SARATOGA RACE COURSE, FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2009:

Such serene Saratoga days!

It hasn't been two weeks yet since my win over the boys in the Haskell, and already I'm nearly dragging Juan, my dear friend and hotwalker, around our scenic walking ring. I'm feeling wonderfully strong, blissfully energized, and buoyed by the exhilaration of my last race!

While you can find me enjoying an early-morning gallop on most days, I had my first real workout since the big race on Tuesday, August 11th. Mondays are my traditional work days, but since the Haskell was held on a Sunday, my normal schedule was shifted slightly.

Despite the change, there was a veritable swarm of bleary-eyed racing fans, press professionals, and photographers who came out before six o'clock in the morning to watch Dominic Terry - my exercise rider - and I take a half-mile spin in 50.72 seconds, and then gallop out five furlongs in 1:04.44.

It was a nice 'n easy workout, since it was the first outing after the race; I'll get to uncoil a bit more next week. Unlike most of you out there, I'm counting down the days until Monday morning!

I want to send heartfelt congratulations out to my friend Nancy Brinker, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama this past Wednesday. The Medal of Freedom, ladies and gentlemen, is the highest civilian honor a person can receive - to put what an enormous accomplishment this is into perspective: Nancy was one of 16 recipients this year, a list that included such personalities as the incomparable scientist and intellect Steven Hawking, legendary female tennis star Billie Jean King, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner, and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

Nancy is the founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which has - in less than three decades - changed the face of the fight against breast cancer, donating over its history nearly $1.5 billion dollars to the cause.

I feel so deeply honored to be connected to the brilliant Ms. Brinker, a connection defined by my role as volunteer: I try my hardest to "race for a cure" each time I step onto the track, while my connections generously direct a portion of my earnings to the Komen Foundation.

While Nancy's contributions to the fight against breast cancer are impossible to truly calculate, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is intended to honor "agents of change." Nancy made a promise to her sister, Susan G. Komen - a brilliant young woman who passed away from breast cancer - that she would do something, anything, to help those affected the most by the disease. She took hold of her own tragedy, and through that tragedy - and the infectious power of hope and action - changed lives.

She is testament to what one person can do against every adversity, and to ways that seeds of hope and progress grow, in time, to become forests of change, transforming the landscape forever.

We took time last week to celebrate my Haskell victory, and for that, I am truly humbled. Let us take this week to celebrate Nancy, along with each and every person out there who believes in something, and has the heart and the passion to do something about it.

Have a fantastic weekend all. I'm starting my countdown to Monday...NOW!

Saratoga Race Course, Thursday, Septmber 10, 2009
Saratoga Race Course, Friday, September 4, 2009
Saratoga Race Course, Monday, August 24, 2009
Saratoga Race Course, Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Saratoga Race Course, Monday, July 27, 2009
Saratoga Race Course, Monday, July 20, 2009
Saratoga Race Course, Monday, July 13, 2009
Saratoga Race Course, Monday, July 6, 2009
Saratoga Race Course, Monday, June 29, 2009
Belmont, Saturday, June 27, 2009
Belmont, Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Churchill Downs, Sunday, June 21, 2009
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