Hay bales and a Derby winner

It's July (2015), summer time in central Kentucky and the fields on horse farms throughout the area are dotted with big, round hay bales as far as the eyes can see.

I like to call them God's marbles because, from the big (God's) perspective from the sky, the hay bales probably look like colorful marbles dotting the fields, ready to be flicked around in a game for fun.

On a recent drive around the back roads Woodford County with a friend recently, we passed by Nuckols Farm in Midway, Ky., home of 2001 Kentucky Derby champions, Monarchos, and found the farm's fields filled with round hay bales.

It was a nice evening as the sun was beginning to set. Still, there was plenty of light left to take some photos – some of Monarchos, some of the hay bales. Here are just a few, which I hope you will enjoy.

It's July, summer time, and the horse farms around central Kentucky are dotted with big, round hay bales, or God's marbles as I like to call them. The following three photos show hay bales at Nuckols Farm in Midway, home to 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, Monarchos (Photo by Rick Capone/KentuckyHorsePhotos.com)

No trip to Nuckols Farm would be complete without looking in on Monarchos, who calls the farm home. (Photo by Rick Capone/KentuckyHorsePhotos.com)