THERE’S more than 13,000 kilometres separating San Diego and Warrnambool, but that’s how far John and Allegra Ernst travelled to attend their first TAB May Racing Carnival.
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The Californian racehorse breeders and owners arrived in the south-west on Wednesday, excited to attend their first carnival, with fellow racing enthusiasts Geoff and Denise Daffy.
The Ernsts met the Daffys and their sons John and Kevin, from Camperdown, in 2012 at the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky.
“We have kept in contact since we met them,” Mrs Ernst said.
“Horse racing people share the same enthusiasm all around the world.
“We have heard all about the May races. It is absolutely fantastic. It is a beautiful event.”
Mr and Mrs Ernst said apart from a few differences, flat racing in the United States was similar to Australia, but jumps racing only occurred on the US east coast.
“We had never seen jumps racing,” Mrs Ernst said.
“I was so glad they all made it (in the Grand Annual Steeplechase). It is amazing the endurance the horses have.”
The Ernsts have a passion for everything racing and own 21 horses.
Their horses are under the guidance of Dan Hendrix, who trains from a wheelchair, and others are kept at Ballena Vista Farm, in Ramona, California.
“We have a two-year-old colt called Incredible Luck,” Mrs Ernst said.
“He’s going to win the Kentucky Derby.”
The couple live in Rancho Sante Fe, in the county of San Diego, and the Del Mar racetrack is five minutes from their home.
“They say Del Mar is where the surf meets the turf, as it’s along the ocean,” Mr Ernst said.
The Ernsts will fly home on May 15.
