Did you watch the Derby?
I forget every year. Isn't that dumb? I was/am a horse nut AND I used to live in Louisville. How hard is it to remember "the first Saturday in May?"
Ryan had to go into work today, but reminded me about the Derby via instant messenger. The boys and I watched, and I explained what was going to happen. It's kind of fun to feel like an expert, even when it's only because they're preschoolers.
I had them watch the post parade carefully and choose a horse. Jared chose #3, Musket Man. Zach chose #3, Mr. Hot Stuff, which was also Ryan's choice just because of the name. I either choose by name alone or by prettiness in the post parade. I scanned the names and chose Freisan Fire before I saw any of them. I mean, come on, most of the names were stupid! I fall for alliteration every time.
I was very interested to learn that on muddy tracks (like today's), the jockeys wear stacks of goggles, one on top of the other. When they can't see anymore, they pull off the top layer. They said that today, they'd be wearing about 8 pair of goggles.
In the past, I have been quite good at picking the winners. My mom took me to Churchill Downs once. It was great. Over and over again I picked the winners. My mom, MY MOM, actually asked me if I wanted to go place a bet, because I was on fire! And I don't mean I picked the winners, I mean I picked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for most of the races. I would have made a whole lot of money!
But this time, hardly anyone chose Mine the Bird! I'm no betting expert, but he was 50 to 1, which I think means that a $10 bet on him would return $500.
And he didn't just win, he WON. He crossed the wire ahead by nearly 7 (body) lengths, even though he was dead last for much of the race.
They're saying he's a real Triple Crown contender because he's never run a race like he did today, by coming from behind. So he's shown that he's very versatile. I've been hoping I'd see a Triple Crown winner in my lifetime, ever since I found out what the Triple Crown was!
Of course, that means I'll have to remember to watch the Preakness and the Belmont. And I'm worse at remembering those than I am at remembering the Derby!
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3 comments:
Not to be nit-picky... but the jocky won TWO years ago (2007) on Street Sense... :) Thought you'd like to know! (And the only reason I know that is because I just barely read an article)
I love to cheer for the underdogs. I haven't seen the Derby, but I have it recorded because I knew I would forget (and I did...like I do almost every year. Seriously, what is wrong with us?!) It would be awesome to see a Triple Crown!
I even wore a hat while I watched it today. Half of the Derby is the hats.
I was pulling more for General Quarters than the other ones. I kind of wanted Freisan Fire to do well too, for his owners sake.
I thought that goggle thing was crazy!
I'd like to see a Triple Crown too. The next race is in two weeks.
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