Kentucky Derby 2012: Famous (and Fast) Thoroughbred Feet from Churchill Downs

The biggest day of the year is here. What's going on behind the scenes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky? The Hoof Blog has assembled a gallery of images for you that you probably won't see anywhere else. Thanks to Dan Burke of Farrier Product Distribution for his shots of horses being shod this morning. Place your bets, sip your julip and take an intimate look at a few hooves!

Kentucky Oaks: Famous Fillies' Foot Fashions at Louisville's Churchill Downs

 For old times' sake: The Louisville Courier-Journal asked horseshoer Steve Norman 

what he thought about toe grabs a few years ago. This is what they heard.


It's Derby Week!  But before Churchill Downs rolls out the red-rose carpet for the Kentucky Derby, the track hosts the very special Oaks Day, an impressive card of stakes races topped by the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

The

Ever So Lucky Horseshoe Helped Colt Train for Keeneland's Toyota Bluegrass Stakes

"Like
my new shoe? Pretty cool, eh?" Ever So Lucky, with the guidance of
Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, worked under jockey Julian
Leparoux on Tuesday morning over Keeneland's Polytrack surface. As he
straightened out from the turn the three-year-old son of Indian Charlie
flipped his fetlock and let ace photographer Wendy Wooley have a good
look at his special bar shoe. (Image ©