Fru-Gal Column April 7

One of my favorite quotes is, “And God took a handful of Southerly Wind, blew His breath upon it, and created the horse”. Everyone can enjoy the beautiful horse county in Kentucky without spending much money. Start with visiting historical Keeneland Racetrack celebrating their 75th Anniversary. Like Keeneland on their facebook page and print out a coupon for free admission on Wednesdays and Thursdays of the 2011 April meet. Wednesday’s you can enjoy lunch frugally with 75 cents hot dogs. Mornings are a busy but glorious time at the track. Watch the horses train on the track for their next big race from 6am to 10am. Get breakfast at the track kitchen surrounded by trainers and owners or bring the kids on Saturday for Breakfast with the Works. During Breakfast with the Works there are free children’s activities, including having photos made in pint sized jockey silks. A live demonstration with the horses takes place at 8:45 in the Paddock. If you ever wondered what it is like to be a jockey or how they get chosen to ride certain horses join a member of Keeneland’s jockey group and TVG analyst also a former jockey Donna Brothers for an informal question and answer session live in the Paddock, Saturdays starting at 12:05pm. If you want help picking which horse to bet, on Saturdays at 11:30am, there will be a free trackside handicapping seminar conducted by Tom Law, managing editor of the Thoroughbred Times. Don’t forget to stop in the Keeneland’s historical library open Monday thru Friday. Help support The United Way of the Bluegrass by purchasing advance ticket package for $5 that include general admission, a reserved seat and lunch ($15 value) on Wednesday, April 27th go to their website for more information http://www.uwbg.org/ . Continue your frugal equine journey by scheduling a tour at one of these magnificent horse farms. Three Chimneys Farm in Versailles offer free tours of their stallion complex several days a week by appointment only. Send an email to farm_tours@threechimneys.com to schedule. Visit Secretariat’s burial place at Claiborne Farm in Paris and observe many newborn colts and fillies galloping around. To organize a free tour starting at 11am seven days a week call (859) 987-2330 or email phone@clairbornefarm.com . Ashford Stud offers a thirty minute tour through three barns to see the studs and talk about their racing and breeding history. There is no charge and they do those tours, Monday through Friday at 3:00 you just have to make an appointment by calling (859) 873-7088. Remember the tours are free but it is a courtesy to tip the tour guide. End your day or start the next one with a beautiful scenic drive throughout bluegrass country by following the official Bluegrass Driving Tour, start outside Keeneland Racetrack and follow the signs while enjoying the view of Kentucky’s most beautiful horse farms and pass the Kentucky Horse Park. Remember to get your Kentucky Equine Education Program membership which entitles you to free admission to any of Kentucky’s Pari-mutuel Race Tracks all year long along with buy one get one free admission t the Kentucky Horse Park. www.horseswork.com This is an unbelievable deal available all year long (while supplies last). Buy five boxes of Kelloggs cereal and receive a $10 Mastercard gas card with mail-in-rebate. This week at Walgreen’s get Kellogg’s cereals for $1.87 a box making this deal a moneymaker. http://www2.kelloggs.com/AARP/rewards/FIMSingle.pdf Great Easter Basket stuffers from Kmart. Right now through April 9th, when you buy Gator Golf, Elefun or Play-Doh Smashed Potatoes game for $14.99, you can get a Chutes & Ladders or Candy Land for only $2. Use coupons from Playsaver.com and receive an extra $5 off order making the final price for two games just $11.99. Get a free autographed glossy photo of your favorite Disney Character. Just send your request to: Walt Disney Company Attn: Fan Mail Department 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521 Don’t forget to include your shipping information and which character’s photo you would like. Walgreens is offering 7 days of photo deals. I already received a free 8x10 enlargement on Sunday. See what the deal is today. Remember have the product shipped to store so you don’t even pay for shipping. http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/storepage/storePageId=AFF1 Snapfish is celebrating their eleventh birthday with a photo deal every day until April 11. www.snapfish.com Want to get a free pair of eyeglasses on April 7 starting at noon use promotional code FREEAPR6 when checking out. I did this for my son and received a beautiful pair of glasses. You do need to pay shipping and handling which cost me around $16. Have your prescription ready for Thursday. http://www.facebook.com/coastalcontacts#!/CoastalContacts.com?sk=app_159563267433134 Kids eat FREE at International House of Pancakes every day between 4 and 10pm (one free kids meal with the purchase of each adult entrée) during the month of April. No coupon is necessary, and only available at participating IHOP locations. Call your local IHOP to check before you head out. Bring the kids to Jacobson Park, for Kite Fest on April 9 from noon to 4pm. There will be free activities like face painting, kite making, giant bubbles and special entertainment. For more information call 288-2927. http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=243 On April 10, the YMCA of Central Kentucky is encouraging all kids and parents to celebrate Healthy Kids Day. The free event will take place at the University of Kentucky’s Nutter Field House from 2pm to 5pm and feature activities such as inflatables, relay races, hula hoops, games and more. Just pre-register at the YMCA website http://www.ymcaofcentralky.org/news/ Celebrate The Best of the Bluegrass on April 9 starting at 6pm with music at Cheapside Park from Belle Brezing. There are events going on all night long go to www.bestofthebluegrass for more information. Like Rite Aid on their facebook page and they will donate $1 to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement. http://www.facebook.com/riteaid Disney Store invites you to Minnie’s Masquerade party on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 for two sessions. Go dressed in your favorite costume and see an exclusive viewing of Minnie’s Masquerade before it airs on Disney Junior. Make your own royal crown and take part in a fun costume parade where everyone wins a prize. Call your local store for more information. www.disneystore.com Now through April 11 rent two movies from Redbox get one more free. http://www.redbox.com/ Do you have an idea for a new product, service or an invention? If so you can participate in the 2011 “Buck$ for Bright Ideas” competition. Compete for over $25,000 worth of valuable prizes. http://www.bucksforbrightideas.com/ On April 9, Walgreens will be giving away FREE Crazy Bones toys. Be sure to stop by in the morning before supplies run out. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120954497982976 EARTH DAY April 22 FREEBIES: Carnegie Center at 251 West Second Street is celebrating on Tuesday, April 19 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Families can discover the importance of being green and taking care of our extraordinary world. Meet local green organizations, create art from recycled goods, dig your own garden and more. Call (859) 254-4175 or register online at http://carnegieliteracy.org/registration-youth-and-family/ Bluegrass Pride’s offering free energy audit kits that you check out for two-week period. These kits include Laser Thermometer, Food Thermometer (for testing water temperature), Refrigerator Thermometer, Foot Candle Light Meter and Kill-A-Watt Meter. All you have to do is call PRIDE at (859) 266-1572 to reserve a kit. Join Louie Hillenmeyer at The University of Kentucky’s Arboretum at 500 Alumni Drive on April 14 at 10am to learn gardening tips and techniques for growing beautiful container gardens. Call Holly at (859) 252-8665 to register for FREE. In honor of Earth Day, April 22 Starbucks is offering customers free brewed coffee or free tea if you bring your own re-usable cup, tumbler, or mug for your drink. Target is giving away free reusable bags in stores with any purchase to the first one million guests on April 17 to celebrate Earth Day. Free Do-It-Herself Workshop weekend from April 21 to April 23 at Home Depot. All weekend women learn hands-on home-improvement skills. Learn how to lower the cost of maintaining your home by doing it yourself. Free gifts or gift with purchases for participants while supplies last. Call your local store for more information or go to website. http://www.homeimproverclub.com/workshops.aspx?Type=1