Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is this Saturday! I have also heard the Derby being referred to as the "super bowl of horse racing" because it is one of the most famous horse races. I have watched the Derby ever year since 2002. I'm wondering if anyone else watches the Derby, or any other horse races if they're on television? I watch races when they're on tv, which for me isn't very often, but I look forward to watching the Derby this weekend.

I usually watch the Derby. It's definitely an exciting few minutes.   

How in the world does a 2 minute race last for a 3 hour show???  
There's actually a horse from this area that was named after the bombing disaster in Boston. "Wicked Strong" I think.   

WICKED STRONG: Named for victims of last year’s Boston Marathon bombings and a nod to Bostonians’ habit of using “wicked” as an adjective.   

I'm rooting for Uncle Sigh......Great thing that they contribute to "Wounded Warriors".

George (Chip) McEwen III races as Wounded Warrior Stables and has been racing horses for 17 years. About two years ago Chip turned his focus on helping injured troops. Wounded Warrior Stables gives 10% of any purses or sales to the Wounded Warrior Project. Wounded Warrior Stables has partnered with Anthony C. Robertson to campaign Uncle Sigh.

Rhonda wrote:

How in the world does a 2 minute race last for a 3 hour show???

Maybe in honor of the marathon bombings, they're letting the horses run a marathon this year. I'd watch!   

Aaaand I missed it!   

California Chrome won! He was the favorite for this race, and usually I don't cheer for the favorites, but something told me to keep an eye on this one... and he won! What a race it was.

Victor Espinoza, the jockey who rode California Chrome today, also won the Derby with War Emblem back in 2002, which is the first year that I remember watching the Derby.

I was also keeping an eye on Wicked Strong and Candy Boy, my favorite jockey rode Candy Boy today. Not sure where he finished though... but Wicked Strong finished fourth!

The Preakness Stakes are on right now and the horses are headed for the pre-race parade; then headed towards the gates. California Chrome is in this one as well....Let's see how well it goes....  

California Chrome DID IT! 

Belmont Stakes in 3 weeks....Can California Chrome capture the Triple Crown???   

Good for him!   

I remember watching Secretariat clinch the Triple Crown at Belmont in 1973.  He had such a huge lead at one point that the cameraman almost couldn't fit the second-place horse in the frame!

California Chrome is our 2014 Preakness Champ!

There is always so much pressure on the Derby winner to do well in the Preakness, I was almost too nervous to watch the race. But Chrome showed us all that he is a champion! I can't wait for the Belmont in 3 weeks- will this year finally be the first year since 1978 that we have a Triple Crown winner? I hope so!

Rob wrote:

Good for him!   

I remember watching Secretariat clinch the Triple Crown at Belmont in 1973.  He had such a huge lead at one point that the cameraman almost couldn't fit the second-place horse in the frame!

This happened nearly twenty years before I was born, but I've seen the video multiple times and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes. Secretariat was a "tremendous machine!" I don't think there will be another horse like him... maybe close to him, but Secretariat is the true champion!

I didn't see today's race. Was it close?

It was a great race today!

I haven't been thinking much about the possibility of a Triple Crown win this year, I don't want to jinx it. But if any horse can finally break the dry spell, I think it's California Chrome

California Chrome might abandon his Triple Crown bid if New York officials do not allow the colt to wear a nasal strip in the Belmont Stakes.   

Click Here-----> Full Article

  Well, California Chrome is allowed to run in the Belmont Stakes with the nasal strips that have been worn in the other races....

I couldn't understand why they wouldn't let him run with them, it's not any sort of medication it's just helping him breath easier. But I sure am glad the issue with the nasal strips was straightened out.

Looking back at photos from the Derby and the Preakness, I did not even notice that Chrome was wearing the strips until they were mentioned in the news over the weekend

The Belmont Stakes is on Saturday, two days away! California Chrome has already won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.... I'm trying not to say or even think Triple Crown! Because several times since I really started paying attention to horse racing, a horse has come close to winning all three races but faltered in the Belmont.


I hope the weather in New York is going to be good on Saturday for the big race! I don't like to see the horses running in the mud. I live about two hours from Belmont Park and it's been raining here all day, so I'm going to make a guess and say it's been raining in that part of New York too. So I'll be paying attention to the weather forecasts- I hope things clear up by race day.

Today is race day!!

Ready.......Set.........GO!    

He finished 5th

Tied 4th with Wicked Strong.....Good race, considering he was racing against fresh horses....