Tag Archives: Churchill Downs

Hollywood, The Derby and Minnesota

Posted on by
2

Gary Stevens

Retired jockey Gary Stevens will once again be appearing on the Kentucky Derby pre-show this year. Although many may not have heard of his three-time Derby winning career, a lot of people still recognize him from his starring stint in the movie Seabiscuit. Stevens played George “Iceman” Woolfe, aka, the guy who takes over for Red Pollard (Tobey McGuire) in the match race scene after Pollard/McGuire gets hurt.

What even fewer people know, is that Stevens is the younger brother to Scott Ste

vens, jockey at Minnesota’s Canterbury Park. It’s a fun Hollywood tie I like to let others in on.

Scott Stevens is just as accomplished, and still riding. He holds the Canterbury record for most starts (5,710), and is just seven wins behind Derek Bell, the all-time winningest jockey there.

Stevens is an incredible jockey, and an all-around nice guy. He was my favorite to watch and every once in awhile, will still ride a Quarter Horse. In fact, he has ridden some of our horses. Both Scott and Gary learned to ride on the

Scott Stevens

Quarter Horses and eventually moved to Thoroughbreds.

Last July, the then 49-year-old Scott, was airlifted from the track to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minn. after suffering multiple injuries during a ride in the sixth race. Although he was initially listed as in critical condition, Scott rallied was eventually released.

Although he has batted around the idea of retirement in the media, all on the backside of Canterbury are hoping he returns this year, once again.

Keeping an eye on the roses

Posted on by
Reply

I don’t like to watch the front of a race. I never do. Tomorrow, when everyone is watching the leaders round the Churchill turn, that’s when I’ll be looking to see who might be making their move from the back.

I don’t have a personal favorite in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. I like to simply wish for a safe race for all and a good race to watch.

I like when a closer takes the win. It’s hard not to. That feeling of an underdog coming from behind; defying the odds to take the title; its horse racing’s biggest draw.

My style of race watching especially paid off in the 2009 Derby. I was watching the horses looking for a hole (a way to move up on the inside past the other horses), and I saw jockey Calvin Borel’s genius ride as he shot up a twig of space between horses for the win. I was watching the Derby with a few friends, and I remember yelling in spite of myself and pointing to the only gelding on the inside, telling them to “watch this one!”  

It was a risky move for sure, and one not many jockeys would have had the guts to make. I have to say, it is one of the reasons I like Borel and always have. Borel won the 2010 Derby on Super Saver and this year, he will be on the No. 3 horse, Twice the Appeal.

Here’s a link to the video of the 2009 Derby and Mine That Bird’s breathtaking run:

http://youtu.be/AjY-rrAoTl8

I don’t offer a lot of suggestions when it comes to betting in this blog, but I do recommend that come Saturday, your best bet is keeping an eye off the pack.

All bets are off

Posted on by
Reply

Although I love racing, I actually rarely bet at the races. I’ve been known to pick a few good ones in my day (at Fargo, I’ve been able to call a whole day’s card right), but for me, the thrill in racing is more of knowing what winning means to both the horses and the people involved.
Racehorses are just that, racehorses. It’s in their blood, and they love it. If a horse isn’t a runner, owners and trainers will know pretty early on and likely retire them or find them a new job. The horses know when they’ve done well or when they haven’t. If I haven’t told enough stories on this blog to make that point, I’ve got plenty more.

I want to dispel a myth about the “bat,” or the jockey’s whip. Granted, calling it a bat doesn’t help, but it doesn’t live up to its name. It’s not what it looks like. Sorry, folks, but if a horse doesn’t want to run, it’s not going to try any harder, no matter how much the jockey whips it.

The purpose of the bat is to help the jockey and the horse communicate. The jockey’s most important job is not to win, it’s to make sure his or her horse gets home safely. Not only can the horse’s life depend on it, but so can the jockey’s.

If the jockey wants to guide the horse to the outside because they see trouble on the inside rail, he or she would likely tap the horse on its left side. It’s the horse’s cue to go right.

The jockey will also know a horse’s style. He or she knows when to “hit the gas,” so to speak, on a horse. The horse may want to come from behind, but using the bat can tell the horse (in the jockey’s estimation) when it’s time to really go for it.

I always watch what the jockey is doing near the wire. I love a race when the jockey is completely hand-riding the horse. That means the jockey is just hanging on to the reins and the horse is in its own stride. It’s beautiful to watch a horse just take over, and make those last powerful strides to a win.

I need a Mucho Macho Man…

Posted on by
Reply

Well, maybe. But I’m actually talking about one of this year’s Derby contenders. You’ve got to love some of the names, and this one is one of my favorites. This year especially has some cute ones like Watch Me Go and Pants on Fire.

I liked Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and even the 2009 Homeboy Kris (why, I’m not sure why -  just did). Just for fun, here’s a couple of cutest or funniest names that have graced through the National Thoroughbred Association. Many of these I drew from EzineArticles.com.

  • Nutzapper
  • Tabasco Cat
  • Ghostzapper
  • Ready for Battle
  • Afternoon Deelites
  • I’m Feeling Tipsy
  • Lil E.Tee
  • Thunder Gulch
  • Funny Cide
  • Wrecked Em (1983)
  • Golden Shower (1955)
  • Bodacious Tatas (1985)
  • Date More Minors 
  • Lagnaf.
    I’ll give you a hint: it’s an acronym.

Derby draw tonight

Posted on by
1

Tonight’s draw in Kentucky made most of the trainers in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby fairly happy. According to reports, most walked away with the post, or close to the post, that they wanted. At any rate, it’s finally here.

Barring any late scratches, here is a look at the horses in this year’s Derby and their post position:

  • No. 1: Archarcharch
    No. 2: Brilliant Speed
    No. 3: Twice The Appeal
    No. 4: Stay Thirsty
    No. 5: Decisive Moment
    No. 6: Comma To The Top
    No. 7: Pants On Fire
    No. 8: Dialed In
    No. 9: Derby Kitten
    No. 10: Twinspired
    No. 11: Master Of Hounds
    No. 12: Santiva
    No. 13: Mucho Macho Man
    No. 14: Shackleford
    No. 15: Midnight Interlude
    No. 16: Animal Kingdom
    No. 17: Soldat
    No. 18: Uncle Mo
    No. 19: Nehro
    No. 20: Watch Me Go

The Derby post time is at 5:24 p.m. Central Standard time,

The 2011 racing season is coming up fast

Posted on by
1

Only five weeks until Derby Day!

The Kentucky Derby is always held the first Saturday in May. The 1 ¼-mile race is the first jewel in the Triple Crown and has been ran at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ken., since 1875.

It suddenly hit me today (while I was thinking I needed to do a new post) that I really need to get cracking on some Derby Day prep. Not only is it five weeks until what I’ll begrudgingly call the most famous race of the year, but it’s five weeks for me to make a lot of decisions.

Will this be the year I finally attend in person?

If not, then I need to find some sort of shindig to commemorate the event here in Fargo. In that case, I better start planning and I better start shopping for the most important part of all: The hat.

I might possibly love the Kentucky Derby for that reason alone: I looooovvveee the hats!

On the other hand, I do look forward to Derby Day for non-fashion-related reasons. It’s sort of the soft opening for our racing season.

Canterbury used to open up for thoroughbreds on the first Saturday of May then the mixed meet (thoroughbreds and American Quarter Horses) opened Memorial Day weekend.  That meant only about a month until Mom moves herself and the horses to the track.  

Although Canterbury opens later in May this year, the mixed meet still begins around Memorial Day weekend. I might not live near the track anymore, but that won’t slow me down in getting there to help.

In the meantime, I’ll get this Derby Day stuff straightened out. So, if anyone has any suggestions for good Derby Day parties in the F-M area, send them my way.