Three Chimney’s Farm, a picturesque horse farm just outside Lexington was where hoops and horses came together to make history Friday morning. The winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Florida Derby and the Haskell, indeed a winner in seven out of eight career starts, Big Brown presided over a ceremony to celebrate what’s being dubbed the biggest sporting event in the history of the Commonwealth – the showdown between Lexington and Louisville on Saturday night. Starting immediately, and for the duration of the weekend, it is now officially “Big Blue Day”, and Mayor Jim Gray of Lexington held a special press conference outside Big Brown’s stall to make the proclamation. Fans are encouraged to wear blue and white, and Big Brown’s name has been officially changed to Big Blue for the rest of the week. Tonight in “Blue Orleans”, Lexington’s beloved UK (that’s University of Kentucky) Wildcats basketball team will face archrivals, the neighbouring Louisville Cardinals in the semi-finals of the NCAA Championships. Police already have emergency protocol in place to deal with the “celebrations” here in Lexington should we win to try and quell some of the rioting that is expected.
Case Clay, President of Three Chimneys, went to college (Auburn) with good friend and fellow Lexington native Cougar Town actor Josh Hopkins, and in a recent twitter exchange it was UK fan Josh’s idea to rename Big Blue, and Case admitted “so we sort of ran with it”. Big Brown Blue seemed to love all the attention he received , and Sandy Hatfield, Stallion Manager, confirmed that on the barn tours which Three Chimneys run five days a week he positively laps up the attention, and loves to have his picture taken. Big Blue looks fantastic still, and in a nod to the Big Blue fever, Case explained that the white patch just above his left elbow, the spot they liked to call his “go faster button” or “turbo patch” had been painted blue with hypoallergenic shampoo. Case shared that they used to joke that the jockeys would press that when they wanted Big Blue to accelerate past the other horses and win races.
Big Blue also wore a specially-comissioned blue (durr!) head collar which will be auctioned off, along with a lock of his mane and some additional Three Chimneys Memorabilia to benefit the UK Children’s Hospital, as well as a second, everyday brown halter with the Big Blue name which will also be sold to the second-highest bidder.
Although I must admit to still being a bit bemused as to all the fuss about the basketball, it was a real treat to spend some time out at Three Chimneys. Like all the big horse farms here, it was absolutely immaculate and breathtakingly beautiful at this time of year with all the blossoms out on the trees The stallions in the barn seemed so happy and relaxed, barely paying us any attention and of course they’re all fantastic examples too, and each so different, it’s fascinating just to get a look at them.
Many thanks to Three Chimneys and the staff in the Stallion Barn, especially Luis who looks after Big Brown, but was too shy to talk to me , and to Sandy who shared that she’s looking forward to Silver Charm, who’s completely white now, returning to the farm when he completes his duties in Japan because she’s always had a soft spot for him. Congratulations to Jim Gray and Case Clay on the Big Blue Nation making the Final Four and to them for finding a way to combine two of Lexington’s finest athletes, let’s hope the Wildcats can go all the way and that the celebrations will be memorable and safe. Go Cats and Go Eventing!
