Sean's Blog

Tapping away in a quiet hotel room before heading home. Meetings in Charleston done and dusted. A lot of conversation, a lot of ideas, a lot of energy. There is nothing like getting involved and making decisions to change your perspective. After a stint as SOTA president, five years on … Read More

17 and cloudy at 35538. Miles and Annie off to school. A rice dish in tow. For history class, something about African studies. We prepped and peppered, cooked and clean for four hours last night. We ate for about seven minutes in there somewhere. We ran out clean forks. We … Read More

Oh, I love race plans. Patrick Harty called today with a race plan for Imarajan. Fairyhouse. February. I love all race plans but especially when they come in January. Around here at Riverdee, January is slow. February, too. March, starting to awaken. April, full speed. May, look out. But, right … Read More

21 and sunny at 35538. Snow still hanging around, which is good for the horses. They get used to it, understand it, can navigate it. When it snows, rains, sleets, hails, thaws, freezes, thaws, rains, freezes, thaws, snows…that’s the worst kind of winter. As for the Riverdee horses, Jhirsch and … Read More

35 and sunny at 35538. Barn chores. Beautiful this morning. Crisp but tolerable. No wind. Snow still covering the ground, making it easy for horses to move around the fields. Light, dry snow, hope it stays for a while. I waited for Blue to come to his feed tub, stood … Read More

Toiling with a story about Delaware Park for a freelance assignment from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. I just submitted it. Waiting to see if it works. God I hope it works. I chatted with Dad about Delaware Park. A place where, in a way, he … Read More

I knew the news had dropped. Not by the news but by the texts, emails and phone calls. Jennie Rees, Mike Penna, Dan Pride, Paul Halloran, Alec DiConza, Jude Feld, Neil from the Mail Room, Ralph Theroux, Byron King, Joe Bacigalupo and a phone call from Doug Lees, of course. … Read More

Another snow day. The longest Christmas vacation – 20 days on my watch – has gotten longer. A two-hour delay was just announced for Wednesday. Time to get back to school. Back to work – full-time work. I’ve been ducking and diving, sliding and slipping in work when possible. Holiday travel and … Read More

“This is the one time when I really want a sibling.” Miles, the only child, doesn’t lament being an only child very often. On a snow day. Home alone without a sister or a brother…yeah, it surfaces. Luckily I had both. Snowball fights at Brandywine Stable on the edge of … Read More

The last of the Christmas parties in the books. I hung up my tweed coat for the final time. That’s it. From December 1 to January 4. The first at Buchanan Hall, Virginia Steeplechase Association, sparsely attended. The last at Buchanan Hall, the Piedmont Hunt 12th Night, packed house. That … Read More