2011 Kentucky Derby

The sights and sounds make you smile and make you tear up...I felt the emotion as many did who tune in to the Kentucky Derby each May. Before the race the marching band there plays My Old Kentucky Home. The first Saturday in May is a spectacle for Louisville...Churchill Downs is a sight to see with everyone dressed beautifully and today the sun shone on the beautifully prepared course and grounds.

As a soldier I was stationed in nearby Fort Knox, but today didn't feel like a military field trip. The passion is evident everywhere and the crowd was treated to a surprise as happens often in this race. A replacement jockey--John Velasquez--who was riding in his thirteenth Kentucky Derby was on a horse in only his fifth race. Animal Kingdom rode in the middle of the 19-horse field for all but the final quarter mile when early leader Shackleford finally faded and finished out of the money at fourth place. Shackleford led right out of the gate and was overtaken at the quarter pole by three horses: Mucho Macho Man, Nehro, and winner Animal Kingdom.

In a race with nineteen horses it's hard to imagine how most people aren't surprised by the winner. The first leg of the Triple Crown is complete and the drama is big for the Preakness which is the second leg of horse racing's trifecta for 3-year olds. After the Preakness the hubbub dies down a bit since most often the Kentucky Derby winner fails to win at Pimlico.

There are an estimated 36,000 thoroughbreds born each year so just making it to the first event of the Triple Crown is a big deal. Stay tuned for the Preakness and see if Animal Kingdom can win this race which is a different length race and tests the different horses' metal. All three of the Triple Crown races are of a different length as a matter of fact.

Here's a video recap of the 2011 Kentucky Derby...it was the 137th Kentucky Deby...it's race that was first run in 1875 and has been run every year since then.

Resources:
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Related Stories:
The 2011 Preakness Stakes