A Run for the Triple Crown

I love going to horse races. I loved spending Saturdays at River Downs, where my favorite place to be was always at the finish line. To hear and see and feel magnificent thoroughbreds thunder past me is unforgettable. I never cared who won, it was the races themselves that were exciting!

The third race of the Triple Crown will be held this weekend. Horse racing's Triple Crown consists of three iconic races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. In one hundred years, there have only been twelve horses able to win all three. I was happily glued to the TV for the last four winners! (Secretariat is still my favorite. . .)

The inspiration for this week's tablescape was a set of carved wooden horses Greg gave me last year.
Four of them adorn the corners of white-washed wood placemats, chosen to evoke stables.

Look closely - you might realize these placemats are made of craft paper! Green luncheon plates, that were first seen here, remind me of the turf found at some race courses.

Napkins are tied with leather cording, square-edged like the leather strapping used in bridles.

Cut crystal glassware is a nod to the "official drinks" associated with each of the races.

Since I do not have three similarly sized vases for the centerpiece, I used cut crystal iced tea glasses, each holding silk flowers of a single type. They were placed on a silverplate tray, because, after all, horse racing is the sport of kings! (And the winning trophies are made of silver!)

The tradition at the Triple Crown races is to place a blanket made of flowers on the winning horse. Each of the vases holds the flower of one of the races. Red roses for the Kentucky Derby,

black-eyed Susans for the Preakness,

and white carnations for the Belmont Stakes.

 

I hope you enjoy the excitement of the Triple Crown!

Thank you for stopping by!

 

 

Resources   

Plates | Bordallo Pinheiro
Iced tea glasses | Godinger 'Palm'
Napkins | Sur la Table
Craft supplies | Michael's