A Horse-Themed Table Setting In Honor Of The 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

Welcome to the 817th Tablescape Thursday! When Elena emailed to share a special table she created for an upcoming event, I could not wait to share it with you. It’s a “theme” that I’ve never featured before for a Tablescape Thursday. Elena said, “I think you know we live in Saratoga Springs, NY home of Health, History and Horses. Health is for the baths and our famous mineral waters, History from the beginning of our country and the battle of Saratoga, the turning point of The American Revolution, and, of course, the Saratoga Race Course!”

Elena said, “On Saturday, June 8, 2024, the third race of the Triple Crown will be run at Saratoga Race Course. Usually run at Belmont, that course is undergoing a monumental makeover, so the race will be held at Saratoga for the first time. Chances are the 2025 run will also be held at Saratoga. In honor of this special event, I created a tablescape with a horse racing theme.”

“I started with Spode Woodland salad plates. This design is called, Thoroughbred, and I loved it when I first saw it.”

“The grandstand in the background reminds me of Saratoga. I purchased these on the replacements limited website. I purchased the faux leather napkin rings on eBay a while back. The nightmare was the charger plates. Only one was shown in the photos, and the seller never answered my emails. I should have known better, but they were the only ones I could find reasonably priced. They arrived previously cracked and glued, the glue ruined the front of some of them. Ugh! I am currently awaiting a refund!”

A closer view of this special Spode Woodland, Thoroughbred china…

Elena said, “I found some vintage Belmont glasses on eBay at a great price, they were well packaged and promptly shipped. I chose these as they bring out the green in the salad plates.”

I asked Elena about the beautiful, bronze horse/rider in her centerpiece. She said, “It is actually part of a lamp!  There was a really neat shop down the street from us, they had antiques and new decorative items. We had NO need for a horse lamp, however the statue was completely removable from the base/light/shade part, and we thought it was very well done, so we purchased it. The lamp part has been put away ever since!”

About the other pieces Elena chose for her centerpiece of her table, she said, “The horse head was from TJ Maxx, I think it was supposed to be a pair of bookends, but there was only one and the bugle (at the other end of the table) was from an antique shop.  Wish I had a small jockey statue or trophy to add to the collection!  We have some great prints and horseshoes, but I didn’t try them on the table. I forgot the coasters until after I took the tablescape apart!”

Elena said, “The runner is vintage upholstery fabric, also purchased on eBay.”

“I just folded it to use on the table. I was thinking about cutting some of it for napkins, but it is kind of thick to hem.”

“Of course bottles of Saratoga Water are served on a silver platter, and my Perrier Jouet champagne glasses bring out the green as well as the Belmont glasses! We are all ready to toast the winner!”

Thanks so much to Elena for sharing this delightful table! I’m on the road today, a long, long drive to visit family. I can’t wait to share what I’m up to in Ohio on this trip—promise to share that very soon!

Looking forward to all the beautiful tables linked for this week’s Tablescape Thursday! Pssst: Did you know Between Naps On The Porch is on Instagram? You’ll find me on Instagram here: Between Naps On The Porch. Like to know when a new blog post is up and available to read? Subscribe for email updates, it’s free and your email will never be shared. Subscribe for free post updates via email here: Subscribe.

Tablescape Thursday

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