Sporting Road

Jackie O Riding Style

Jacqueline Kennedy's style is the definition of timeless, all-American elegance. It features clean lines, tailored skirt suits, shift dresses, and a minimalist, sophisticated palette. Her look evolved from 1960s formal White House chic to relaxed 1970s street style. Of even more interest to me is her classic riding outfits, which featured traditional English and American equestrian gear, including tailored dark riding jackets, crisp white shirts, slim-fitting beige or light breeches, dark ties, and polished knee-high leather riding boots. She also famously wore a traditional Andalusian picador-style jacket and wide-brimmed hat at the Seville Fair in Spain. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis shared a lifelong love for horses and regularly rode with the prestigious Orange County Hunt in the Virginia Piedmont region around Middleburg. We have hunted in Virginia and Orange County Hunt is widely regarded as the best and also the most posh hunt in or around Middleburg. It is beautiful hunt country and the hunt has longstanding ties to the community. Many people say that the hunts around Middleburg are the community itself, in this pocket of the U.S., where foxhunting lives and breathes as part of the fabric of life there. During her time as First Lady, her passion for foxhunting served as a private escape from Washington politics. Jackie leased a refuge from Washington, with a 400-acre estate Glen Ora in Middleburg, Virginia, turning it into a weekend capital and equestrian haven. She rode frequently with the Orange County Hunt, one of the oldest foxhunting groups in the United States. After her lease at Glen Ora ended, she and President John F. Kennedy built their own nearby estate named Wexford in the heart of hunt country. Her trainer trailered her and the children

By Sporting Road|August 6th, 2026|Categories: Hunting|Comments Off

Hunting at Home

Colorado Game Management Unit (GMU) 51 features over-the-counter (OTC) availability primarily for 2nd and 3rd rifle season bull elk tags, while archery and 1st/4th rifle seasons require a draw. [1, 2, 3, 4] Unit 51 Overview & Access Location: Douglas, Jefferson, and Teller counties, spanning around 24,000 acres of the Pike National Forest along Rampart Range Road. Terrain: Steep canyons, dense timber, and open mountain parks ranging from lower foothills up to rocky ridge lines. Special Restrictions: Specific properties like the Sharptail Ridge SWA within Unit 51 require separate unit-specific draw permits rather than general OTC access. [1, 2, 3, 4] License Rules & Purchasing Rifle Seasons: Unlimited OTC either-sex or bull tags are generally offered for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons. Archery Changes: Note that general non-resident OTC archery options have shifted significantly under modern Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations, requiring verification of current draw vs. OTC status for bowhunters. Purchasing: Valid licenses can be acquired digitally via the CPW Online System or through authorized local license agents. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] If you'd like, let me know: Your preferred season (2nd or 3rd rifle) Your residency status (resident or nonresident) I can help verify the specific active hunt codes and license fees for your upcoming hunt. ______________________________________________________ Colorado leftover elk licenses for Unit 51 can be purchased online at CPWShop.com, by phone at 1-800-244-5613, or at in-person sales agents. Leftover and reissued limited licenses requiring four or fewer preference points go on sale starting at 9:00 a.m. MT on the designated Leftover License Day in August. [1, 2, 3, 4] Purchasing Details Cost & Availability: Varies based on residency and specific hunt code quotas remaining after primary and secondary draws.

By Sporting Road|August 4th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off

Siena Bareback Horse Race

The Palio di Siena is a historic bareback horse race held twice each summer in the central square of Siena, Italy. It features ten horses and riders representing the city's neighborhoods, competing in a frantic 90-second sprint. First, on July 2: Known as the Palio di Provenzano, honoring the Madonna of Provenzano. Second on August 16: Known as the Palio dell'Assunta, honoring the Assumption of Mary. Siena is split into 17 historic neighborhoods or contrade, but only 10 compete in each race (7 automatically and 3 chosen by lot) and the race goes through the city's main sloping medieval square. It is transformed with a heavy layer of packed dirt and clay over the cobblestones. Jockeys ride bareback for three intense laps around the square, covering a total distance that takes roughly 90 seconds. Virtually anything goes during the scramble once the starting rope drops; jockeys can use their whips and hinder competitors. For a quick look at the incredible pageantry, crowds, and fast-paced chaos of the event in the main square, try this video from Rick Steves.

By Sporting Road|July 29th, 2026|Categories: Travel, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Why Is It Called a Blazer?

Today, a blazer is one of the most versatile pieces in a wardrobe. It can be dressed up with tailored trousers or paired with jeans for a casual look. Available in everything from classic navy and charcoal to bold plaids and vibrant colors, the modern blazer has become a fashion staple. But its origins have little to do with business attire—and everything to do with competitive rowing. The blazer was born on the rivers of 19th-century England, where rowers at Oxford and Cambridge wore loose-fitting jackets to stay warm during chilly morning practices and races. Unlike today's structured versions, these early jackets resembled lightweight windbreakers designed for comfort and function. The name itself is believed to have originated with the Lady Margaret Boat Club at St. John's College, Cambridge. Club members wore striking scarlet jackets that stood out on the water, inspiring the term "blazer," a reference to their blazing red color. Bright jackets and bold stripes soon became common among rowing clubs, making it easy for spectators to identify competing teams. As the jackets became symbols of pride and membership, athletes began wearing them away from the river—much like modern varsity or letterman jackets. Before long, rugby, cricket, croquet, and football clubs adopted similar styles, and by the late 1800s the word blazer had come to describe almost any colorful sporting jacket. The style crossed the Atlantic around the turn of the 20th century, where it quickly became popular on Ivy League campuses. Students at Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and Cornell embraced loose flannel blazers as part of collegiate fashion, helping transform the garment from athletic apparel into a symbol of classic American style. More than a century later, the cut, fabrics, and colors

By Sporting Road|July 22nd, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off

Sunglasses for the Field

Ihave I have some old Ray Bans, yellow, brown, black, you name it. They never go out of style. I break or scratch them up, long before they ever go out of style. This new collaboration between Dolce & Gabbana and Ray Ban shows the new cool version for 2026. But trust me, the vintage ones are just as great as the new ones, as Corky Robinson over at C. Woodcock & Co., can attest, he even goes so far as to collect vintage eyeglass and sunglass frames and have prescription lens dropped in them for as little as $60. I haven't gone to the point of buying vintage frames, but I have many I purchased new some 40 years ago which probably now almost fit in that category. They were made cool by military pilots, Tom Cruise in the 80's both on screen and off, and even back in the days of Hemingway and the likes. I wasn't going for fashion when I first bought them, I was going for their optical qualities afield. Introduced in 1937 for U.S. military aviators, Ray-Ban's legendary G-15 and B-15 lenses were engineered to provide exceptional optical performance in the brightest conditions. Rather than simply darkening the view, these precision-crafted mineral glass lenses were designed to reduce glare, improve visual comfort, and preserve natural color perception—essential qualities for pilots navigating long hours in the cockpit. The G-15 lens, with its distinctive green tint, transmits approximately 15 percent of visible light while maintaining true-to-life colors and excellent contrast. The amber-tinted B-15 lens also allows about 15 percent light transmission but enhances depth perception and contrast, making it particularly effective in hazy or low-contrast environments. Both became hallmarks

By Sporting Road|July 17th, 2026|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off

Polo at Greeley Stampede

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2026/06/27/polo-debuts-at-greeley-stampede-in-july-4-exhibition/

By Sporting Road|July 16th, 2026|Categories: polo|Comments Off

I’ll Be Your Huckleberry

The phrase "I'll be your huckleberry," means "I am your man," "I’m the right person for the job," or "I'm up for the challenge." Dating back to the late 1800s, being someone's "huckleberry" was a term for being the perfect match or the ideal person for a specific role. The phrase was immortalized in pop culture by Val Kilmer, who played Doc Holliday in the classic western film Tombstone. Some fans and historians debate whether the line was actually a mispronunciation of "hucklebearer" (an old term for a pallbearer, meaning "I'm the one who will carry you to your grave"). However, Val Kilmer confirmed in his memoir that the script explicitly stated "huckleberry," meaning "you've met your match." The wild huckleberry is the ultimate cultural icon and unofficial fruit of Montana, highly prized for its intense, sweet-tart flavor and its refusal to be commercially cultivated. Because these berries only thrive in the wild, high-elevation mountain forests of the Pacific Northwest, harvesting them requires hand-foraging and a bit of mountain adventure. Huckleberry hunting is a deeply rooted summer tradition across the state. Locals guard their "secret patches" fiercely, but you can find them if you know what to look for: small, round berries with distinct flat bottoms that range from deep red to dark purple-black. Similar to a blueberry in flavor but much deeper, brighter, and tarter. Darker berries are sweet and juicy, while redder ones are tangier. They are notoriously resistant to cultivation because they require specific native forest soil chemistry and fungal networks to fruit. Look in low- to mid-elevation conifer forests throughout Western Montana, especially in the Flathead and Kootenai National Forests, Glacier National Park, and the Bitterroot mountains. Search in partially

By Sporting Road|July 15th, 2026|Categories: Cuisine|Comments Off

Railway through the Desert

The jewelry we choose to wear often reveals more about us than we realize. It reflects our personalities, beliefs, and the stories we carry with us. Jewelry has served as a form of personal expression for thousands of years, with archaeologists uncovering shell beads dating back approximately 135,000 years. For our earliest ancestors, these adornments were more than decoration. They were believed to possess supernatural powers, offering protection against evil spirits, ensuring safe passage into the afterlife, or bringing good fortune to the living. These objects, known as amulets, talismans, or charms, were thought to confer special protections or abilities on the wearer. Their perceived power might lie in a particular shape, material, or color. The word amulet comes from the Latin amuletum, meaning a means of defense. Every culture has its own tradition of protective objects, suggesting that the impulse to find meaning and security in the things we wear is deeply rooted in human nature. The desire to influence our fortunes, ward off danger, and make sense of the unseen world has long been intertwined with the history of jewelry. It is also part of what gives jewelry its enduring power as a form of communication. That belief persists today. Across cultures, many people continue to fear the evil eye, a malevolent force thought to bring illness, misfortune, or suffering. Traditionally, it is believed to be cast through another person's envious or hostile gaze, often without the recipient's knowledge. The idea that a look alone might carry harmful intent has endured across centuries, shaping the symbols people wear for protection and the jewelry they pass from one generation to the next. The featured photo from the Library of Congress shows Indian women

By Sporting Road|July 14th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off

When Did Dog Show Handlers Start Dressing Like They Lost a Bet?

Spend five minutes at a dog show and you'll inevitably ask yourself the same question: Why is that woman wearing a hot pink sequined blazer while sprinting behind a poodle?The answer is surprisingly practical.Back in the beginning, men wore top hats and tails, and women wore their finest gowns and attire to attend Westminster Kennel Club dog shows, and the handlers followed suit---literally. They were the playgrounds of the elite---people who had time and money in a struggling new world to continue their European traditions of showcasing the finest dogs that time and money could buy, and breed. They wore their Sunday finest from those humble beginnings into the 1940s and '50s, where dog handlers looked like they were headed to church or a board meeting. Men wore conservative suits. Women wore tasteful dresses and hats. The only thing flashy in the ring was the dog..Then somewhere along the way, handlers discovered that clothing could actually help showcase the dog. By the 1980s and '90s, business attire gave way to brightly colored jackets, bold prints, and fabrics that could survive a day of jogging, kneeling, bending, and occasionally stuffing liver treats into hidden pockets. Those electric-blue suits and lime-green skirts aren't fashion statements—they're marketing for the dog. A black Labrador pops against a bright red jacket. A white Maltese stands out against navy. Sequins catch the arena lights. Stretch fabrics let handlers move without looking like they're about to split a seam chasing an excited Golden Retriever.Even the shoes have a purpose. While spectators may wonder why no one is wearing heels, handlers know it's hard to sprint across wet grass while convincing a Saint Bernard that this is the most important lap of his

By Sporting Road|July 14th, 2026|Categories: Dog Training, Sport of Purebred Dogs|Comments Off

Running of the Bulls with Hemingway

PAMPLONA, Spain — This year’s San Fermin festival is fit for anything, including outfitters offering packages for running with the bulls and bullfighting side-trips. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s book “The Sun Also Rises,” which put Pamplona on the map. Hemingway first attended the festival in Pamplona, Spain, on July 7, 1924, accompanied by friends. He was immediately captivated by the life-and-death drama of the bullfights, the bravery of the matadors, and the energetic, hard-drinking culture of the celebration. These annual trips provided the core setting and inspiration for his breakthrough work. Today, the festival consists of eight consecutive morning bull runs, beginning on July 7. Thousands of participants pack the cobblestoned streets of Pamplona to scramble out of the way of a pack of charging bulls. The run spans roughly 875 meters (about 960 yards) through the old quarter of the city, culminating in the bullring. The run is inherently dangerous, with participants regularly suffering gorings and severe injuries.

By Sporting Road|July 8th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off

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