The following report was submitted by Bill Bradford '63:

Kentucky Horse Park After Action Report – 19 thru 24 April 27, 2008

Man of War Group Photo

Ten coaches arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.  USNA attendees consisted of co-firsties/firstettes Bill & Dee Bradford ’63 and Anson & Janet Burlingame ’65 along with Frank & Marion Conery ’58, Bill & Kathie Corroum ’59, Bart & Jann Dalla Mura ’54, Jack & Mary Glaeser ’59, Jim & Marie Roberts ’59, Glen Shindler ’64, Gary & Margo Snyder ’55, and Mike & Mary Lou Stevens ’59.   Floyd Mudd (Anson’s best since childhood) and his wife, Gloria, bunked in Anson’s coach.  (Anson grew up in Georgetown, KY about 7 miles from our come around site.)

Floyd, owner of a local butcher shop, personally cooked, catered, and donated our Firstie dinner of pork, pulled pork, brisket, chicken, and home made pickled beet, and pickles on Saturday.  The weather was a bit cool and damp so we enjoyed Floyd’s hospitality as we moved between the camp fire, food table, and shelter from the light rain.

Shelter From Inclement Weather

We were off to the races at Keeneland Racetrack on Sunday.  A LOT of horse trading occurs, but they have limited racing occurring only in April and October. Anson’s friend, Bill Hays, made his box seat (first row, “50 yard line”) available to our chapter.  As our 20+ attendees could not all fit in the box at the same time, we rotated from our grandstand seats to the box seat so all had a chance to view races from that vantage point. 

Keeneland Box Seat

This race day was also military appreciation day, and 1000 soldiers from Ft. Knox were invited and provided seats in the grandstand.  The response to the soldiers entering was impressive!  We watched a young woman and her 6+/-1 daughter clap CONTINUOUSLY as the soldiers passed by them.  A reporter from the Lexington Herald Leader spotted a “Firstie Hat” which led to his interviewing Anson and Jim Roberts as members of the USNAAA RV Chapter!

Anson gathered us up on Monday for a walking tour of his historic Georgetown.  Not only did we see the town and his home where he grew up, we were invited into his grandmother’s former home for an impromptu tour by the present owner.

Tuesday consisted a tour of the Kentucky Horse Park starting with a brief horse drawn tour followed by “The Hall of Champions” presentation featuring live walks of retired race horses, “Parade of Breeds” showing various breeds with riders dressed in appropriate ethnic attire, guided tour of the International Museum of the Horse (associated with the Smithsonian), and a personal visit with Shelly Hunter, artist and daughter of a Corsair pilot who flew off the Cape Esperance.

The business meeting was held after the Horse Park tour, followed by a covered dish dinner featuring barbeque pork loin cooked by Bill and Kathie Corroum.

Wednesday was an open day with some folks visiting the Toyota manufacturing plant and others visiting historic Harrodsburg, KY, the oldest permanent settlement west of the Alleghney’s.  Your fearless firstie & firstette, Bill & Dee, repositioned and made a 9 ½ hour trip to Annapolis in order to attend his 45th reunion starting the next day.

Thursday was departure day with a “Have a very safe and happy voyage!” wish.