American Pharoah Ascends to Sports Immortality

As soon as I saw that I was scheduled to be on a ball field at the time the race was won, I knew he was going to do it. One of the coaches asked me if I wanted to know and I told him yes, of course, but I told him up front I felt certain that he was going to do it. He just walked past and said, "You were right, Pharoah did it".

Great for the sport of horse racing, it's been too long. Much like it's a good day for baseball whenever Willie Mays is honored, it's a great time for horse racing when there is a Triple Crown winner at the helm.

I got a little frustrated after Big Brown failed to come through and it is unfair to compare any of these horses to the great Secretariat. We should be able to enjoy the accomplishments of each horse independently before making a snap judgement on their overall place in history.


from Bleacher Report:

American Pharoah Ascends to Sports Immortality

Three races in five weeks, run in three different states. The 1 ½-mile final jewel of the Triple Crown, a distance so daunting that most thoroughbreds don't race it. And the him-against-the-world factor, facing fresh opponents who skipped other Triple Crown races.

American Pharoah won't supplant Secretariat as the animal who's generally considered the greatest thoroughbred of all time. But by winning the Triple Crown in 2015, he stakes out new territory—as this century's first superhorse.

American Pharoah stands apart from the others in that he wasn't really bred for this Herculean task the way the other Triple Crown winners were.

The other Triple Crown winners competed in eras when horses were trained to run far more often. It's kind of like what has happened with pitchers in baseball. Four-man rotations, complete games and 300-inning seasons once were commonplace, but now hardly any starter ever throws on fewer than four days rest.

Found via Team Stream by Bleacher Report.

California Chrome shines bright in the 2014 Kentucky Derby

The 2010 Kentucky Derby field goes to the post

I Love the Kentucky Derby, wish I was there.

For the 2010 edition, I like:

Lookin at Lucky
Super Saver
Jackson Bend

even though Lookin at Lucky drew the inside post position.

KENTUCKY DERBY - 2009

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby held today. Still "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports".

It seems like the way that pre-race favorites are dropping off that it does not bode well for the chances of the Derby winner following through and winning the Triple Crown, but that's why they run the races. The contenders who dropped out can regroup and rest up and take on the Derby winner in the Preakness or the Belmont.

My pick to win the race is Dunkirk. No Benjamins were put at risk as a result of this race but if I were there, I would plunk a few on Dunkirk.

KENTUCKY DERBY TRAGEDY AND PETA

In the aftermath of the tragedy at the Kentucky Derby involving the filly Eight Belles, comes PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), to get some national media face-time and engage in some all important fund-raising.

The spokeswoman for these clowns apparently did not even know that Eight Belles was a filly, referring to her in the male gender in interviews I heard. Apparently, she also could not explain to ESPN's Mike Tirico what it was that the jockey did differently or incorrectly, which in PETA's mind, led to the tragedy.

Word of advice to these media-whoring organization's, at least send a spokesperson who has am iota of understanding of the issue you are protesting. It really hurts your organization and its credibility when they can't answer the most basic of questions or botch basic details that even a casual horse-racing fan has knowledge of. Your front-person should be able to think on their feet and speak from knowledge not included in your talking points or media packaged handouts.

Also have a bit of a sense of decency and decorum before you rush before the cameras within twenty four hours of the tragedy splashing accusations against the horse's owner and jockey, both of whom were clearly still grieving.

What was another organization going to get out in front of you in the attention/money grab game?

Or does your experience show that these stories have a short shelf life such that you feel you have to get your name out front and center or you can't rally the troops and ring the cash register as effectively 48-72 hours later as opposed to 24 hours?

Shame on PETA's behavior in this instance.

Kentucky Derby Recap

From second to last at the 1/2 mile post to blow past the field on the rail, just phenomenal view and brilliant pickup of the move by the track announcer.

Brilliant ride by the jockey of Street Sense.

Recall our picks to watch were in order:
Street Sense
Scat Daddy
Great Hunter

Of course Street Sense was bet down to the race favorite by the time the horses went to the post, so there would not have been much money in having the favorite win.
I have to admit to thinking about trying to nail the old trifecta with these three but never got around to it. But luckily I did not consult with this fellow before the race. Sounds like he's getting both his gambling and probability and statistics skills from our old friend Charles Barkley.

http://blog.sportscolumn.com/story/2007/5/8/85738/80228/oth_other/How_not_to_bet_the_Kentucky_Derby

We love betting the trifecta. For a buck or two, you can win hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a race. Hell, sometimes we'll even go crazy and go with the trifecta box. However, we also know enough about statistics to know that you can't bet every single permutation in a race and expect to come out on top.

But that's exactly what a man in Rochester, NY did. On the day of the Kentucky Derby, a man walked into an OTB and asked how much it would cost to buy every possible trifecta combination. And now we break for a quick math lesson--

If you have 20 horses in the field, the possible outcomes for the first three horses would be 20! / (20-3)! = 6,840. Likewise, a superfecta (first 4 horses) would be 116,280. And now back to your regularly scheduled programming--

The man was told the answer and came back to place the wagers. It cost him a total of $13,680 for his $2 trifectas and he wound up winning... wait for it... wait for it... $440. If you're gonna make a bet like this, you better know what you're getting yourself into. And since the payout odds are terrible on favorites, you should just eliminate those trifecta combinations. But alas, the man had more cash than math skills so now he's $13,240 poorer for his trouble.

This story would only be better if he does the exact same thing in the Preakness.

The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports

Truly one of the greatest sporting events takes place this Saturday with the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The Sport of Kings.

A generation of sports fans have missed the amazing beauty and pageantry of this event, maybe due to the proliferation of Off Track Betting and the lottery. My Dad and Grandfather used to go with my Uncle Charlie to Aqueduct racetrack in New York and I used to love reading the program and hearing the stories of the great horses they used to see up there, like the great Kelso and my favorite, the aesthetically perfect, Buckpasser.

It was fascinating to hear them discuss some of the strategies they used to decide on which horse to place their $2 bets. It's been called the "poor mans stock market" and certainly the challenge of wagering a few dollars is part of the charm, but if you appreciate the beauty and power of these great thoroughbreds, these great athletic animals, there's a lot more to love outside the allure of gambling.

The charm and pageantry of the event and the great pride that Kentuckians have in putting on this annual event is so evident when the horses are called to the gate, during the post parade, when the state song, "My Old Kentucky Home" is sung by the crowd, accompanied by the University of Louisville Band. If you don't at least get goose bumps, well, you just may not have what most human beings refer to as feelings.

The Kentucky Derby begins with the rendition of this song. I don't know if there is any sporting event that allows an entire state to display it's pride more than this one, you can feel it when this song is played.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY - MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME

My Old Kentucky Home
Words and Music by: Stephen C. Foster

The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home
'Tis summer, the people are gay;
The corn top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day;
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy, and bright,
By'n by hard times comes a-knocking at the door,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!

Chorus

Weep no more, my lady,
Oh weep no more today!
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home,
For the old Kentucky home far away.

They hunt no more for the 'possum and the coon,
On meadow, the hill and the shore,
They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by that old cabin door;
The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart,
With sorrow where all was delight;
The time has come when the people have to part,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!

Chorus

The head must bow and the back will have to bend,
Wherever the people may go;
A few more days and the trouble all will end
In the field where sugar-canes may grow;
A few more days for to tote the weary load,
No matter, 'twill never be light,
A few more days till we totter on the road,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!

Chorus



If you've not witnessed this event in the past, I recommend it highly. It is on my list of events to witness live at least once before I die, a must see event.

Below I've added videos of a couple of past races that are high on my list of all-time favorite horse races:

1973 Kentucky Derby - Secretariat beats Sham (both set Derby records, Secretariat's
record still stands today)

1973 Belmont Stakes - Secretariat completes THE MOST AWESOME PERFORMANCE I HAVE EVER SEEN IN AN ATHLETIC EVENT. EVER!!! BY ANY ATHLETE. COMPLETE AND UTTER DOMINATION OF THE FIELD.

1978 Kentucky Derby - Affirmed and Alydar duel it out,as they would in the Preakness and again in a classic Belmont Stakes race.

1978 Belmont Stakes - Affirmed completes the last leg of the Triple Crown. Still the last horse to win it.

1975 Belmont Park - Ruffian vs. Foolish Pleasure: The Great Match Race
Have to include Ruffian in any discussion of great all-time horses. One of the greatest tragedies in sports history.


SECRETARIAT - 1973 KENTUCKY DERBY

SECRETARIAT - 1973 BELMONT STAKES

AFFIRMED - 1978 KENTUCKY DERBY

AFFIRMED 1978 BELMONT STAKES

RUFFIAN BREAKS DOWN - JULY 6,1975 BELMONT PARK

To this day, it's hard for me to watch this and not break down myself.

The buildup for this race was monumental. A filly racing a colt, Are you kidding me?
But Ruffian appeared to be taking an early lead as the tragedy unfolded.

From the book RUFFIAN: BURNING FROM THE START by Jane Schwartz

Ruffian was half a length in front and everyone was on their feet, screaming. The noise in the stands was deafening, but it reached the riders only a distant hum. What they heard was the thundering of hooves, the sharp and steady intake of breath, the ancient and unchanging rhythm of the running horse.

Then both riders heard something else. A quick, bright sound, like the snapping of a twig. Suddenly Foolish Pleasure was a length in front, then two-three-four!- and Dave Johnson was crying out into the microphone, his own voice tinged with disbelief: "Ruffian has broken down! Ruffian has broken down!"

Fifty thousand people stopped screaming. On the television broadcast, Chic Anderson had called out the same words, in the same stricken voice, to eighteen million more people sitting in homes all across the country. Stunned, they watched the nightmare unfolding on their screens.

Ruffian kept on running.
Jacinto knew instantly what had happened, he had heard the crack of bone, he tried to pull the filly up as quickly as possible but the filly was having none of it. She wanted to run. She was in the race of her life; she was pulling away from the colt and she couldn't understand the sudden pain, the way her balance shifted as she went from four legs to three. She did not want the other horse in front, she would not let this happen, she was determined to regain the lead. Let me run! she shrieked at Jacinto,as silent, as unmistakable as ever, her only demand, fighting the bit, clearer than words, Let me run! And Jacinto pulled with all his might, tears stinging the back of his eyes, desperate to hold her up because, at least, oh God, there was a chance if she did not go down! But she was so strong and so determined that she kept on running, and Jacinto had to beg her, beg her to stop, stop! Because if she kept on running on three legs she would go down on the track, and then he knew she would never get back up.
But the filly wouldn't stop. She ignored Vasquez, ignored the bit tearing at her mouth, ignored the pain. She went on running, pulverizing the sesamoids, ripping the skin of her fetlock as the bones burst through, driving open the wound into the stinging sand of the Belmont track, tearing her ligaments, until her hoof was flopping uselessly, bent up like the tip of a ski, as she pounded down the track on the exposed bone, running on and on-it seemed to Jacinto like forever-until finally he managed to pull the valiant, mutilated filly to a halt.


TRIBUTE TO RUFFIAN:

A beautiful tribute to a wonderful champion, Ruffian.

The greatest filly of alltime. Unbeaten in her ten starts up to the Match Race with Foolish Pleasure. Never anywhere other than the lead at any time in any of her races. She amazed race fans with her beauty and speed. In my mind, the filly equivalent of Secretariat. A brilliant champion.

And finally, a tribute to another streaking comet, who teased the imagination of horse racing fans that we might possibly witness another Triple Crown winner with his blistering run through the Kentucky Derby. Another sad tragic ending. But what a champion. Almost a sad, surreal blending of the stories of Secretariat and Ruffian.

BARBARO MEMORIAL VIDEO

Song: Iris
Artist: Goo Goo Dolls

For the 133rd running hopefully we will see nothing but the beauty and magnificence of these horses on display. With mint julep in hand, I like, in no particular order (come on, if I could do that, I wouldn't be writing a blog, I'd be cashing TRIFECTAS baby ):

Street Sense
Scat Daddy
Great Hunter