By: Rick Hess, DISD
“I’m just so lucky – my office is a racetrack. That is something I’m very thankful for. It’s exciting, and it’s challenging, and there are a lot of emotions and nerves that come with it, but right there before the gates open, before that minute and a half or two minutes of the race, it just hits you.” -Chantal Sutherland, jockey in North American Thoroughbred horse racing
The invigorating smell of freshly cut turf, the low roar of the eager crowd, the endless entertainment of watching people sporting high fashion and possibly a hat – all fall to the background once the jockeys are lined up on their trusty mounts at the starting gate. For a moment, silence envelopes the racetrack. And then “they are off”, as the heart-pounding excitement erupts again and it’s a race to the finish. Welcome to the world of thoroughbred horseracing.
The relationship between a horse and rider is truly a special bond and while many look to the jockeys as the star athletes, their equine co-stars are essential in bringing home the glory. A great amount of energy goes into caring for these race horses, and the efficient design of their stables and the racetracks take into consideration the behaviors and needs of these four-legged racers as well as the spectators cheering them on all the way to the finish line. Design Institute of San Diego turns the spotlight on some notable racetracks and stables and delves into the fascinating world of equine design. – Read More –
