I'm going to do something a bit different from the norm with this blog. Since I'm now handling stud news for the magazine, I attended stallion open houses at Darley, WinStar, Castleton Lyons, and Gainesway in November and January to see some of these guys in person that I write about each week.
While I was there, I took a ton of pictures that I would love to share with you all.
If you follow me on Twitter (@BH_EMarr), you may have already seen some of these photos, but if not, enjoy!
Do you have a favorite stallion? Who is it and why? I have always loved Afleet Alex. He was so exciting to watch as a racehorse and has the kindest-looking eyes. It was neat to see him in person...his groom even let me give him a pat. Gainesway officials told me that more than 4,000 fans came to greet Afleet Alex when he first arrived at the farm!
![](chrome-extension://hehijbfgiekmjfkfjpbkbammjbdenadd/iecontainer.html#url=http%3A%2F%2Fcs.bloodhorse.com%2Fblogs%2Fbeyond-the-blinkers%2FImages%2Fopen%2520houses%2FopenhouseAfleetAlexGaineswayIMG_2467.jpg)
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseAfleetAlexGaineswayIMG_2467.jpg)
Afleet Alex at Gainesway
I tried to get as many photos as I could, but I wasn't able to get shots of all the stallions at each farm. Also, I apologize the quality isn't the best as they are all iPhone photos. Someday I will get a real camera. Until then, Instagram it is!
Darley
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDarleyIMG_2220.jpg)
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDarleyIMG_2220.jpg)
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseAnimalKingdomDarleyIMG_2437.jpg)
Animal Kingdom, fresh back from down under at Arrowfield Stud
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDarleyStreetSenseIMG_2212.jpg)
KY Derby winner Street Sense
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDarleyStreetSenseIMG_2214.jpg)
Street Sense, different angle
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseMedagliadOroDarleyIMG_2447.jpg)
Medaglia d'Oro, also recently back from Australia
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDarleyAnyGivenSaturdayIMG_2202.jpg)
Any Given Saturday
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDarleyElusiveQualityIMG_2208.jpg)
Elusive Quality
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDarleyMidshipmanIMG_2206.jpg)
Midshipman
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDenmanDarleyIMG_2441.jpg)
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDenmanDarleyIMG_2441.jpg)
Denman
Pensioners:
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDarleyHolyBullIMG_2218.jpg)
Holy Bull--doesn't he look ghostly? He was very sweet and interested in visitors!
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseDarleyQuietAmericanIMG_2216.jpg)
Quiet American is still looking good at 28!
WinStar
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseWinStarIMG_2222.jpg)
WinStar's beautiful main office
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseTiznowWinStarIMG_2258.jpg)
Tiznow--star of the barn
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseWinStarPaynterIMG_2226.jpg)
Paynter--definitely a fan favorite. How could you not love him?
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseWinStarBodemeisterIMG_2237.jpg)
Bodemeister
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseWinStarColonelJohnIMG_2232.jpg)
Colonel John
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseBellamyRoadWinStarIMG_2256.jpg)
Bellamy Road
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseWinStarDistortedHumorIMG_2244.jpg)
Distorted Humor
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseKodiakKowboyWinstarIMG_2254.jpg)
Kodiak Kowboy
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseWinStarPioneeroftheNileIMG_2229.jpg)
Pioneerof the Nile
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseWinStarSpeightstownIMG_2247.jpg)
Speightstown
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseWinStarSuperSaverIMG_2249.jpg)
KY Derby winner Super Saver
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseWinStarTakeChargeIndyIMG_2239.jpg)
Take Charge Indy
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseUSRangerWinStarIMG_2252.jpg)
US Ranger
Gainesway
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseGaineswayIMG_2451.jpg)
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseGaineswayIMG_2451.jpg)
Gainesway barns--aren't they cool-looking?
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseTapitGaineswayIMG_2459.jpg)
Tapit--he clearly knows he's a rockstar.
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseTapitIMG_2461.jpg)
Tapit again--ready for his date with HOY Havre de Grace!
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseToHonorAndServeGaineswayIMG_2469.jpg)
To Honor and Serve
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseHatTrickGaineswayIMG_2472.jpg)
Hat Trick
Castleton Lyons
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseGioPonti3IMG_2481.jpg)
Gio Ponti--very personable guy
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseGioPontiIMG_2478.jpg)
Another Gio Ponti angle
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseGioPonti2IMG_2484.jpg)
Gio Ponti's Eclipse Awards for champion grass horse--2009-2011
![](http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/Images/open%20houses/openhouseJustinPhillipsIMG_2474.jpg)
Justin Phillip