Kentucky Derby 101: The Basics

The derby was first ran in a Kentucky in 1875 And has become synonymous with the name of the state. It has become part of the state's culture even more than the fanatical pull that college basketball has on the population there. The Derby itself become a major media event and everyone in the state knows when it is Derby day. Here are some basics, if you find yourself in Kentucky on Derby day, and ready to enjoy the race.

If you're betting on a horse the thing to keep in mind is that in the past the Derby was usually locked before he started but, recent history shows that even an unknown can win the Derby and shock everyone. You should not pick a horse that has a brand-new jockey and you should stay away from horses that haven't raced before the age of two, these horses typically have less than a 6 to 8 races under their belt. Your horse should be a stakes winner, but if you are not in the mood to pick a favorite here are some other tips for picking the wild card. If you can get near the horses you can do like many actors have done in many movies and the first horse to look you in the eye, there's your winner. Some people simply pick the horse with the coolest name, and maybe this isn't such a bad idea because at least they can remember the name when the race is going on.

Another thing to keep in mind is the position of the horses and the gates, if you're a betting person, and odds are you'll want to do the math behind the post positions. Some say post position number one is an advantage for the outer ones. There have been 12 Derby winners (the most of any of these positions) that come from post number one. If you look at post one thru five then 40% of the winners have come from here. On the other hand if you were looking at 11 through 20 they have only about 13% of winners.

Despite all the pageantry that goes on in promotion of Derby, the best place, to actually watch the race is at home sitting in front of the TV on your favorite piece of furniture, because this is the only way to be able see the entire field and really enjoy the race. When the race begins the noise is so loud that you probably will not be able to hear your horses named called, and in the end you might even be wondering who the heck even won. The stands are so packed with people, standing up, it's hard to even turn around let alone enjoy the race. Even getting to the race is a challenge because you will have to park what seems like 20 miles away.

And, for all those ladies out there wondering, it is not mandatory for you to wear a funny hat, it's totally OK to wear a crazy one, but the other thing to remember is it is considered rude not to take a sip of the mint julep if someone offers it to you.