Derby '13

It's occurred to me that since joining this august group, I've failed to offer the opportunity to comment on our signature event here.
Although I'm a native Kentuckian and have been living in Louisville since 1981, I'm not a huge handicapper or serious horse racing fan. I have spent my fair share of time around the sport, so it seems fitting that I put this out there in case anyone's interested.
The post position draw was today. The morning line favorite is Orb, breaking from the 16 gate. Don't know much about rider Joel Rosario, but HOF trainer Shug McGaughey, a Lexington native, is long overdue to win the Derby. He's been training thoroughbreds since '79, and has had great success otherwise, just no Derby.
Rick Pitino has a piece of Goldencents, who will get some play at 5-1. Probably not a favorite, although you could go with a guy on a roll. That's why they call it GAMBLING, right?
Verrazano will break from the 14 hole, and, althought lightly raced, is 4 for 4 this season, and has great connections, a great trainer who's due for another Derby win, Todd Pletcher, and proven rider in John Velazquez, who won 2 years ago on Animal Kingdom.
And in this era, you NEVER count out Calvin Borel. He's also on the Pletcher trained Revolutionary.
Finally, if you're feeling really lucky, Rosie Napravnik is on Mylute, a long shot, but proabably the best chance yet for a female jockey to win.

 

Thanks for the post. I'm not even a gambler, but I love horse racing for the spectacle. Wish they still had the track near me open (Bay Meadows).

Mint Juleps all around!!!

 

The event itself is quite fascinating. The crowd, the fashion, the whole race card that day leading up to the race is pretty cool.
The sport desperately needs another Triple Crown winner. Affirmed in '78 was the last.
Plus, I think 20 horses is too many. 3 year old colts are still babies in many ways, and what you end up with is a stampede at the beginning, not a horse race.
And I'm biased, but I think our network, NBC, does a fantastic job of producing and airing the race. It's a logistical nightmare, but they tackle it with gusto, and it shows. I'm not even gonna talk about the weather challenges. They absolutely ace it every year, and I'm glad we have it.
It's a major sporting event, for sure, it's our day in the spotlight every year, and Louisville takes great pride in that.
So tune in. Post time this year is 6:24 p.m., Eastern. It literally takes exactly 2 minutes for the winner to go "a mile and a kwatta," so it won't be a big chunk out of your first Saturday in May.

"Oh the sun shines bright........"

 

"On my old Kentucky home.."

I graduated from UofL, and starting with Thunder over Louisville, the 2 weeks leading up to the Derby are amazing. I haven't been able to get back for one since, but I aim to fix that soon. You're right Jump, the event is fascinating, and all the tradition surrounding it is awesome. I make a point to watch the Triple Crown races every single year, even though I don't follow horse racing at all otherwise It really is "the most exciting 2 minutes in sports."

I wasn't even alive for the last Triple Crown winner, I'm desperate to see one in my lifetime!

 

It's gonna be sloppy. Find a mudder. The first of 13 races is about to go off.

HAPPY DERBY EVERYBODY!

COME ON YOU WHITES!

 

Nice job by Joel Rosario to navigate the crowd and the muck to guide a deserving favorite, Orb, to victory in the 139th Run For The Roses. Don't think his performance will scare off any contenders for the Preakness Stakes two weeks hence in Baltimore.
The biggest thing for me today at Churchill, however, was not the Derby. It was the big run by reigning Horse Of The Year Wise Dan to win the race prior to the Derby, the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic. He didn't just win that race, he owned it. You got the feeling that the outcome was never in doubt, and that if another horse had challenged him down the stretch, he would have just found yet another gear and dusted them. I'm a fan.
Back to Orb. Is he a potential Triple Crown winner? Possibly, but if he wins at Pimlico, I got the feeling today that someone would have caught him in the extra 1/4 of a mile of the 1 and 1/2 mile Belmont.

We'll see.