The Post Positions have been drawn, the jockeys assigned, and there are no scratches as of yet. So, Riders Up and let’s go racing.
This Saturday, May 4th is the 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
The Kentucky Derby is the most famous horse race in the United States and is a cornerstone event in American culture, year in and year out.
Diehard railbirds and casual racing fans come together on the first Saturday in May. The historic track in Louisville draws more than 120,000 thru the turnstiles while millions of viewers watch from around the world.
For its 150th running, Churchill Downs has invested more than $200 million in updating the paddock area where horses prepare, and onlookers gather before the race, while the total purse for the Grade 1 Derby has been increased to $5 million dollars.
The Derby, or more appropriately, Derby weekend is full of pageantry and parties, but there’s also a big-time horse race that garners the most attention- as it bloody well-should.
The Kentucky Derby is a unique North American horse race, in that, it’s restricted to 3-year-olds. Which means that owners have only one opportunity to Win the Derby with any individual horse.
The distance of the Derby is a taxing 1 ¼ miles, which safe to say, none of the entrants has ever raced at before.
On top of that, up to 20 horses are allowed to run in the Kentucky Derby, a number that has been reached 22 out of the past 25 years.
The Daily Racing Blog will have more on the Kentucky Derby throughout the week, leading up to Saturday.
