family lined the rail as each race sprinted past while everyone enjoyed the beautiful sunshine on the first Sunday in September. It was an inviting atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

For much of the day, you could hear conversations about almost anything right up until the public address announcer began introducing the field for the upcoming race. From that point until the ponies darted past the finish line, the conversations were all about the races, with the cheers of victory mixed with the “ahs” of a narrow loss at the line.

Regardless of the outcome, patrons were eager for the next race in hopes of picking a winner.

Fox Sports was also on hand for the final day, bringing the races later in the afternoon live to a national audience. Me, being the media guy that I am, was drawn to the setup they were using to broadcast the event while taking notes on how I could use something similar within my own program.

I spent a good amount of time talking with the on-site producer as he explained his setup for providing the best possible coverage of the final races. We shared thoughts and ideas about the broadcast while swapping numbers before we departed. In the world of media, networking is key.

THE FACES

Throughout the day, I saw several familiar faces while making some new acquaintances as well.

One of those familiar faces was Rocky Adkins, who has always been a recognizable figure in Eastern Kentucky. No matter the position or location Rocky has held, he has never lost touch with the area he calls home.

As we talked for nearly five minutes about the importance of the event and the presence that Sandy Ridge brings to the area, the first point he made was simply about the people enjoying the day while laughing and talking with one another.

Rocky was one of the members who pushed the plunger for the dynamite blast that began the construction of Sandy Ridge. There was a vision that day of what Sandy Ridge would become, and he said Larry Lucas with Revolutionary Racing Kentucky certainly delivered.

He also talked about how Sandy’s and Sandy Ridge have become part of the foundation that can once again make Ashland a destination not only for tourists, but also for future businesses.

I also had the pleasure of speaking with Larry Lucas for the first time, but the conversation we had felt more like we had known each other for years.

As chairman of Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, Lucas was charged with bringing a top-notch facility to Sandy Ridge that was inviting and welcoming to everyone, and he certainly delivered.

As we talked throughout the day, the biggest takeaway he spoke about was simply the community coming together. He said that although he loved horse racing, seeing the development of the community was special.

As we finished our first conversation, he offered a quote that I thought was a testament to what Sandy’s and Sandy Ridge bring to the local area.

“This will now not be a place to drive through, but a place to drive to,” Lucas said.

In a time when economic development seems to be a thing of the past for our area, the domino effect Sandy Ridge could create could be special.

But the work is not done for Sandy Ridge. Rather, Phase 1 is in the books, with plenty more to come.

Lucas spoke about how they worked closely with the University of Kentucky to ensure the track was top-notch while providing a pristine surface for racing. The next phase includes building permanent barns and making Sandy Ridge a permanent training facility, with grandstands to come later.

THE THRILL

Horse racing and Kentucky go together like peanut butter and jelly. They just work, no matter what.

But the thrilling excitement of quarter horse racing is like nothing I have ever experienced before.

If I had to explain a race to someone who is not familiar with horse racing, the best analogy I could come up with is a drag strip on dirt. However, instead of powerful race cars showcasing hundreds of horsepower as they reach top speeds, quarter horse racing features true horsepower that you can not only see but feel as the horses speed past you in the stands.

But when the bell sounds and the horses break from the gates, do not blink. The next 20 seconds will have you on the edge of your seat, with an excitement guaranteed to leave you wanting more.

If you have never experienced live horse racing in person, let me invite you to spend an afternoon with your friends and family at the track, simply enjoying an afternoon of fun and excitement.

As for my first experience with live horse racing, I cannot wait for the next opportunity to feel the rumble beneath my feet, the mud striking me as the horses race by and the sound of the public address announcer uttering those famous words:

And they’re off!