Do you have 2 minutes?

1901/Churchill Downs.



1964/Tunnel from the Grandstands to the Infield.

No matter how many times one goes to the Derby.....when the Churchill Downs Bugler blows out "Call to the Post" for the 1oth race....and 157,000 of your closest friends scream for joy.....the hairs on your neck will stand at attention.....guaranteed....no matter how many Juleps you have had.

All walks of life....millionaires to rail & jail-birds, all converge upon Louisville for these treasured 2 minutes....and then hurry up and wait another year so that they can do it all over again.

I've slept in tents in the snow...in friends vans... ponied up to a weekend at The Galt House (with 14 friends in a double-room).....rode in strangers limos ....walked miles in the rain.....always picked the losers.....and have never had a bad time.

Plenty of great stories that seem to get bigger as another year passes.
If you have never been.....you need to go at least once.

You may not see a horse....but that's not the point.

:)

Marty

$100 BET--HOT TIP!

(ONLY....if it rains on Sat.)

• $20 across the board on # 5 "HOLD ME BACK"
• $20 Exacta box with # 5 "HOLD ME BACK" and # 6 "FRIESAN FIRE"
• BONUS LONGSHOT.....$20 to SHOW on "Flying Private"

Kentucky Derby Trivia

• No other U.S. horse race runs more than 14 horses....Derby has 20.

• Derby horses tend to lose 15 to 25 pounds during the race.


• They also go through a new pair of shoes in the race.


• No matter when a horse is born....they all turn a year older on Jan. 1st.


• No race horse can have a name that is longer than 18 letters.


• Only 21 horses have ever led and won the race....wire to wire.


• Post position 5 and 16 have produced the most Derby winners.


• Post positions 17 & 19.....NEVER HAVE HAD A WINNER.

(Sorry "Summer Bird" & "Desert Party" fans....although you never know?)

• Secretariat in 1973 was the only horse to break the 2 minute mark (1:59.4)


• 1957...Jockey Willie Shoemaker misread the finish line and pulled up short on his leading horse 'Gallant Man' only to be passed and finish 2nd! DOH!!


• Willie redeemed himself in 1986 on Ferdinand to become the oldest (54) jockey ever to win a Kentucky Derby.


• Willie's birth weight was 2.5 pounds and not expected to make it through the night.....was placed in a shoe box and put in the oven to keep him warm.


• 1991...Willie rolled his Ford Bronco while driving drunk....left him a quadriplegic.

• He sued Ford....and won a $1,000,000 settlement....DOUBLE DOH!!


• Continued to train horses until his death in 2003.


• Tim and I met him in the late 90's outside of the track at the corner drug store...in his wheelchair on the Sunday morning after the Derby.


• Longest shot....Donerail in 1913.....91 to 1 odds.


• Only 50 "favorites" have won out of the last 134 years. (So....just pick your lucky number...your favorite color....or shoot a dart at the program)


• If you are picking colors....ONLY 4 Black horses have won.


• Only U.S. President to attend the Derby .....Richard M. Nixon...1968.


• Mmmmmmm.....President Richard Nixon would be in attendance the same year (1968) that the ONLY Derby winner (Dancers Image) would be disqualified for cheating!! Coincidence.....I think not.


• (Actually an interesting story if you have another minute)


• 97 Derby winners were born in Kentucky.


• Ladies Only.....only 3 fillies have ever won.


• 400 horses are nominated each year to run....usually only 20 do...this is based on their winnings over the Winter Race Schedule.

• Lotsaluck!!