The anticipation is growing almost daily for the 2014 Kentucky Derby. In fact, the number of results from an internet for “Countdown to Kentucky Derby 2014” shows just how things are heating up. This horse race is scheduled to take place on May 3rd, 2014 at Churchill Downs.
Let’s take a small detour and learn a little bit about the horse race track. Churchill Downs opened its doors to the public at its inauguration all the way back in 1875. Both the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks were held during the first year itself. Most recently in 2011, it was the site of eight Breeders Cup World Championships. Perhaps, the most visible sight associated with Churchill Downs is the twin spires atop the grandstand. However, it has gained even more recognition including the 2009 ranking of #5 by the Horseplayers Association of North America when it introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred Racetracks in North America. Among several horse races here, some of the most significant and well-recognized in the horse racing community are the Clark Handicap, the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, the Stephen Foster Handicap and the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.
Let’s get back to talking about the Kentucky Derby. It is the first leg in the U.S. Triple Crown. The second leg is the Preakness Stakes and the third (and final leg) is the Belmont Stakes. Currently, the Kentucky Derby attracts three-year-old horses battling it out over a distance of 1 1/4th miles for a share in the USD 2,000,000 purse. The Kentucky Derby has three well-known nicknames. "The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" are the nicknames given to the race considering it takes about that long from start to finish even if there is a lot of fervor leading up to the actual race. "The Run for the Roses" is the nickname for the race because a blanket of roses is draped over the winner.
Considering this race dates all the way back to 1875 with no years when it was not held, there are some records worth mentioning. Secretariat set the record time for winning the race of 1:59.4 back in 1973. This record is still held today, and the winners of this horse race in recent years have finished over 2:00.0. Both Whirlaway, in 1941, and Assault, in 1946, won the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths, and they share the record. Another two-way tie is five wins by a jockey. Eddie Arcarco was aboard the winning horses in 1938, 1941, 1945, 1948 and 1952; whereas, Bill Hartack jockeyed the winning horses in 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1969.
It is fairly early to make any predictions for the 2014 Kentucky Derby because the field isn’t even set. However, there are some horses to watch in 2014 as they might go on to win this horse race too. They include Shared Belief, Honor Code, Tapiture, Alberts Hope, Cairo Prince, Strong Mandate, Stash The Cat, Smart Cover and No Nay Never. Who is your favorite to win the 2014 Kentucky Derby?
Let’s take a small detour and learn a little bit about the horse race track. Churchill Downs opened its doors to the public at its inauguration all the way back in 1875. Both the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks were held during the first year itself. Most recently in 2011, it was the site of eight Breeders Cup World Championships. Perhaps, the most visible sight associated with Churchill Downs is the twin spires atop the grandstand. However, it has gained even more recognition including the 2009 ranking of #5 by the Horseplayers Association of North America when it introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred Racetracks in North America. Among several horse races here, some of the most significant and well-recognized in the horse racing community are the Clark Handicap, the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, the Stephen Foster Handicap and the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.
Let’s get back to talking about the Kentucky Derby. It is the first leg in the U.S. Triple Crown. The second leg is the Preakness Stakes and the third (and final leg) is the Belmont Stakes. Currently, the Kentucky Derby attracts three-year-old horses battling it out over a distance of 1 1/4th miles for a share in the USD 2,000,000 purse. The Kentucky Derby has three well-known nicknames. "The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" are the nicknames given to the race considering it takes about that long from start to finish even if there is a lot of fervor leading up to the actual race. "The Run for the Roses" is the nickname for the race because a blanket of roses is draped over the winner.
Considering this race dates all the way back to 1875 with no years when it was not held, there are some records worth mentioning. Secretariat set the record time for winning the race of 1:59.4 back in 1973. This record is still held today, and the winners of this horse race in recent years have finished over 2:00.0. Both Whirlaway, in 1941, and Assault, in 1946, won the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths, and they share the record. Another two-way tie is five wins by a jockey. Eddie Arcarco was aboard the winning horses in 1938, 1941, 1945, 1948 and 1952; whereas, Bill Hartack jockeyed the winning horses in 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1969.
It is fairly early to make any predictions for the 2014 Kentucky Derby because the field isn’t even set. However, there are some horses to watch in 2014 as they might go on to win this horse race too. They include Shared Belief, Honor Code, Tapiture, Alberts Hope, Cairo Prince, Strong Mandate, Stash The Cat, Smart Cover and No Nay Never. Who is your favorite to win the 2014 Kentucky Derby?
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