Kentucky Derby
You know, I’ve never been to a horse race, but I never miss the Kentucky Derby. You can’t beat the high-fashion theater, the colorful headwear, and all the pageantry-show razzmatazz.
The buildup to the race is something else. The bugler and the performance of “My Old Kentucky Home,” as the horses move to the starting gate…then they’re off.
This year’s Derby was a wild one. 150,000 people were in attendance and for the first time ever a female trainer, Cherie DeVaux, claimed a victory with a back-of-the-pack horse, Golden Tempo. The horse was dead last at one point, but had this incredible kick and pulled off a really exciting sprint to the finish to win.
In 2017, DeVaux gave up pre-med to train horses. She describes herself as “one of those thick-minded people that thinks that it’s always going to work out.” But never in her life did she think she’d pull this off.
As I was wrapping this up, I got word that Golden Tempo won't be running in the Preakness. That’s a damn shame, but hopefully the nag will be back in action for the Belmont, which will be held at Saratoga again this year while Belmont Park undergoes its massive $455 million redevelopment. I really like the Belmont because the “New York, New York” theme song is the same one that plays at the end of Yankees games. Can’t beat Frankie.
Here's hoping Golden Tempo and Cherie DeVaux can do it again. I’m bettin’ on it. Keep your dukes up.
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