Our hearts go out to everyone in the southeast dealing with the recent incessant rain and terrible flooding. We’re grateful that, although we’ve had some downpours here over the past several days, it hasn’t been too terrible.

With luck, the storms will move through in time for the ground to dry out before next week’s driving event.

Speaking of rain … back in early August, a huge storm system blew through Kentucky and dumped nearly half a foot of rain on parts of Louisville, in just a few hours. We here in Lexington were fortunate that we didn’t get quite that much rain, but we still got quite a lot. Most of the KY Horse Park’s roads and pathways turned into rivers, any low-lying grassy areas or paddocks turned into lakes, and the floor of the covered arena was completely flooded. All of this took place just as hundreds of kids, parents, and ponies had arrived at the park for this year’s Pony Finals.

Here we have a photo, courtesy of Mick Costello, of what should be the grassy area next to the “head of the lake” … the cross-country / marathon water complex. This was that same day in early August.

this is normally just a low-lying area on the cross-country / marathon course; the "head of the lake" is (or should be) to the far left. Do you see the jump in the middle of the lake?

this is normally just a low-lying area on the cross-country / marathon course; the "head of the lake" is (or should be) to the far left. Do you see the jump in the middle of the lake?