So, they ran the Kentucky Derby again, and as it is every year, the event was more than just a race. There were ladies in wide sunhats, there were mint juleps, there was music, there was pagentry, there was a nineteenth century atmosphere transplanted into today, and to top it all off, there were two minutes on a muddy track....
There was also real money betting and books, winners and losers. For the most part, the losers were the ones who'd bet on the favorite, a horse named Friesan Fire, who only finished 18th in the field of 19. So much for odds-on favorites.
The big winner was Mine That Bird, a 50 to 1 long shot, who won by more than 6 lengths, the widest winning margin since 1946. He's also the 9th gelding to win the Derby, and first since 2003. It's not that geldings are slower runners; rather, racehorses have a fairly short productive career, and much of their value is realized after they finish racing and start serving as breeding stock.
So all in all, it was an exciting race. There were a lot of firsts, some unexpected and unusual statistics, and a big payout for those who where lucking enough to pick the winner. Now it's time to pour a nice cold mint julep, drink a toast to Mine That Bird, and wait for the Preakness on May 16.
