The most exciting two minutes in sports, the running of the 137th Kentucky Derby, proved to live up to the hype, with a record breaking attendance of 164,858 attendees. And yours truly was there to witness every exhilarating moment. The Kentucky Derby is not just a horse race for the people of Louisville. It is a 137-year-long institution that is a point of pride and preparation. A considerable amount of time is invested in the careful analysis of every detail of every horse that has been selected to run on this day.
This year 20 thoroughbreds were slated to run for the roses; however, early favorite Uncle Mo was scratched the day before the race for medical reasons. After the scratch, a new favorite emerged, Dialed In, a Nick Zito trained horse.
Dialed In was widely considered a speed demon that has proven himself by winning 75 percent of the races he has entered, most notably the Florida Derby. Other favorites included my own personal horse that I bet on, Pants on Fire. This horse was the winner of the Louisiana Derby on March 26, a victory achieved by beating two other Kentucky Derby favorites, Nehro and Mucho Macho Man.
Despite these qualifications, none were able to keep up with the explosive closing speed of Animal Kingdom, who battled back from 12th place early on to win the race by two lengths. Animal Kingdom, ridden by John Velazquez, was far from a favorite. Velazquez had previously drawn to ride Uncle Mo, but after that horse was scratched, he was placed on Animal Kingdom for his first Kentucky Derby win. At post time Animal Kingdom was a 30-1 long shot and was not considered a contender, hardly an afterthought for professional handicappers and Derby gamblers.
The result has now set the stage for the rest of the Triple Crown. Animal Kingdom will certainly be one of the favorites at the Preakness in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 21. Nehro will skip the Preakness in order to be better prepared for the Belmont Stakes on June 11 in Elmont, New York. The owners of Pants On Fire have decided to fully withdraw from the Triple Crown due to an injury at the Kentucky Derby. Despite a disappointing 9th place finish, Dialed In is still considered a front runner for the Preakness.
Overall, my visit to Churchill Downs was a day I will remember forever. From the trumpet’s call to the post, to the excitement of the fans during the Run for the Roses, the day will forever be imprinted in my mind. It is definitely something everyone should experience at least once in life, and I’m positive it won’t be my last.