Kentucky Derby

The first Saturday in May is awaited with eager anticipation by all racing fans. Is it a white sale down at the tack shop? No! The first day of summer? No! It’s the oldest continually-held sporting event in the United States. The Kentucky Derby.

If visions of glossy-backed thoroughbreds, handsome ladies in elegant hats, chilled silver cups, fragrant mint juleps and a dazzling display of jockeys in bright silks, all framed against the rolling blue-grassed fields of Louisville cause you to shiver with excitement, read on.

Did you know?

• The purse is $2 million dollars; the distance, 1-1/4 miles; the limit of horses, 20; and the maximum age, three-year-olds.

• The state horse of Kentucky is the thoroughbred. At one time in the state’s history, there were more thoroughbred horses on the census than people.

• Churchill Downs Racetrack holds the largest equine museum in the world, The Kentucky Derby Museum.

• "Churchill’s downs" was originally an insult lodged at Lutie Clark (grandson of General Clark of Lewis and Clark fame), a hot-tempered descendant of the Churchills who, with his help, built the facility. The press began using it in 1883 and it became the track’s trademarked name.

• Since the early 1900’s, females have made their mark in the Run for the Roses, from women jockeys braving it all, to female trainers and owners. 38 fillies have raced, including the memorable Winning Colors, the gray who won in 1988 (Genuine Risk and Regret also beat the boys to the wire in 1980 and 1915, respectively).

• Stephen Foster did not compose My Old Kentucky Home for the Derby, but it is believed to have been played during the post-parade since the 1920’s. It will be played this year (as it has since 1936) by the University of Louisville Marching Band.

• 554 deep red roses make up the winning horse’s blanket, or garland. The roses have historical significance and are deeply cherished by race fans and participants alike.

• The word "derby" comes from the Earl of Derby who won a coin toss to name a race at Epsom Downs (he also co-founded that racecourse). The Kentucky Derby is styled after the Epsom Derby.

• Still holding the record for the fastest Kentucky Derby is Secretariat, who completed the race in 1 minute, 59 and 2/5 seconds, the only horse ever to hit the wire in under two minutes.

Jockey Russell Baze has an interesting interactive jockey’s view of a horse race.

Also visit the Derby Cam at Churchill Downs’ paddock. You can get the morning line the day of the race there as well.

I haven't completed my picks yet for the 134rd Run for the Roses, but I'll be watching, May 3th, for this, the greatest of American horse races.