"Start spreading the news..."

Now that it's officially Belmont week, and plans have been confirmed, I can now announce I've been credentialed for my first race... the Belmont Stakes.

How in the heck did I get to this point? It's all thanks to Rachel Alexandra and Calvin Borel... that Oaks picture has single-handedly made my hobby into a paying gig.

Not only will I have credentials to one of the most prestigious races in America, I will have my first press pass to the days prior to the third leg of the Triple Crown, be able to walk the backstretch, see the horses getting their baths and walking the shedrows, and see the workouts the morning of... needless to say, my current address is Cloud Nine.

This is going to be a mind-blowing experience. To have a dream come true like this, and it's all going to happen in New York, the place where "If I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere," to quote Frankie.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning and will arrive in New York late in the night, so I will be able to catch all of the events of Thursday morning at the track. I'm going out of my mind with excitement, but I'm also nervous... I feel like I have a lot of expectations riding on me. The boss said horsephotos.com was given 10 credentials, and he turned down five other photographers. That's a lot of pressure. I have to be on my game this week like it means life and death.

I know I'll never be able to duplicate that photo of Rachel and Calvin, but I will try my hardest now that I have free rein to go wherever I please. I can also snag another 300mm if I want to. It'll be backbreaking work, but it's the Triple Crown, babe. It's New York.

"I'm going to be a part of it in old New York..."