Do you love horses? Wanna read the inside scoop on the racetrack from lifetime thoroughbred horse enthusiast and well-known horse photographer Joe Ganley? His new blog features personal anecdotes and thrilling descriptions of the life of an obsessive horse-racing hobbyist.
The Ganley Blog is required reading for any true horse-fan. Joe knows the track inside and out, and shares his knowledge and experience with a rich writing style.
So who is Joe Ganley? Even among the horse-obsessed, Joe stands out. A photographer for Equisport Photos, he captures the majestic creatures in the heat of the moment.
His particular talent has documented such important races as Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, and Calder Race Course. His art has graced such newspapers as the New York Times, Paulick Report, Thoroughbred Times, Bloodhorse, TVG Community, Daily Racing Form, Brisnet Horse Racing Nation, Racing Post (UK), Irish Post (IE), Dubai News, Horse Canada, and other thoroughbred-themed features.
The blog is just beginning, but already Joe’s written a thriller! The first entry, called “My Thoroughbred Introduction,” anecdotally relates the formation of a horse fanatic. From the absolute start — a child attempting to jockey a small cocker spaniel — he weaves the fabric of his equine life.
Joe learned to ride horses as a kid, but would never expect it would play such a big part in his life. After a long gap, he was to return to horse racing in 2009. He lucked out with some passes to the paddock and the press box. As Rachel Alexander pulled in to win, he squatted up close at the 1/16th pole.
As any enthusiast describing a rare moment in their field, the article seems written with eyes wide open and excitement in his breath, and he assuredly has many more rich descriptions of hobby-specific marvels to embellish the story. For our sake, and to keep it reasonably short, he keeps it to one experience closest to his heart: A spiritual experience Joe had with a thoroughbred that made his obsession inevitable. Any horse-lover knows the quasi-religious feeling of the race and the powerful equine air of the beasts.
True fans know the aura of the track. Why not read the new “In the Home Stretch” Blog and tell us what you think? How did you come to love horses?
