TOPS In Lexington Magazine, April 2014

18 APRIL 2014 | TOPSINLEX.COM

27 Out & About

28 TOPS March Preview Party

30 Heart Ball I

32 Heart Ball 2

34 Restaurant Kick-o� Week I

36 Restaurant Kick-o� Week II

38 1st Annual Nurses Ball for Carin’ for Nurses

40 Art in Bloom Cocktail Reception

42 Art in Bloom Black Tie Gala

44 Cardinal Hill Roundball Bash

190 The Toy Chest Dreams & Fairytales

192 Jessamine County Lincoln Dinner

194 2014 AAF Addy Awards

196 Sayre Spectacular I

198 Sayre Spectacular II

200 Real Estate United

202 2014 Fund for the Arts Kick-o� Breakfast I

204 2014 Fund for the Arts Kick-o� Breakfast II

206 St. Peter & Paul Mardi Gras

226 TOP Shots

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IN EVERY ISSUE

The views and comments expressed by the authors are not always that of our editors or publishers. While every e�ort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, TOP Marketing Group accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences, including any loss or damage arising from the reliance on information in this publication.

All images contained in TOPS in Lexington Magazine are subject to copyright of the artist or photographer as named, but not limited thereto. Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior written permission is prohibited.

48 Dining: Furlongs

51 TOP 5 Dining: Kentucky Proud Restaurants

55 Taste of Thyme: A Scant of Spring

81 Fashion: Spring Gets Silky

82 In the ‘Buf’: Girls Night Out

85 Parties: Spring Party Ideas

87 Family: Warm Memories

138 Health & Fitness: What’s all the fuss about Vitamin D?

179 Posh Paws: “I don’t like my pet lately”

181 Gardening: Spring at Last!

182 Etiquette & Entertaining: A Class on Class

185 Business News

214 Weddings: How To—Flower Girl Tutus

216 Arts & Entertainment

221 Up & Coming

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TOP Spring Fashion

APRIL 2014 | TOPS MAGAZINE 61

Linen and cotton soft coat in indigo, Melange check shirt in geranium, Mogador Peconic stripe tie in Tarheel blue and braided cotton belt in paci�c, all by Peter Millar (Keeneland Gift Shop).

TOP Spring Fashion


Tropical weight wool Hopsack weave jacket in blue and Super 110 tropical weight worsted wool trousers in khaki, both by Samuelsohn; Silk tie in spring plaid by Bird Dog Bay (Howard and Miller). Tavener square po-larized lenses by Oliver Peoples (John G. Roche).

TOP Spring Fashion


Striped blouse in blue and white by Ralph Lauren; Knit sweater in navy and cream by J. Crew; Skinny leather belt in orange (Sassy Fox). Chandelier earrings in orange (House). Betsy pearl skin sunglasses by ISSON (John G. Roche). Chanteboot Pop in goyave by Aigle (Omar + Elsie).

Sleeveless tiered ru�e dress in Kentucky blue with white belt by Meesh & Mia, blue and white polka dot scarf (Cat Couture). Monogrammed sun hat (Mon-kee’s). Murray bag by SuSu (L.V. Harkness).

TOP Spring Fashion


Vegan leather top by Waverly Grey; Jeans in cream by Mother; Leather clutch by Borderstate Made (Mor-ton James). 14K yellow gold Flirt earrings by Lana Jewelry (Shelia Bayes Fine Jewelers). Turquoise gold chain necklace (House). Scalloped cu� by Alexis Bittar (L.V. Harkness).

TOP Spring Fashion


Floral jacquard dress in valvo coral by Carmen Marc (Embry’s). Exclu-sive fascinator in brown (Monkee’s). Rose gold and diamond earrings by Cassis Jewels (She-lia Bayes Fine Jewel-ers). Hammered chain bracelets by Julie Vos (L.V. Harkness).

TOP Spring Fashion


Classic oxford sport shirt in pink by Ralph Lauren, Zac relaxed �t jeans by Silver Jeans Co. (Dillard’s).

Front button blouse by M S.S.P., Seer-sucker straight pants by Lauren Ralph Lauren (Dillard’s). 14K yellow gold Flirt earrings by Lana Jewelry (Shelia Bayes Fine Jewelers). Tom Ford 5272 cat eye frames by Tom Ford (John G. Roche). Long gold necklace (House). Leather tote in navy by Rowallan; Scarf in pink and white by Mud Pie (L.V. Harkness). Strappy leather san-dals in nude by Isola (Monkee’s).

Fashion


Spring Gets Silky

by Beth ParkerFashion Blogger/Stylist

seersuckerandsaddles.blogspot.com

Long gone are the days when silky fabrics were intended speci�cally for dressier occasions. Sure there’s a place for them under a tailored suit, or as a long lovely dress. However, true to my style, I like to �nd ways to make my fabrics multifunctional. �at is, possibly sport them in ways otherwise not intended.

Case in point silky (pleated) shorts. At �rst glance, these screamed 80s to me. But I’ve learned my lesson time and time again to never judge an item of clothing by its appear-ance on a hanger. Go ahead—try it on! �ank goodness I did, because as you can see, I love the silky li�le numbers so much I snagged two pairs of them. Opting to go head to toe silk shown in the polka do�ed pic felt very lady like and classic. A perfect look for daytime, luncheons, or even topped with a blazer, work appropriate. Switch gears and mix in an additional texture such as a chunky knit and you have a more casual take on the silk. I would even try to pair this head to toe navy look with a pair of sneaks, perhaps some white Chuck Taylors. It bears mentioning this fabric is so lovely because while it’s got an element of sophistication, it is also terribly comfy and lightweight—perfect as we transition into the warmer months.

Another fun way to sport the silk is with a quirky print. No be�er way to modernize a tra-ditional look than by tossing in a fun (cat) graphic. Adding to the modern femininity is a silky pencil skirt in classic navy. I just love the idea of tone on tone dressing (i.e., lilac with regal purple or mint with kelly green). �e baby blue blouse complements the navy skirt just perfectly and gives a perfect bit of depth. Accessories such as chunky pearls, a kelly green bag, and metallic heels (not pictured) add just the right amount of details as well.

So let’s embrace the spring with a lovely dose of silk and rest assured—you’ll be able to sport the silkiness all throughout the warmer months and even layered up into the fall!

photos by Ti�any Mitchell

Family


by Hallie Bandy

Motherboardoverv

Warm MemoriesI love creating great memories for my kids, though I’ve realized over the years my intentional e�orts at priceless moments are o�en overlooked, while the true memories are events I never would have planned.

We bought our farme�e in the spring. �e kids were li�le, and we spent the majority of the long, hot Kentucky summer renovating the house.

My husband kept reminding me, there was land to clear. Seemed he couldn’t wait. He had a new chainsaw. �e possibilities were endless.

We wrapped up the big projects by the time the kids started school mid-August. �en, it was time to clear some wooded area. We hired one of his college students to help.

In the cool of the early morning, with the manly hum of the chainsaw, they were undaunted. �ey began sawing down the dead trees and started a �re to burn the wood. By late morning, the heat and humidity began to get the best of them. Still determined, my husband came up with what he thought was a brilliant idea—eliminate the hauling and dragging. Cut the trees so they fall directly into the �re.

�at a�ernoon, when I went outside to wait for my kids to get o� the bus, there was a lovely area of cleared land… and plumes of �ame and smoke billowing from a two-story pile of brush at the edge of the woods. As I stood there, someone pulled into the drive and intro-duced himself as the local Volunteer Fire Marshall. “I’ve got a truck on the way,” he informed me.

I did not have a chance to ask who had called for a �re truck before the school bus arrived, delivering my children from their �rst day of school in the new town.

As the school bus drove away, a �re truck arrived.

“We just got training last week on how to put out brush �res,” the �remen told my husband. “We got it taken care of, sir. No charge, this time.”

A�er dinner, still wondering why the �re department was called to our home, we looked out to see three-foot �ames erupting from the pile of ashes those

�remen made when they were “taking care of ” the brush �re.

A few weeks later, apparently impressed by his father’s �re-making skills, one son made what he initially thought was an unsuccessful a�empt to start a

�re, using only a magnifying glass on a pile of twigs. He grew tired of what turned out to be a very slow process and abandoned the e�ort, leaving the magnifying glass behind. Awhile later, we were

eating lunch when my daughter looked outside and announced, “�e woods are on �re!”

And that is why, when he produced his “All About Me” poster for a school assignment, the caption un-der the “memories” photo – a shot

of him si�ing, head-in-blackened-hands – read, “It’s kinda discouraging

when everyone gets all mad at you for starting a forest �re. It’s not like I commi�ed a crime

or anything.”

Trouble is, when there is a no-burn order in e�ect, it is a crime. But let’s keep that between us.


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and highlight the future stars of the horse industry. � e winner is then invited to participate in the main event just moments from commencing. Jim Anderson wowed the crowd with his bareback and bridle less performance on Six Flo Buck in the Wild Card and proceeded to work his magic on his new horse partner Speedy Cream to win the championship.

Next year’s Road to the Horse could see the most competition in the history of the event as it was announced that the 2015 show will have a $100,000 purse for the winner, the largest prize in Road to the Horse history.

Rainy (or Sunny too) Attractions

As the old adage goes, April showers bring May � owers and

what be� er way to spend a rainy April day than perusing the new exhibits at the Horse Park’s many museums on the grounds.

Beginning Friday, April 4, the International Museum of the Horse unveils its special exhibition, “Equine Treasures of the Bluegrass.” By combining the museum’s permanent exhibits and collections along with art and other items of interest from area museums, libraries and private collections, this new exhibition promises to be one of the most captivating and comprehensive equine displays in the history of the Commonwealth.

� e American Saddlebred Museum also opens a new exhibit on Tuesday, April 1. “Oak Hill Farm – A Jewel of the Bluegrass” will feature six decades of this legendary farm in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Of course, the farm’s owner Jean McLean Davis is


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featured prominently in the exhibit where memorabilia from Davis’ personal collection will be displayed, including trophies, ribbons, photographs and paintings. Rare photo footage in video format will also be available for audiences to witness. A display of a lifetime, take an a� ernoon to learn more about a Bluegrass woman and her winning horses.

The Event of a Lifetime

� e world-renowned event, � e Rolex 3-Day Event, is gracing the Kentucky Horse Park once again with its spectacular array of superbly trained horses and highly skilled riders. � is competition (presented by Land Rover) is the only 4 star three-day event in North America and challenges riders in the disciplines of dressage, cross country, and show jumping. � e competition is a proving ground for many participants who are vying for coveted positions on teams competing in future World Championships and Olympics.

� e adrenaline and excitement will begin on Wednesday, April 23 with the Horse Inspection (where each horse in the competition is inspected by veterinarians to ensure soundness and � tness for the event). It will also mark the opening of the prestigious cross-country course to the public. April 24-25 will showcase the dressage portion of the event in the Rolex Stadium with the crowning jewel, the cross-country competition, occurring on April 26. � e � nal test of skill will be the show jumping which will wrap up the event on April 27.

With over 60,000 spectators each year, the Rolex is a must-see event and

o� ers something for everyone. A Rolex admission tickets also will get you into all other o� erings of the Horse Park!

Shopping Delights

Vendor row features shopping galore (there are over 175 merchants, corporate sponsors and food vendors) during the Rolex from furniture to art and, of course, every possible accessory imaginable for the horse and horse lover. Stroll through the array from shops coming from across the country and beyond to � nd the perfect gi� for someone or yourself! New this year is a special section of booths called “Kentucky Uncovered” which will feature businesses and a� ractions distinct to the Commonwealth.

Tailgate!

Spectators can watch the excitement of cross-country day live from your tailgate spot on course. Rolex Kentucky � ree-Day Event Land Rover Tailgating passes include 6 General Admission Tickets and one reserved parking space near the Cross-Country Course on Saturday only. � is is a unique opportunity to watch horse and riders gallop over terrain and navigate obstacles at high speed. “Tailgating on cross-country day has been one of my favorite additions to Rolex. � e ability to have a ‘home base’ of sorts, where you can leave chairs, snacks, bags and such while you walk the course is so nice—and each space has a great view of at least a few fences, said Sarah Coleman, Education and Development Director for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. “Even more fun is the tailgate competition! We start scheming for next

“The atmosphere at Rolex is the only event in this country of its kind. The environment is incredibly special.From the big course, to the crowds, shopping and all the � nite details in between, Rolex is world class.”

-Sharon White and her her Horse Wundermaske


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year’s theme around August, so by the time the tickets come in the mail, we’re ridiculously excited. So far we’ve done ‘mini Rolex’ and a Derby themes-- but I can’t tell you what we’re doing this year yet! Each year the tailgating has go� en bigger and be� er—we can’t wait to see it this year.”

Horsepower of Another Kind

Have a non-horsey friend or signi� cant other? Swing by the Land Rover demo where you can get behind the wheel and go for an o� -road course!

Cowboy Up

� e action at the Horse Park during the Rolex is non-stop. Returning to the Park on April 25-27 is the Kentucky Reining Cup. Debuting at the Park in 2011, this exciting event is a family favorite (not to mention the chance to see and meet professional cowboys and cowgirls), this year’s reining competition will be sti� as it will serve as the selection trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Team held in Normandy.

Reining competition captures the essence and spirit of the working ranch horse. Showcasing the horse’s athletic prowess with circles spins and sliding stops – the reining horse must be

agile, quick and responsive to its rider. For freestyle events, the horse’s movements are synchronized with music, producing a thrilling spectacle to watch.

• Friday, April 25 – CRI3* and Opening Round of the Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and the Kentucky Reining Cup Team Challenge

• Saturday, April 26 – FEI Junior and Young Rider classes, Para-Reining classes, and � e Freestyle Reining World Championship

• Sunday, April 27 – Kentucky Reining Cup CRI3* / Second Go and Final of the Adequan/USEF National Open Championship & Offi cial US Reining Team Selection Trial

During Saturday’s Freestyle Championship, riders from the eventing world will test their me� le in a western saddle. Be sure to see how these eventing celebrities stack up. Included in the line-up is David O’Connor (gold medalist in the 2000 Olympic Games and returning champion of the celebrity reining competition) will be up against some of the best – including Bruce Davidson, another eventing gold medalist.

For more information or to order tickets for the 2014 Kentucky Reining Cup, go to: www.KentuckyReining.com


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Horsin’ Around May Events

May 4: Thoroughbred Horse Show

May 7-11: Kentucky Spring I Hunter/Jumper Show Featuring Special Classes: •$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby • $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby • $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic • $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix

May 14-18: Kentucky Spring II Hunter/Jumper Show Featuring Special Classes: • A World Championship Hunter Rider Event • $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby • $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic • $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix

May 18: High Hope Steeplechase

May 22-25: KDA Spring Warm Up and Annual Dressage Show

May 30-June 1: Carriage Driving Event

APRIL 2014 | TOPSINLEX.COM 115

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Fillies in the Workplace: Beth Ann Haydon Owner, Everything But the House

Beth Ann Haydon

She has ridden horses and raised them, and loves them to pieces. Beth Ann Haydon � nds a way to incorporate something equine into her life every day. She is the general manager of Everything But the House, an online auction company that does have a horsey element to it. She came to this job in a most circuitous manner.

Born in Cincinnati, Haydon’s family moved to Lexington in the

mid-1960s when she was a kid. Her father, Ralph Glassford, was president of McAlpin’s, a popular department store (acquired by Dillard’s in 1998). “Ralph and Alice Glassford are very well-known in these parts,” Haydon said of her parents. “� at’s helped me get jobs. It’s a small world.”

� e young Beth Ann Glassford took riding lessons at Robert Murphy Stables out Parkers Mill Road, and rode horses in Mid-

By Kathie Stamps


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way. � en, during her senior year at Lexington Catho-lic, her dad was transferred to Ten-nessee with Cast-ner-Kno� s De-partment Stores. So she went to the University of Ten-nessee, and gradu-ated with a busi-ness degree and a minor in paralegal. She worked in real estate law, got a real estate license, a contrac-tor’s license and spent some time as a designer. In Nashville, she and her � rst husband raised American Quarter Horses on a horse farm. � ey were in the construction business for 20 years.

In 2004 she started her own construction company, making her one of only � ve women contractors in the Volunteer State. She sold the Bright Company in 2008 and moved back to Lexington. “I had grown up here, I loved the people and had so many connections with Keeneland and the � oroughbred industry,” she said. Her brother is in equine pharmaceuticals.

Now she and her husband, Joe Haydon, have � oroughbreds on their Midway horse farm, so she has come full circle. When she moved back to horse country almost six years ago, she was the special events coordinator at the Hilary J. Boone Center at UK. � at’s where she met her husband. Joe Haydon has had experience in the military and as an equine writer and researcher, and is an award-winning equine photographer and artist.

“He’s my renaissance man,” Beth Ann Haydon said. She is quite the multifaceted person herself, claiming a background in sales, among her various ventures. One day she heard about a business called Everything But the House.

“When I heard about this company I knew immediately I wanted this job,” she said. � e Cincinnati-based company, EBTH for short, is an online auction, similar to eBay but with customer service in the form of individual a� ention for each auction. “We are a revolutionary online personal property and estate sales and service provider,” Haydon said. “If you have a question about an item you’re selling or bidding on, we answer the phone.”

With headquarters in Cincinnati and an o� ce in Lexington, EBTH is also in Louisville, Indianapolis and Columbus. � ere will be an Everything But the House in Nashville soon. Haydon started with the company in July 2013. In March of this year, her Lexington EBTH o� ce moved from 1,000 square feet on Kentucky Avenue

to a space six times bigger on National Avenue. “We feel blessed to be here,” she said.

Her job as general manager has her going to horse farms, private homes and estate sales throughout the Bluegrass and beyond. She had

a client in Cincinnati who also had a home in Jackson Hole, so Haydon � ew to Wyoming and shipped things back. Sometimes people are downsizing, so they don’t need as many possessions when they move to a smaller house. Haydon and her EBTH team help them sell items. “We’re not a glori� ed garage sale,” she said. “� ese are unique items, high-end items.”

� rough Everything But the House, Haydon has helped people sell automobiles and boats, furniture, artwork and collectibles, and equine memorabilia like framed prints, horse sculptures and jewelry.

“My job is great because there’s so much stu� that’s equine related,” Haydon said. “I’m looking forward to doing numerous equine sales. I’d love to get somebody a lot of tack—saddles, bridles, blankets—from special farms. People would jump at that in a heartbeat.”

Her team consists of a project manager, 10 sales coordinators, eight cataloguers and four photographers. Although the EBTH auctions take place online, the National Avenue warehouse has two showrooms so people can preview items in person. � ese showroom “sales” take place a couple of days before an auction goes online; items cannot be purchased at the previews. Once online, each auction lasts seven days.

Antiques dealers, art gallery owners and restaurateurs o� en search the EBTH website. � ere are almost 48,000 bidders now, from all 50 states and 17 countries. If you’re looking for a particular type of saddle or a drop-leaf table, for example, Haydon will let you know when one becomes available.

Whether downsizing in town or moving out of state, going through a divorce or losing a family member, these types of events are o� en an overwhelming process. “Our mo� o is to help you, hold your hand, and help you sell everything but the house,” Haydon said. “We are sensitive to emotional and personal needs.”

Haydon has never met a stranger, and she considers every one of her clients a friend. Being a people-person is a genetic trait she


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has passed along to her three children. She has a son and one daughter (and in-fant grandchild) who live in Nashville, and another daughter who teaches Eng-lish in Seoul, Korea. “I feel very proud of all my kids,” Haydon said. “� ey love people and people love them.” All three are excellent riders too.

Haydon still loves to ride horses but doesn’t have too terribly much time to do so. “� ere aren’t enough hours in the day,” she said. She is a member of the � oroughbred Club and Commerce Lexington, and in her spare time she enjoys reading and doing needlepoint. She also loves to entertain, particularly if it involves inviting clients, out-of-town friends and the EBTH corporate folks from Cincinnati to a day at Keene-land, so she can show o� one of the most beautiful places on earth.

At the Kentucky Horse Park, look for the EBTH booth at the Rolex Kentucky � ree-Day Event, April 24-27. Haydon and her team will be in the Kentucky Uncovered pavilion, a new section be-ing added to this year’s event. “We’re re-ally excited about it,” she said. “We are going to hit a lot of people that have no clue what we do.”

Between her background in the con-struction industry and her managerial role for EBTH, Haydon still feels like she is going to job sites every day, which is a positive thing in her mind because she enjoys solving problems and mak-ing clients feel as comfortable as pos-sible.

“I fully intend to get more involved with the community,” she said. “I am blessed to be back in the Bluegrass, around horses and in this new job. I’m very happy here.”

Learn more about Everything But the House at www.ebth.com.


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� e view of this year’s Kentucky Derby leaders is as clear as your windshield with a bad wiper heading up I-75 in a driving rain-storm while passing an 18-wheeler. � e 3-year-olds with the top resumes and connections have found serious bumps in the road. � ere is only one � rst Friday and Saturday in May and a horse’s racing and training regimen has to have them ready to peak that a� ernoon, rain or shine on a dirt surface. � e Racing Gods have not shined brightly on some of this generation’s top males and females, while some of the point-laden prep races have pro-duced thrilling stretch duels that underline the parity of this crop of competitors.

Usually when someone tells you, “I’ve got some good news and bad news what do you want to hear � rst?” � e average Joe goes with the bad news � rst to � nish on a high note. Being a “Glass half full guy,” I’m going with the opposite here. With few exceptions so far, we’ve had head-bobbing thrillers that leave the door wide open on Derby Day.

� e most recent at press time for the boys was the Grade 3 $800,000 Sunland Park Derby and it turned out to be a Bob Ba� ert-trained ex-acta � nish. Before a track-record crowd 18,642, stablemates Mid-night Hawk and Chitu sat just o� leader Garen in the 1 1/8 mile test. Jockey Mike Smith asked Midnight Hawk for speed into the turn and took the lead on the outside. Martin Garcia went right with the new leader and with his massive hindquarters Chitu smoothly strided past him in the � nal furlong, � nishing out strongly. In his defense, Midnight Hawk had raced since their last meeting where Chitu � nished second 1 ¼ lengths ahead of him in sec-ond against the highly regarded Candy Boy in the Grade 3 Rob-ert Lewis. � e quick turnback may have hurt Midnight Hawk, but I do not believe 1 ¼ miles will suit his style or pedigree.

Kentucky’s Grade 3 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Racing Spiral

Stakes (is there a longer stakes name in racing?)- ended up in a thrilling three-horse photo � nish and le� us with more ques-tions than answers. � e reason being, that the top three all excel on a synthetic Polytrack surface and the Derby is run on dirt. In a race that looked devoid of speed other than Solitary Ranger who won the John Battaglia Memorial, the traditional prep race at Turfway, saw him joined by several others pressing the pace.

Of those three, only Harry’s Holiday stayed along to be in the photo and with Rosie Napravnik aboard ap-peared to get the nod at the wire.

Coastline and jockey Stewart El-liot had tracked the top three and was right there in the � nal yards, but widest of all in the lane was We Miss Artie, whose last win came in the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity at Keeneland as a 2-year-old– and the last time he raced on polytrack and had John Velazquez in the sad-dle. � at combination got the job done again by a nose over Harry’s Holiday who was a head in front of Coastline. “I was concerned about being wide on the � rst turn and the kick back was coming hard and he was jumping up and down wast-ing a lot of energy, but once I got to the backstretch I put him in the clear and got him in a nice cruising speed,” said Velazquez. “He kind of dri� ed out and the top two looked like they were getting away, at the wire I could not tell.” One thing we

can tell is that owner Ken Ramsey says the Todd Pletcher trainee will be in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.

It was a rebellious � nal furlong in Oaklawn Park’s Rebel Stakes. � e $600,000 Grade 2 event brought back the top three � nish-ers of their Grade 3 Southwest Stakes in which Tapiture was a dominant winner. New to the cast was Bob Ba� ert-trained Hoppertunity with Mike Smith in the irons and they won the Donnybrook down the lane. With a wet track no one wanted to be near the rail and Ride On Curlin was closest in the four path. He seemed to start a chain reaction coming out a tad as

We Miss Artie

CountdownRoad to the Derby:

by John C. Engelhardt


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Strong Mandate was mak-ing his move in the � nal furlong with Tapiture gain-ing at every stride at the same time as Hoppertunity on the outside of the four. Tapiture and Hoppertunity seemed to have a fair � ght exchanging bumps while Strong Mandate backed o� a bit. � e slugfest went to the wire with Hoppertunity getting the count over Tapi-ture and Ride On Curlin.

� ere was an Inquiry and an Objection and in the end I believe the stewards got it right. While roughly run, the exchanges were equal and the � nish re-mained as lit on the board. Let’s look forward to an “Arkansas Derby Cage Match” on April 12.

State-bred programs are on the rise and don’t drop your mint julep with your jaw wide open if a New York or California-bred horse takes down Kentucky’s greatest race this year. Two New York-bred horses have proven themselves worthy in back-to-back performances against open company with 1-2 � nishes in the Grade 3 Withers and most recently the $500,000 Grade 3 Gotham Stakes. Undefeated Samraat � nds himself currently tied in Derby points with We Miss Artie a� er game e� orts over arch-rival and NY-bred Uncle Sigh in both races. In the Gotham those two had to run down In Trouble on the rail making his distance debut and you could barely put a piece of paper be-tween the three in the � nal sixteenth of a mile. Samraat may have had an intimidating edge on the outside, but he survived the Inquiry over a game Uncle Sigh and a very improving In Trouble.

On the other coast we have the well seasoned California-bred California Chrome who has won from 4 ½ furlongs to 1 1/16 miles through his 9 race career. In the Grade 2 $300,000 San Felipe he stepped out of his state-bred safety net and turned it into a two-horse race vs. graded stakes winner Midnight Hawk, romping away by 7 ¼ lengths with graded stakes-placed Kristo in third. � e Santa Anita Derby on April 5 should give us a bet-ter read on the best in the west.

� e Grade 2 $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby through a new hat in the ring as 14 to 1 shot Ring Weekend drew the rail and drew o� by 8 lengths down the backstretch and was never seriously threatened to the wire. � e Graham Motion trainee was mak-ing 6th start at � ve di� erent racetracks on slop, synthetic and turf. Perhaps he has found a home at a distance on dirt and as a son of the red-hot sire Tapit cannot be dismissed as a Derby contender during this topsy-turvy season.

� ough Churchill Downs has chosen Larry Collmus to be their

new track announcer, they may bring in basketball guru Dick Vitale to call the Kentucky Oaks as good as his famed “AWESOME BABY!” shout is running these days. Awesome Baby was one of the most im-pressive debut winners last summer at Del Mar, then � nished out of the money two Grade 1 stakes before beginning her sophomore season with a half-length

win in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez at 6 1/2 furlongs. Awe-

some Baby then cruised to a 2 3/4-length win in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel at 1 1/16 miles March 1.

Trainer Bob Ba� ert had won � ve runnings of the now $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks since it was inaugurated in 2003 and Awe-some Baby had no problem adding to that total. Setting very solid fractions with Mike Smith at the controls she went wire to wire. “She kind of scrambled a bit leaving there, and then she got into her high cruising speed, which is her game,” Smith said. “I’ve got my whole family here,” said the New Mexico native. “I hear there’s a record attendance. Half the grandstand is my family.” � e daughter of Awesome Again has now won 4 of 6 starts for earnings of $309,250 and shot her way to the top of the Kentucky Oaks leader board with 110 points.

In the second spot behind her with 64 points now is Aurelia’s Belle who scored an authoritative victory over 11 rivals in the Grade 3 $125,000 Pure Romance Bourbonette Oaks at Turf-way Park. � e team of trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez drew favoritism at the windows with Sloane Square who chased the pace set by Stormy Novel. Turning for home, Channing Hill riding for his father-in-law trainer Wayne Cata-lano, split horses and cleared the � eld by 2 ¼ lengths.

Aurelia’s Belle came into the 1 mile race o� of two game e� orts in Grade 2 races behind undefeated Onlyforyou for owner James F. Miller. Catalano said his � lly’s winning performance leaves her on target to start in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks. “� at’s his dream to win the Oaks,” Catalano said. “� at’s why we were here.”

Now for those we will not see in the Derby and Oaks, Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer con� rmed March 13 that 2-year-old champion male Shared Belief will not contest the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and is o� cially o� the road to the Kentucky Derby.

As we pointed out in our last column, Shared Belief is a gelding and the length of his racing career is much more important than pushing to try for glory and a wreath of roses. � e good news is Hollendorfer reports the problematic foot is “almost to that

We Miss Artie Edges Coastline and Harry’s Holiday in the Spiral Stakes


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perfect point,” and he could � nally begin working soon.

Also o� the Derby Trail is the promising Bond Hold-er from the barn of Doug O’Neil who won the Ken-tucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with I’ll Have An-other. Originally it was re-ported that an injury caused by a bumpy � ight from Cali-fornia gave him body sore-ness that kept him out of the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds. A� er further ex-amination, Bond Holder, the winner of the Grade 1 Front-Runner Stakes at Santa Anita last September with current earnings of $366,000, had been treated at a veterinary clinic in Florida for laminitis, trainer Doug O’Neill said recently. Bond Holder was at the Ocala clinic for two weeks while passing a hopeful start in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 8.

It has been a tough three weeks for trainer Shug McGaughey who won last year’s Derby with Orb, as he has seen his two top contenders sent to the sidelines. In our last column, we some-what touted Top Billing as “A Horse to Watch” despite � nish-ing third against a speed biased track in the Grade 2 $400,00 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Hopefully we’ll be watching the promising Shug McGaughey trainee again later in the season.

Top Billing is o� the Kentucky Derby trail a� er su� ering a cracked cannon bone in his right front leg during a routine half-mile workout at Payson Park. According to trainer Shug Mc-Gaughey, Top Billing had completed his work and was walking back to the barn when he detected the 3-year-old was not trav-elling well. “� e long term prognosis is a good one.” Trainer Shug McGaughey’s positive assessment was stated and he said surgery to repair Top Billing’s cracked cannon bone went o� without a hitch in Kentucky.

McGaughey’s other top Kentucky Derby prospect, Honor Code, launched his 3-year-old campaign in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Gulfstream Park. Honor Code had a minor setback of his own earlier this winter that cost him 10 days of training and had been working forwardly for his return since being transferred from Payson to Gulfstream Park in late January. He ran into a buzz saw in his return � nishing a distant second to a track-record setting rising star named Social Inclusion.

Since his return e� ort, Honor Code is o� the Kentucky Derby trail and will be sidelined inde� nitely a� er being diagnosed with

a slight tear in his right hind upper suspensory. “We’ll give him 60 days o� and then re-evaluate. � e positive side is that he should be able to come back and have a produc-tive career later on,” quot-ed McGaughey. “It goes to show you what this game can be like, when you see so many of these top 3-year-olds suddenly out of the Derby picture.”

And suddenly and tragi-cally out of the Kentucky Oaks picture was a po-tential favorite Onlyfo-ryou. � e multiple Grade 2 winner was euthanized

March 15 a� er breezing at Palm Meadows, owner John Greathouse of Glencrest Farm con-� rmed. � e brilliant 3-year-old Malibu Moon � lly sustained a displaced condylar fracture while galloping out. Undefeated in four starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, Onlyforyou won the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes Feb. 22 at Gulfstream Park a� er taking the Grade 2 Forward Gal a month earlier in her stakes debut. She was favored each time she ran and always won in an impressive style.

Another top � lly we won’t see for a while is Streaming, the win-ner the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet in December, � nished last in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds. She has been found to have a bone chip in a knee following that race. Train-er Bob Ba� ert said Streaming is expected to be out of training for two months. Streaming has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $349,000. Aside from her win in the $500,000 Hollywood Star-let, Streaming was second in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 1.

Mark your calendars for two very well-timed and important races that should bring the best of both divisions together at the upcoming Keeneland meet. For the ladies it will be the 1 1/16 mile Ashland Stakes on April 5, while males will compete in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 12.

John C. Engelhardt has been an equine photographer and turf writer for 30 years and served as the President of the Turf Publicists of America. He hosts a weekly radio show on winningponies.com. For reprints of his images or future assignments you may contact him at [email protected]

Catalano Talks to Hill Prior to Aurelia’s Belle’s Win in Bourbonette


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Tick Tock, the clock is ticking down to the biggest and best party of the Spring season–the legendary and fabulous Kentucky Derby! Cabin-fevered folks have now recovered from March Madness TV marathons and are ready for two weeks of excessive social drinking, outdoor events, extravagant parties, beautiful horses and did I mention drinking?

“Southern Hospitality” doesn’t just mean being polite and saying “Y’all”, it also encompasses the � ne art of how to party down gracefully with style while remaining fresh and fun well into the wee hours of the morning—a� er all, the clubs in Louisville stay open until 4am! Making an appearance at every event, horse race and jumpin’ club scene requires much skill and knowledge. Read on for the real inside scoop.

Want to know how to party like a Louisvillian during Derby Week? Follow these simple basics and you will be well on your way.

Most important--Get o� work as many days as possible Derby Week; nothing’s going to get accomplished anyway. Who cares if the rest of the USA doesn’t understand why calls go right to voice mail?

Remember to get your sleep in the weeks ahead of the Derby.

Naps are not allowed Derby Week.

Stay hydrated! Drink lots of water and take vitamins. I’m not kidding. Without peak health, you are not going to make it --and you will ultimately drag down your friends!! � at’s just wrong.

In case you have not heard, Louisville is tragically hip. � e past few years have seen the emergence of a variety of trendy neighborhoods, farm-to-table restaurants, art galleries, clubs and boutique shopping areas. Here are a few tips:

Coolest Neighborhoods:

NULU ---� is is hot spot these days, located on East Market Street in downtown Louisville .� is is where you will � nd art galleries, cute stores for window shopping, and lots of upscale, yummy places to dine.

My favorite places there are Decca, which features an outdoor deck with a water feature � owing by and also a � re pit. Musicians take the stage and jam into the night. Downstairs is a limestone rock Grotto-type lounge area with leather couches and neat images projected on the walls…dinner is eclectic and served in a historic dining room with gorgeous cork � oors!

My next favorite spot is Le Coop, they serve “French Vietnamese

Derby Glam!by Anastasia Austen


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fusion” or something like that, but it doesn’t really describe the heavenly food created this little, tiny postage-stamp of a place located in the “Green Building”. No, it’s not green in color, but rather it’s a politically correct, sustainable, solar powered “healthy” building with a garden on top–a cornerstone in NULU.

Also check out Garage Bar, located in an old garage, it has an art installation of two real cars crashing into each other…also, there are outdoor ping pong tables and seating covered in fake grass…you will understand once you see it!

Downtown--� is is ground zero for the party scene, 4th Street Live! Is always fun with dozens of clubs, eateries and a lot of interesting people-watching. Go to Je� Ruby’s (if you can get in) and grab a bite or go across the street to the haunted and historic Seelbach Bar. F. Scott Fitzgerald lived at this hotel while he wrote � e Great Gatsby! � ere is also a room in the Oak Room that has a secret door that allowed Al Capone and his associates to escape during raids in Prohibition times.

Highlands--Hit the street-party scene and carry your booze traveler discreetly with you, rarely do folks get arrested doing this illegal deed Derby Week as they bar hop up and down


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Bardstown Road. Cra� beer, Pubs Grub, and live music await. Crowds will be on the sidewalks in throngs 24 hours a day here. My favorite spots include Ramsi’s Café, as they serve food until 1am! For a sti� drink at a great dive bar, hit � e Back Door. Try Jack Fry’s for a great Dry Martini made with Tito’s Vodka…Exploring is always fun!

What to See: Be sure to go to the award winning 21C Hotel on Main Street, named the #1 Hotel in the South by Conde Naste Magazine. It is thought-provoking, exciting and hard to describe. View the contemporary art installations, and the award –winning bathrooms. Do not be alarmed if you see women sneaking into the men’s room…it features a waterfall as the, well, you know, and the ladies love to peek in. Be sure to grab a drink at Proof, the hotel bar…and gaze upwards—the ceiling changes colors!

Beware: Bridge Tra� c Hell. Did you know two bridges are being constructed over the Ohio River in Louisville? Yes. Prepare for gridlock, construction and delays. My advice? Get a limo. Take a cab. If you cannot, allow lots of extra time for your commute and pretend you are in Chicago or Atlanta tra� c!

� e best tip of all: Follow my professional advice. Many years of misadventures and honing party skills allow me to spare the gentle reader from wasting precious time and resources! Now, go take your vitamins.

Anastasia Austen is the Brand Development Manager for DerbyDeals.com, a Louisville-area sports travel agency specializing in � oroughbred Horse Racing events and the Kentucky Derby. Originally from Carmel-by-the Sea, California, she earned her BS in Sport Administration from the University of Louisville and a Masters in Marketing from Webster University. She has worked in various aspects of the horse racing industry including equine fashion, sports journalism and special events.


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If you have been lucky enough to have the pleasure of getting to know Lenny Shulman, you will � nd many similarities to him and Dan Henry, the lead � gure in his recently published � rst novel Long Way From Home, which is available at Amazon.com A native New Yorker, you usually hear Lenny before you see him, most o� en letting out a deep hearty laugh while sharing a quick witted story with someone involved in the racing game.

� ere is no way a personality like Lenny couldn’t naturally let his brand of humor blend its way into his book and it drips into seemingly every chapter like the grease on a New York pizza his Runyunesque characters enjoy while exchanging barbs. Much like Dan Henry, Lenny Shulman took a circuitous route that landed the wise-cracking writer from the east coast to a pastoral home in Central Kentucky.

Lenny’s life experiences gave him a large palette from which to brightly color the individuals that move through his novel. He grew up in Westbury, New York, only � ve minutes away from Roosevelt Raceway where he spent “considerable time,” he states, though his � rst exposure to racing was with his father and uncle who would take him to Belmont Park once or twice a year. “It was a big deal for me, just to go with them it was fun,” he recollects. “You’d see celebrities like Cab Callaway and I just loved betting two bucks on the horses

and they’d be getting tips from the FBI guy who was on track there that they knew – it was pretty fun stu� for a young kid.”

He made his way to the well respected Newhouse School of Journalism at Syracuse University and landed his � rst newspaper job just outside of the “Salt City” in a small town called Oneida, where the � rst snow comes on � anksgiving and leaves on April Fools Day. From the white winter and lush green summers of upstate New York, Lenny went to its geographical opposite and founded a weekly entertainment newspaper in Tucson, Arizona. � at lasted for three years and ended according to Lenny with his patented humorous gu� aw, “� at ran out of funding and eventually we ran out of printing presses we could sti� with a printing bill. So I thought the next frontier was L.A. as far as being a writer and I went out there with the dream of being a television

writer, but I ended up working for Larry Flynt as a proofreader for Hustler and that was kind of my day job.” Why a magazine like Hustler would need a proofreader leaves me befuddled, but it paid the rent for the determined writer.

Like the move from Syracuse to Tucson, Lenny found himself in another amazing contrasting and career changing event. He went from a skin magazine to writing and producing a children’s show. “I got a break, I met someone at MGM and they recommended me for an episode of this kid’s show and they ended up liking me pretty good.” Obviously, they did.

Larry Shulman A Novel Individual Who Has Found Himself A Long Way From Home


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Lenny worked on Kids Incorporated for almost nine years writing and producing it.

� e time had come for another curious turn in the “Life and Times of Lenny Shulman.” He ended up meeting over-the-edge comedian Andrew Dice Clay which ended up being a long association. Lenny collaborated with Clay on the HBO Special “� e Diceman Cometh” and the 1991 concert � lm “Dice Rules”. � e latter got Lenny a nomination for the “Razzies” – not one you rush the stage to accept. � e Golden Rasperry Awards is an awards ceremony in recognition of the worst in � lm. It is held in Los Angeles preceding the Academy Awards by one day.

In his self-deprecating style, Shulman gladly took the nomination in stride. “I do remember getting mentioned in the New York Times review of “Dice Rules” and it was not a complimentary review,” loudly laughed Shulman. “But at least with the New York Times rules they do call you ‘Mr. Shulman’ so at the same time they are trying to crucify you at least they are being polite to you. While the reviews were not that good the audience sure appreciated it. It was an exciting time to be with Andrew as he was at the absolute top of show business. He’d be playing arenas, playing Vegas on New Year’s Eve, he’d go to Frank Sinatra’s New Year’s Eve parties, it was about as high as you could go and that was a hell of a ride to be on.”

From arena’s hosting comedy shows Shulman amazingly changed his scenery again, this time jumping into the sports arena. He went from being nominated for a “Razzie” to actually winning an Emmy Award. � rough a childhood friend that very much resembles one of the main players in Long Way From Home, Shulman landed a job with the FOX network as it was beginning its association with the NFL in the mid-‘90s. He got to write a one-hour special that featured Terry Bradshaw, Jimmy Johnson, and Howie Long that won him a sports Emmy.

It was 20 years in Los Angeles doing show business, which can chew you up and spit you out if you are not paying attention, that was beginning to wear and tear on Lenny. As a diversion he was drawn back to the track where he had fond memories of days with his father and uncle at Belmont and his � rst high school buddies that had a license and enough gas to get them to and from Roosevelt Raceway. “I really had kind of lost horseracing and I began to pick it up again in Los Angeles, mostly because of A.P. Indy. I remember watching him run and all of a sudden the light bulb just went on in my head about horse racing.” Enthused again by the spectacle of the sport, Shulman went out to Hollywood Park every weekend taking in the all the ambience – the sights, sounds and action

at the window and on the track. He began to love it again and in the back of his mind he was looking for an exit out of California.

As luck would have it, Lenny attended a friend’s wedding in Cincinnati and spent a few days not far away in the Lexington area and picked up a few racing publications. He wrote to the Blood-Horse, which had just lost someone who was covering news in Los Angeles and took the job. � e editorial sta� liked his style and a position opened up at the home o� ce in Lexington. “When that happened I just decided to throw it all down, pack it up and come out here,” stated Shulman.

“One of the great things about this job is that I get to go out and meet people and write about them. I kind of opened my eyes one day and realized I had done about a half dozen jockey stories and they are all really interesting and good stories that had a lot of meat on them. A lot of these jockeys had a lot of trouble, either growing up in a certain environment, or becoming involved in substance abuse – this one had this going on, this one had that going on, but basically there were all these stories on these guys who had overcome a lot of these obstacles,” continued Shulman, now away from the concrete jungle and immersing himself in his journalistic skills. “Some of the riders came from poor countries and poor families. I thought there was a real feel and bond behind all of these stories.” And from those observations and emotional insights was born Lenny’s � rst book Ride of � eir Lives.

“What I really appreciated with these guys is that they were all so honest about talking about the dark side of their lives. Periods that they would not be proud of where they were really slamming themselves with some bad stu� , but willing to get in there and discuss the dark periods and I think to that extent it made for some interesting reading and that’s what made it go. � ere were obviously big names like Chris McCarron, La� t Pincay, Corey Nakatani, Eddie Delahoussaye, Jorge Chavez, Kent Desormeaux, Pat Day, and Chris Antley, the last of whom had already passed away by the time we published the book, but I had the most amazing interview with him.” To attest to the quality of “Ride of � eir Lives,” Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, who heads up the North American Racing Academy, has his students read the book as part of his curriculum.

While Ride of � eir Lives was a very enjoyable and engaging quilt of vignettes, Long Way From Home challenged Lenny to a writing style he had yet to tackle fully. “I had to do some di� erent kind of writing, not non-� ction or industry and personality-related stories. I felt at some point I wanted to stretch my chops a little bit and expand my imagination and


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see what I could come up with. As far as putting it together it was kind of a weekend warrior project. I kind of had an idea going in, but to be honest it just took me from one spot to the next. I was playing it as it went along and I don’t think that is how you are classically supposed to do it,” he said, breaking out in laughter once again. “But I did not know exactly where it was going. It just kind of wound out as I was doing it and I’m thankful that at the end all of the loose ends tied together.”

“� e advantage of � ction is that you can use your imagination and you can go wherever you want to. You can create situations and not wait for them to happen.” Lenny created many a colorful situation in this book and perhaps his comedic experiences with Andrew Dice Clay in� uenced the dialogue between the main characters. � e banter back and forth will leave you reeling with laughter. His “boots on the ground” approach to his writing experience for the Blood-Horse brings the reader under the shedrow where you can smell the liniment on a horse’s legs and be drawn into the atmosphere of racing at dawn and dusk. � e novel is to be enjoyed by racing purists and novices alike.

Admittedly there is a lot of personal connection to the story line, which makes it all that more believable. “� ere are so many colorful characters we meet in this business that just seem larger than life and it is just astounding and you can grab a piece of this from one guy and a piece of that from another guy and before you know it you have some pretty interesting individuals to add to the story.” Lenny has been there and done that.

“I really like the two settings, I love New York City and I love it here in Kentucky and the fact that I could get both of those settings in the book was good for me.”

A� er reading the book and knowing Lenny Shulman I had to ask him how much of Dan Henry is really Lenny? “I guess I have to admit that as much as I’d like to create a character that is outside of yourself there are snippets of situations

you repurpose and put in a di� erent context and have the character go through it. � ere is an element in there, but as far as being biographical – it isn’t.”

Long Way From Home is a wonderful blend of intrigue, romance, comedy and racing – four things that are hard not to like. In this novel Lenny Shulman was able to balance them all in a fashion that weaves relentless humor through waves of friendship, love, betrayal, and redemption.

It is a hard read to put down as you want to continue to relish the next chapter and see where it takes you. Perhaps the saving grace of this novel is that Lenny Shulman has created a character in Dan Henry that begs for another book. With Lenny’s amazing life experiences, dedicated work in the racing world and writing talent, I’d be willing to take an odds-on bet that

this won’t be the last we get to savor a book that features the colorful Dan Henry – or his alter ego.

Lenny Shulman will be signing copies of his novel Long Way From Home April 26, 2-3:30 p.m, at Morris Book Shop, 882 E. High St., Lexington. 859-276-0494

John C. Engelhardt has been an equine photographer and turf writer for 30 years and served as the President of the Turf Publicists of America. He hosts a weekly radio show on winningponies.com. For reprints of his images or future assignments you may contact him at [email protected]

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by Mary Ellen Slone

Are you privileged to know someone who has autism?Whether you do or not, the members of ASBG (Autism Society of the Bluegrass) would like you to know that one in eighty-eight kids born in the USA is diagnosed with autism, 1.2% of the general population. Seven percent of this population will re� ect that if one sibling is diagnosed with Autism, a second sibling is likely to also be diagnosed. Are you sur-prised? If not, you should be!

STATISTICALLY

• Boys are 4-5 times more likely to be diagnosed than girls.

• Autism is a neurological disorder which a� ects how people think, re-spond, play, and communicate.

• Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that it can present itself in a variety of combinations from mild to severe.

• Each person with autism is di� erent.

• Autism is not caused by bad parenting, and children with autism are NOT just kids who choose to misbehave.

• Individuals with autism want to socialize and have friends, but they need help, patience, and understanding to achieve that goal.

• Autism is a lifelong disability, but it is treatable.

Worldwide, parents of autistic children face similar challenges; how to protect their children from being taunted, bullied or isolated, while en-couraging them to socialize.

Locally, members of the ASBG want you to recognize and understand some early signs of Autism in young children. If a� er reading these ‘sig-nals’ you as a parent, recognize characteristics of your child’s behavior,

please consider having him or her evaluated by a physician. � e earlier the diagnosis, the be� er.

SIGNALS INCLUDE

By 6 months—no big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions.

By 9 months—no back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions.

By 12 months—lack of response to name; no babbling or ‘baby talk,’ no back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, reaching, or waving.

By 16 months—no spoken words.

By 24 months—no meaningful two-word phrases which don’t involve imitating or repeating.

As these children get older, the red � ags of autism become more diverse. � ere are many warning signs and symptoms, but they typically revolve around impaired social skills, speech and language di� culties, non-ver-bal communication di� culties, and in� exible behavior.

Working closely with researchers at the University of Kentucky, the members of the ASBG are continuously involved with Autism faculty members. UK and Eastern Kentucky University are both creating areas of academic specialization in Autism studies.

� ere are also opportunities for workshops and symposia for day care teachers, parents, and medical personnel to learn and share the latest information about Autism research.

� e members of the ASBG provide education and support to families, educators and healthcare professionals dealing with this complex disor-der. Sara Spragens, ASBG’s President, shared “Ours is among the oldest

Always Unique Totally Intelligent Sometimes Mysterious

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September 2014 ASBG’s Annual Bluegrass Autism WalkWhitaker Bank Ballpark | Details available soon, asbg.org

Kentucky chapters of the Autism Society of America. We provide a fo-rum for sharing information with families, professionals, and individu-als dealing with autism.”

�ere are 700 people in the Central Kentucky area who share the syner-gism of information which link families and professionals involved with autism.

ASBG usually meets the last Monday of the month at 6:30 pm at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 2025 Bellefonte Drive, o� Zandale. For meeting dates and topics, upcoming workshops, and information about autism in Central Kentucky and elsewhere, visit the website asbg.org, and join the continuous discussion at h�p://health groups.yahoo.com/group/ASBG.

“Our mission is to disseminate solid, helpful, autism-related informa-tion to the communities we serve. We also provide scholarships for members to a�end conferences elsewhere in Kentucky and beyond.” Ms. Spragens said.

While autism isn’t normally diagnosed and treated before the second year of life, there are things parents can do if you child’s social and emo-tional development doesn’t seem to be on course. If your child is devel-opmentally delayed or you’ve observed other �ags for autism, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician right away. �e diagnosis pro-cess is complex, and can sometimes take time. First Steps is a federally funded early intervention program for infants and toddlers with disabil-ities. Children who demonstrate several early warning signs may have developmental delays.

My 22-year-old daughter, Amelia, is like other young peo-ple; she votes, has a checking account, likes to go to mov-ies, concerts, out to eat, and loves her iPad. In other ways, she is markedly di�erent. She has di�culty communicat-ing verbally, needs help with many �ne motor tasks, and has di�culty focusing on simple things, such as conversa-tions.

In 1994, at age two, she was barely talking. Her pediatri-cian told us not to worry. At two and a half, Amelia was diagnosed with a Developmental Delay, then re-evaluated at 3 years and diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Speci�ed (PDD-NOS). I asked the doctor if she had autism and was told “no.”

I told her occupational therapist about her PDD-NOS di-agnosis. She said, “Do you know that is what some people call autism now?” We connected with the Autism Society of the Bluegrass and got the name of a good pediatric psy-chiatrist at the University of Kentucky. He quickly diag-nosed Amelia with autism at three and a half.

Amelia needs a lot of help with her daily life. She uses an augmentative communication device on her iPad to im-prove communication. We use her strengths to help her be as independent as possible, and to have a typical life. We do not like to limit her options. We encourage her to try new things, not knowing if they will work. She tries hard every day to function in a world that she �nds overwhelm-ing. We are very proud of her.

- Wendy

Amelia

Ameiia (right) on vacation with brother Noah and sister Rachel


TOP People to Know

Kyle Adamson

Owner, Outdoor Lighting Designer

A�er earning a degree in Landscape Ar-chitecture from UK, Kyle became fas-cinated with lighting and how it e�ects and enhances a home and landscape. He started Red Oak Design in 2006 to pro-vide architectural and landscape lighting that specialize in unique solutions for il-luminating outdoor spaces. Kyle was re-cently honored with an Award of Merit for Best Feature Focused lighting project by the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals.

229.8710 | redoakdesign.net

Brook Mundy

Home Inspector

Buying a home is one of the most sig-ni�cant investments in your life. A home inspection is a relatively inexpensive proactive step that reveals the condition before you purchase your new home. In business for 11-years, Mundy’s is deter-mined to help you �nd that dream home that meets your expectations and needs. See your future home through the eyes of an expert as you walk through! All backed by a 90-day buyer’s warranty. Lic #HI2131859.608.0082 | MundysHomeInspection.com

Julie Lewis

Interior Designer

Julie Lewis Interior Design o�ers a com-prehensive approach to designing and building a home. For over 30 years Julie has focused on new home construction and partial/total remodeling from the ground up! Julie’s success is based on her approach to problem solving which takes the client from early planning to completed interiors. Julie works hard to ensure functional and beautiful spaces that re�ect each client’s ideas and tastes, truly a collaborative relationship.

351.2362 | [email protected]

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in Home & Garden


TOPS Tour of Homes

Approaching the home, the rustic stone exterior and the home’s dramatic curved ra�ers are the �rst of many archi-tectural novelties incorpo-rated by the homeowners. Guests are welcomed in a traditional foyer, where a sophisticated navy blue Persian rug lies over the sleek hickory hardwood that spans throughout the main living rooms. A six-candle iron old-world chandelier hangs from another remarkable eye-li�ing detail —a ceiling rotunda polished in a faux bronze �nish. Chair rail-ing begins in the foyer and continues along the walls of the �uid living spaces in view.

To the le� of the foyer, the o�ce’s ceiling is one of the homeowner’s favorite features. A twist on a tra-ditional co�ered ceiling, Gale employs a series of maple beams to form a diamond over his desk.


TOPS Tour of Homes

�e formal dining room features an ex-pandable Ethan Allen table topped with a wiry arrangement of twigs, greenery and red bursts of pomegranate. Win-dows looking out to the front lawn are dressed with golden �oral-printed bal-loon drapes that extend to the �oor. Two striped upholstered chairs are tucked in the corners of the room on either side of a bu�et, over which a rect-angular bronze-framed mirror hangs. Like many features in the Gales’ home, the most fascinating detail of the dining room is located overhead. Where the muted beige toned wall ends, a breath-taking three-tiered ceiling builds upon layers of artistically curved crown mold-ing at each corner.

A transitional butler’s pantry suited with swirled granite countertops con-nects the dining room to a long, bended hallway containing earth-toned pieces of artwork.



TOPS Tour of Homes

Again, the ceiling takes center stage in the master suite, with its dynamic double-barrel architectural style that reiterates the home’s dedication to old-world so-phistication. �is room o�ers a straight view of the outdoor �replace through

a glass paned doorway—the third entryway to the patio entertainment area.


TOPS Tour of Homes

�e basement opens to a great room with a pool table and an old-fashioned overhead pool table light. �is laid back section of the home features refurbished pieces, including red and blue welded �amingo chairs, and homemade pieces, including a unique side table constructed with sections of several types of wood, including ebony and rosewood.


Posh Paws

by Amanda Harper,Pet A�cionado

“I Don’t Like My Pet Lately”

I’ve heard this many times, spoken in hushed tones with a look of distress, disappointment or terror on the pet owner’s face. Some will feign outrage at the mere mention of not constantly being stars, clouds and rainbows in-love with a four-legged friend.

But to get real for a minute, this can happen to a lot of pet parents. Whether it’s a sudden turn in your pet’s behavior, a long-term problem that’s �nally worn away at your patience or life problems that are ge�ing in the way of your relationship with your pet, there are a lot of reasons to suddenly �nd yourself at odds with your animal companion.

Take a big, deep breath. Forgive yourself. Now take some time to think about why you’re having this detachment.

If it’s a new behavior that isn’t one of the pet clichés, consider seeing a vet. It may be a symptom of a larger problem. If it’s typical dog or cat a�itude – especially if your pet is young – it’s time to consult a training expert.

Tried training? Seen your vet? Know that there’s no cure for this bad pet behavior? You’re at a decision point. If

the pet is a threat to you or itself, speak with your veterinarian about your options. Medication may help your pet relax. Be open to your vet’s suggestions for your pet’s comfort and your family’s safety. And keep your pet away from members of the family or neighbors who might accidentally be hurt by a di�cult pet.

If your pet isn’t a threat but just more of a nuisance, this may be one of those “for be�er or for worse” moments. When you became a pet parent, you agreed to take care of this animal no ma�er what. Now, the “what” is shredding toilet paper or going po�y in the middle of the �oor. Try spending more bonding time together. �is will not only prevent your pet from doing ‘the thing’, it may also help you to remember their good qualities and appreciate your pet as a friend.

But what if it’s you? Depression can prohibit a person from feeling as close to family members, friends and pets as they once did. �ink about your life lately and how you’re feeling towards colleagues and commitments. If you can’t �gure out why you’re having a hard time liking your pet and you notice a change in yourself, see your doctor or a counselor.

You’ve built a friendship with your pet and every friendship has its up and downs. If your relationship with your pet is strained, consider consulting an outside source that can best advise you on how to handle this di�cult time.


WOW Wedding

of heights, but willing to go because his soon-to-be wife wants to go. Lindsay gave her groom a monogrammed humidor �lled with a variety of cigars.

Lindsay and Jake chose St. Peter Catholic Church for their wedding ceremony. Jake’s best friend from high school o�ciated the ceremony, o�ering a personal touch to the wedding Mass. White �oral wreaths decorated the church. Lindsay carried a piece of lace from her baby bonnet in her bouquet and a sixpence in her shoe, given to her by a bridesmaid and lifelong friend.

�e pouring rain came to a halt just as the couple arrived at the reception, held at the Lexington Center. Jake carried his bride into the venue so that her dress would stay dry – though he ended up

accidentally stepping on her dress as they were being introduced as a couple, pulling out her bustle!

�e wedding décor featured navy blue and apple green with crisp, clean accents. Guests enjoyed a candy bar; the groom’s request for the evening; and late night sliders. �e live band kept guests on their feet. As a special treat, they were joined by a professional violinist, a friend of the couple, for a rendition of “Wagon Wheel”.

A�er the reception ended, the party moved to Paulie’s Toasted Barrel. �e guests �lled the second �oor to capacity and took over the bar for the evening. �e couple’s parents ended up onstage, dancing together in celebration of Lindsay and Jake’s joyful union!


WOW Wedding


WOW Wedding

DETAILSReception Venue & Catering: Lexington Center Bluegrass Ballroom | Wedding Photography: Willie Wilson Photography

Wedding Planner & Flowers: Doug Smith Designs | Bridal Gown: Twirl Boutique | Cakes: Tinker’s Cake Shop Band: Diane McIntosh Band, Atlanta, GA | After Party: Paulie’s Toasted Barrel

Weddings


Li�le girls look at wed-dings as a day to dress

up, and you can look at this opportunity to make darling li�le girls look su-per sweet! A �ower girl in a traditional dressy dress is of course always perfect for a wedding, but a trend in �ower girl wear is to give in to the Tutu—your �ower girls will love it even more!

�ere are beautiful �ower girl Tutu dress options available on the market, or you can get cra�y and create these looks on your own, especially if you have a number of lit-tle ones that will be walking down the aisle with you. An explosion of tulle, whether in white, cream or your wedding colors is a fabulous and fun look.

TUTU SKIRT STYLE

�e simplest look is for your girls to pair simple matching leotards as the tops (you choose sleeve length appropriate for your wedding season) and cover them with a tutu skirt. Skirts can be adorned with �ow-ers, lace, and beads and can be color coordinated to complement your bridesmaid’s dresses.

TUTU DRESS FOR SUCCESS

�is is the big look today for li�le girls – a tutu dress made for all eyes to be on them. Tutu dresses are typically an empire waist style, with a stretch bodice with Tutu tulle streaming from beneath the bust line to near �oor length. See-ing li�le feet peeping out from beneath yards of �u�y material can be very, very cute. Depending on your material and embellish-

ments, and depending on the volume of tulle in each dress similar styles can go from casual and fun to elegant and regal.

DIY TUTU TIPS

When making these dresses yourself, most Tutu styles require very li�le sewing as the tulle is simply cut to length and looped through the bot-tom of your bust line piece. Again there are great tutorials on You Tube (OK, say ‘You Tube Tutu Tutorials’ three times FAST!) that will walk you through the process and you will be a pro in no time. Wisely choose to add ribbon shoulder straps that can just be tied to the perfect length – you don’t want any Wardrobe Malfunctions on your tiniest stars during your ceremony, or for mom to constantly be pulling up their Tutus all evening!

TULLE CROWN WREATHS FOR LI�LE FAIRY PRINCESSES!

It is essential to top o� this look with some style of headpiece to take the ethereal fairy tale look to completion. A braided circlet of matching tulle is simple and just perfect, or a coordinat-ing �ower that matches the embellish-ments of her dress. And no, a sparkly tiara is not too much, and will make any li�le girl’s day.

�ese miniature fairy tale princesses will complete your wedding look, and be right on trend. People love watch-ing children at weddings, as weddings are such a right of passage, and children represent the brides to come. So let them wear Tutus!

How To—Flower Girl Tutus

by Marsha KollerWedding Consultant

222 APRIL2014 | TOPSINLEX.COM

Color Me Rad 5K9a Coldstream Parkcolormerad.com

Fabby Abbey Ball7p Spindletop Hallket.org

Bring it On: The Musical2p & 8p Lexington Opera Houselexingtonoperahouse.com

13 SUNDAYBreakfast with the Bunny8a-11a Oleika Shrine Center

AVOL’s Lexington AIDS Walk1p-5p West Sixth Brewingavolky.org

Bring it On: The Musical1p & 6p Lexington Opera Houselexingtonoperahouse.com

17 THURSDAYBobby McFerrin7:30p Norton Center for the Artsnortoncenter.com

NAWBO Winners Circle Luncheon11a-1p Gri� n Gate Marriottlexnawbo.org

John Calipari Book Signing6p Joseph-Beth Booksellersjosephbeth.com

Central Bank Thursday Night Live4:30p-9p Cheapside Parkdowntownlex.com

Lexington Legends v Augusta Greenjackets7p Whitaker Bank Ballparklexingtonlegends.com

18 FRIDAYLexington Gallery Hop5p-8p Downtown

It’s My Derby5:30p-9:30p Keeneland Sales Pavilionderbymuseum.org

Masterson Equestrian Trust Bene� t Hunter Jumper ShowMasterson Station Parkmastersonequestrian.org

Come Talk Derby to Us6p Fasig-Tiptonmakennafoundation.com

19 SATURDAYMelissa EthridgeEKU Center for the Artsekucenter.com

Great Restaurant Roundup6:30p Signature Club of Landsownekyehc.org

Lexington Fashion Collaborative Pop-Up Shop11a-3p Headley-Whitney Museumheadley-whitney.org

Lexington Legends v Augusta Greenjackets7p Whitaker Bank Ballparklexingtonlegends.com

Up & Coming

APRIL


21 MONDAYGoo Goo Dolls: Acoustic Concert7p The Lyric Theatrelexingtonlyric.com

24 THURSDAYRolex Kentucky Three-Day EventKentucky Horse Parkrk3de.org

Central Bank Thursday Night Live4:30p-9p Cheapside Parkdowntownlex.com

25 FRIDAYRolex Kentucky Three-Day EventKentucky Horse Parkrk3de.org

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder7:30p EKU Center for the Artsekucenter.com

Dixiana Farm: Concert on the Lawn to Bene� t the Markey Cancer Center6p-9p Keeneland Clubhouse Lawnmarkeycancerfoundation.org

Joe Bonamossa8p Rupp Arenalexingtoncenter.com

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat7:30p Lexington Opera Houselexingtonoperahouse.com

26 SATURDAYRolex Kentucky Three-Day EventKentucky Horse Parkrk3de.org

Bowl for Kids’ Sake12p-12a Southland Bowling Lanesbbbs-bluegrass.org

2014 Kentucky Reining CupKentucky Horse Parkkyhorsepark.com

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat2p & 7:30p Lexington Opera Houselexingtonoperahouse.com

27 SUNDAYRolex Kentucky Three-Day EventKentucky Horse Parkrk3de.org

2014 Kentucky Reining CupKentucky Horse Parkkyhorsepark.com

Cardinall Hill Telethon11:30a-6pcardinalhill.org

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat2p Lexington Opera Houselexingtonoperahouse.com

28 MONDAYSusan G Komen Golf ClassicAndover Country Clubkomenlexington.org

Up & Coming

APRIL

224 APRIL2014 | TOPSINLEX.COM

1 THURSDAYKentucky Bluegrass Wine Auction & Derby GalaDonamire Farmlexingtonfoundation.org

2 FRIDAYKentucky Oaks9a Keenelandkeeneland.com

Martinis on the Lawn3:30p-7:30p Keenelandkeeneland.com

Poor Man’s Harlan County Derby Eve Party6p B&B Morgan Tire Co.makennafoundation.com

Oaks Day Festival9a-4:30p Bu� alo Tracebu� alotrace.com

Unbridled Eve7p-1:30a The Galt Houseunbridledeve.com

The Julep Ball6:30p-1a KFC Yum! Centerthejulep.org

Gatsby Derby Eve to Remember8p-10p The Grand Reservejustfundky.org

Fillies & Lillies7:30p Kentucky Derby Museumderbyexperiences.com

3 SATURDAYDerby Day at Keeneland9am Keenelandkeeneland.com

Keeneland’s Derby Bash10:30a-8p Keeneland Entertainment Center and Keene Barnkeeneland.com

Governor’s Derby Celebration9a-1p Downtown Frankfortgovernor.ky.gov

4 SUNDAYThe Great Cake Race3p-5p Keenelandsweetblessingscakes.org

5 MONDAYConfessions of a Serial Killer starring John Malkovich7:30p Norton Center for the Artsnortoncenter.com

8 MONDAYCentral Bank Thursday Night Live4:30p-9p Cheapside Parkdowntownlex.com

10 SATURDAYMayfestGratz Parkdowntownlex.com

Up & Coming

MAY

Documents

TOPS In Lexington Magazine, April 2014