Kentucky Derby's tomorrow!

[Ignacio Upton]

I don't pay much attention to horse racing during the rest of the year, but during the Derby, as well as the Preakness and Belmont, I get pretty excited. I would like to see a Triple Crown winner this year, but after seeing six disappointing near-hits in the last nine years (Silver Charm in '97, Real Quiet in '98, Charismatic in '99, War Emblem in '02, Funny Cide in '03, and Smarty Jones in '04), I won't get my hopes up. Anyhow, here is a list of this year's field from their website:

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2006/derby_coverage/derby_entrants/


Also, what is Derby Day without the hat parades:





And of course, the mint juleps:

[u4ic]

1. Yippers!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Though I do tire of hearing we need a TC winner...every year it gets said.

If it happens, great, but if it doesn't, no more 2004 Belmonts, booing and the winning jock apologizing? :eyes:

[Ignacio Upton]

2. Yeah, that's bad sportsmanship

Nevertheless, 28 years without one is a long time...the longest drought in the history of the series (the previous record was the time from 1948-1793, when Secretariat broke the losing streak.)

[u4ic]

7. In comparison, last English TC winner was Nijinsky

1970. Before than, it was 1935. (Bahram, I think) But theirs is a totally different ball game, spread out over the summer, and 1 - 1 3/4 miles. That's a very rare horse with the speed to win at a mile, and the stamina to get 14 f. (not saying the US TC is easier, just different)

There were a couple of TC winners before it was even coined.

Truly, however...if there is a TC winner, they'll be retired right after the Belmont, maybe Travers if they make it that far...or at most the end of their 3 yr old season. The stakes are too high...insurance, the breeding industry, etc. No more Slews or Affirmeds who go on to race at 4. (I recall Penny Tweedy saying she would have loved Secretariat to race at 4, but since the syndicate owned him, they called the shots)

It's a much different world than 1978, and I'm not so sure it would be the great thing it's made out to be. A lot of (media) outcry over premature retirement; the breeding industry would be thrilled, however. I'm not sure that would have the desired effect of bringing (& keeping) more people to racing.

[yellowdogintexas]

3. I HAVE to watch the Derby..so I can sniffle and cry when they

play "My Old Kentucky Home"

There is something about hearing your own state song sung by 250000 people on national television that strikes a very sentimental chord.

I have watched it in airports, department stores, video stores, and at home of course. One day I will actually see it in person, just once.

My grandfather went every year. When I was a kid I used to watch it just in case the camera showed his box!

[Beaverhausen]

4. Are there any sentimental favorites?

[Justpat]

5. Flashy Bull because my friend and former employee

gallops him.

Showing Up because Barclay Tagg is a friend.

[Ignacio Upton]

6. My hope is that it's any of the three horses trained by Bob Baffert

If he wins this, then he will become only the fourth trainer in history to win four Kentucky Derbys. Also, he's been denied winning the Triple Crown not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES! He had three horses that won the first two legs of it only to lose during the Belmont.

FYI, Baffert's horses are Point Determined, Bob & John, and Sinister Minister.

[deadparrot]

8. My parents will, doubtless, break out the Fogelberg:

Born in the valley and raised in the trees
Of western Kentucky on wobbly knees
With mamma beside you to help you along
You'll soon be a-growin' up strong.


All the long, lazy mornings in pastures of
green, the sun on your withers, the wind in
your mane, could never prepare you for what
lies ahead. The run for the roses so red.


Chorus:
And it's run for the roses as fast as you can.
Your fate is delivered. Your moment's at hand.
It's the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of
chance. And it's high time you joined in the dance.
It's high time you joined in the dance.


From sire to sire, it's born in the blood. The
fire of a mare and the strength of a stud. It's
breeding and it's training and it's something un-
known that drives you and carries you home.
(Chorus)

[riderinthestorm]

9. My friend, a Derby track vet swears by Brother Derek

Go nuts.

[Ignacio Upton]

10. We'll see

the favorite loses more than he wins. Also, a 20 horse field will affect the dynamics. It was responsible for giving us Giacomo last year...which probably cost us a good chance of getting a Triple Crown winner, since he was a pretty weak horse who won because the stronger one canceled each other out. I think that they should narrow the field to 15. Had we had a smaller field in last year's Derby, we would be talking about Triple Crown winner Afleet Alex (who won the Preakness and Belmont, but had trouble coming up in the Kentucky Derby.)

[RevolutionaryActs]

11. I hope they turn that on at work tomorrow. I love horse racing.

:bounce:

[u4ic]

12. Sentimentally, I'm hoping for Cause to Believe

I don't think he'll get the distance, but he's from a great Canadian female family (the same as Northern Afleet, who sired Afleet Alex last year...his granddam is the same as CTB's great granddam).

I grew up watching that family race in Canada...the above mentioned granddam's (Stellarette) half sister, Kamar, was my favourite filly when I was growing up. She won the Canadian Oaks (interestingly, it would have been a matchup between her and Glorious Song - Glorious Song ended up injured and on the shelf for most of the year. The next year, she (GS)got within 2 lengths of Spectacular Bid as runner up in? The Woodward? Marlboro Cup? can't remember...but a major handicap event)

I'm going to hold off until I see them on the track. Someone just may wake up on the right side of the stall tomorrow. :-)

[borlis]

13. Surprised D Wayne Lucas has no horse this year

I always remember him having multiple entries like Baffert has this year. I love horse racing. My personal favorites were Secretariat and Seattle Slew. I still get goose bumps watching highlights of Secretariat's Belmont win.

[Ignacio Upton]

14. Yeah, Baffert and Lukas are the titans of horseracing

Interestingly it was ten years ago at the '96 Kentucky Derby, that Lukas' horse, Grindstone, edged out Baffert's, Cavonnier in a photo-finish. That was actually the first Derby I ever watched. It was also Baffert's very first, in that he had a horse in it. For the next two years, he came close to winning the Triple Crown with Silver Charm in 1997, and Real Quiet in 1998. Lukas almost won in 1999 with Charismatic (who suffered an injury at the final turn and was retired as a result. His jockey, Chris Antley, died a year and a half later of an apparent drug overdose, which is especially sad since his wife gave birth to their child a month later, and because it was thought that he overcame his drug problem from past.
http://horseracing.about.com/od/jockeys/l/aa120300a.htm

[Ignacio Upton]

15. Derby day kick!!!!!

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: