“Perfect” is the one word to describe Santa Anita Park as the venue for the Breeders’ Cup.

Situated in the City of Arcadia, in the metropolis that is Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Mountains provide a beautiful backdrop. Think Killarney only not as green.

From a photographers’ point of view, it’s perfect with the scenery and gorgeous light and for the people involved in the industry from riding out in the mornings to racing in the afternoons. Everybody and every horse has a glow about them.

I catch the Aer Lingus iron-bird from Shannon to Boston this afternoon and the gorgeous stewardess is Claire who I have to thank for looking after me. Turns out Claire is a sister of Slim O’Neill, the longtime ally to trainer John Oxx.

After a six and a half-hour trip I have a “lay over” for two hours here in Logan Airport before jumping on a Jet Blue for another six and a half hour journey to Los Angeles.

All in all, after waving goodbye to the Atlantic I say hello to the Pacific in about 21 hours.

The final leg of the journey is made easier by former jockey and Moyvane native Seanie Stack picking me up and dropping me to my digs in Pasadena just after midnight.

Seanie is out here for years now and works for Simon Callaghan and ye will remember him finishing second to Seb Sanders in the apprentice title in 1995.

Today is “tourist day” ahead of the meeting and I meet up with Chips (Michael Gannon), Fish (Mark Enright) and Davy Russell (some call him Jack) and we head off to Universal Studios for the day.

It’s a great place to enjoy and today it is jointed with families and kids as we mosey around checking out the sets for shows like Harry Potter, The Simpsons, Fast And The Furious, Super Nintendo, Tranformers, and others.

The rides are deadly craic with the Harry Potter one being the best. All set in 3D and with plenty of shocks and scares along the way as you fly over castle walls and through windows and, for two fellas that made a living out of riding horses, both Fish and Russell were a bit pashty looking coming off afterwards.

You also get to see the movie sets of famous films such as Jaws, Fast And The Furious and Psycho and the actual buildings where they were made plus you even have a real life Norman Bates stepping out of the door of his house as you drive by with a knife in his hand!

You can imagine the abuse he got from the four Paddies shouting at him where we would stick his knife, safe in the knowledge that the distance between us was getting longer as we trundled along in our carriage.

I am up and at it early and arrive to the track for 6am getting a lift from Simon Clare of Coral Bookmakers.

Every morning this week has been gradually building up to this morning with it being the busiest.

“Clocker’s Corner” at the home turn is where everybody gathers and you will bump into all the names in the game.

Trainers, Baffert, Brown, Mott, along with our own O’Brien, Harrington and McGuinness, Beckett and Gosden from the UK and more jockeys around the place then you can shake a whip at.

Moore, Dettori, Crowley, Marquand, with Irish boys Browne McMonagle, Ryan, Harnett and Foley along with the big name Yanks are here shooting the breeze. Throw in the leading owners and stud people from Europe and America and you understand why it’s an autograph hunter’s paradise.

During the morning I shoot the sunrise (always beautiful with horses and palm trees), the big name runners and the personalities.

I also make time to walk around the barns and watch the craic. It’s all very laid back but sure, with the sun baking down at about 20 degrees at 11am, why wouldn’t it be.

I call into Corkman Brendan Walsh’s barn to say hello and Brendan is in mighty form and having a great year with his horses.

This evening we head to Barney’s Beanery for a few bottles and it’s a real American bar with loads of TVs showing the baseball and American football.

There are plenty Irish and English heads here and we are joined by Weatherbys duo Russell Ferris and Nick Craven.

Everyone is heading to The Langholm Hotel for the owners and trainers party but the problem is no one has invites! Sure, something like that never stopped an Irishman!

Out of the digs for 6.40am and I share an uber with Vanessa Ryle from Attheraces and we land on track for 7am ahead of the first day’s racing.

With the first race at 11.30 I have a photographers’ meeting at 8am and then I take a walk around soaking up the sights and sounds.

The photographers are camped under the main grandstand with a short walk to the winning line and winner’s enclosure and there are about 80 of us in all.

Today is billed as “Future Stars” day with the Breeders’ Cup races all two-year-old contests and on the track, we have and Irish winner with Unquestionable for Aidan O’Brien and Big Evs scores for the Brits and trainer Mick Appleby.

Unquestionable’s win in the Juvenile Turf is Aidan’s sixth success in this race and is ridden by Ryan Moore being a late change as his intended mount River Tiber didn’t run on veterinary advice. I am finished for 7pm this evening and head to Der Wolf Bar for few bottles to help me sleep.

This morning I catch a lift with Edward Whitaker of the Racing Post and we are parked up for 6.30am ahead of the 10.10am first race time.

I love today’s card with the nine Breeders’ Cup races, my favourites being the Turf and the Classic.

All running from 11.30am to 5pm and believe me once they start you don’t feel the time going.

Whether it’s one of ours winning or an American win, it’s back to the laptop after the race presentation to bang off some images to keep your clients up to date.

In the Mile, we have Master Of The Seas and William Buick mugging Oisin Murphy and Mawj on the line for a Charlie Appleby and Godolphin success while in the Filly & Mare, that man Dettori performs the same script aboard Inspiral for trainer John and Thady Gosden to deny Warm Heart and Ryan Moore. Great pictures and great drama.

Buzzing

The place is buzzing ahead of the Turf with the clash we all want to see of Auguste Rodin, Mostahdaf and King Of Steel.

It doesn’t disappoint with Auguste Rodin and Ryan Moore winning for Ballydoyle and Coolmore in a contest that you are thrilled to say “I was there”.

He adds this success to his two Derby wins and an Irish Champion Stakes win and there is a small bit of chat afterwards that he could stay in training for a stab at the Classic next year in Del Mar. What a treat that would be to witness.

The Classic this year has been brought forward on the card to a 3.40pm start as opposed to the normal 5.30pm previously, ensuring that we have gorgeous light and is won by the grey, and favourite, White Abarrio under Irad Ortiz for trainer Richard Dutrow, with the son of Race Day wearing glue on shoes would you believe!

After the final two Breeders’ Cup races, we are in the car and Whitaker doing a job that Lewis Hamilton would be proud of has us back in the hotel for 6pm.

The US clocks went back the hour here last night and it’s a help as I am in a joe waxi for 4.30am to catch the Jet Blue 8.30am to JFK New York ahead of the Aer Lingus 6.30pm to Shannon.

My stopover time is only an hour and half and I have to switch terminals meaning you have to come back in through security!

I have kicked a wide here by not giving myself enough time and I have to thank the gorgeous head of security, Ramona, for allowing me jump the queue of about 200 people and get to the gate just as the flight is boarding, and we land in Shannon at 5.50am Monday morning.

Only problem is my suitcase hasn’t made it! Sure it goes to show, nothing is ever “perfect”!