<p>Did anyone watch the race?</p>
<p>We watched it - nice race! I haven’t missed watching a Derby since 1973 (Secretariat’s year). Can’t stop now.</p>
<p>Listening to the story of Unions Rag’s owner was incredibly touching…too bad the horse got so locked in.</p>
<p>I was happy for the jockey of the winning horse…very emotional.</p>
<p>I also loved hearing that jockey. He obviously hadn’t had a lot of experience with the media and his joy in the moment was easy to see.</p>
<p>Union Rags drew a poor post,4 …in a field this size, it would prove difficult to get outside…a better post in remaining races might provide some value on your wager…Union Rags is a local story</p>
<p>Union Rags has too many excuses for always having a bad trip, even the commentators mentioned it. His issue seems to be he doesn’t break well, so he’s a step behind from the start.</p>
<p>A step behind from the 4 hole and you are in big trouble, a step behind from an outside post ,not a big deal</p>
<p>Having been born and raised in Louisville, the Kentucky Derby is something I always watch. When I was growing up, we would have cook outs and draw names of horses from a hat. Every time I hear ‘My Old Kentucky Home’, it makes me miss it. I don’t miss the traffic associated with it, though. My (private Christian) school was located right across from Churchill Downs and, depending upon what part of the building we were in at the time, we could hear some of the weekday races. We used to do some of our own race commentaries like “… and here comes Bubblegum sticking to the rail” or “… and here comes Toilet Paper wiping up the rear.” Fun times.</p>
<p>I am with Creekland. Got hooked in '73 when I was a tween in her horse phase, and haven’t missed a Triple Crown race since. 
No desire to own a horse now, and never ride any more. But a vestige of my 11 year old self comes out every year at Derby time. My children are amused.</p>
<p>Hindoo, one of CC’s former posters, lives in the Lexington area and is lucky enough to attend the Derby every year. She was there today.</p>
<p>Watched it hours after the fact, but what a fun race!</p>
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<p>I rode all the time growing up and we still breed English show ponies, but are selling down (just 11 here now) as my boys are moving out of the house to college. They never inherited the “horse” gene, so always saw the ponies as work, not fun. We don’t ride anymore (raise young, sell young or send to training, then sell), but we still gather around to watch the Triple Crown races, and sometimes, the Breeder’s Cup. I’ll admit to not knowing anyone who was running until yesterday. Middle son’s GF picked the winner, but solely off of name. I was rooting for Union Rags or Bodemeister (who threw in an awesome race BTW).</p>
<p>When I was young I watched every race possible and often pretended our ponies were racehorses. I dreamed of owning a racehorse. Now I’m content watching a few times a year and am ready to let my equine part be a part of the past (aside from the occasional trail ride).</p>
<p>I do warn my boys that their daughters will drive them crazy asking for a pony and will be incredibly jealous that they grew up on a pony farm…</p>
<p>DH had $5 on Bodemeister to win and I had $5 on Gemologist. It was an exciting race, imo. </p>
<p>Never miss the Derby.</p>
<p>Lifelong Kentuckian here who never misses the race. I went to the Derby in 1982 with friends whose family had a grandstand box for the Derby for years. It was lots of fun if you are crowd tolerant, but I’m not so much anymore. Churchill Downs has undergone many renovations and is a nicer track now, but if you really want to experience a more classic horse racing experience, Keeneland is the place to go. I used to schedule my classes so that I could go to the track on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Cost of admission at Keeneland was $1.25 in the late 70s and a program was 25 cents. Admission to the grandstand is $5 now. I’ve been in the clubhouse many times, but the grandstand is a great place to enjoy the races on a weekday when the crowds are reasonable and you can be fairly close to the horses in the walking ring and paddock. When I was in college, anyone could be in the walking ring with the horses before they were taken for saddling in the paddock. For the most part, the horses and the long-time horse people are the celebrities, although I did see Donna Brothers in the paddock 3 weeks ago when I was there.</p>
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<p>I agree. We have been to both Churchill Downs and Keeneland three times each. We were there in November each time and at Churchill Downs were able to watch races right at the rail and right at the finish line - so cool! Keeneland wasn’t racing when we were there, but we watched some trainers breezing their horses.</p>
<p>Although CD has the rich history and the museum, Keeneland is absolutely gorgeous. The settings could not be more different. We were so surprised that CD is kind of in the middle of a neighborhood. Keeneland is what we pictured for a Kentucky race track.</p>
<p>I don’t watch the races much any more. After Eight Belles back in 2008, I just can’t.</p>
<p>^^ Same. I wait till the race is over and I know all went well. Then I can enjoy it.</p>
<p>To go to the Kentucky derby is my 17 yr old D’s dream trip. She rallied hard for her Dad to take her to this recent one as her graduation present and 18th birthday present but it was not happening.
She has now started up on that should be her college graduation present. She starts college in the Fall, she will have 4 more years to work on her Dad.</p>
<p>Race was one of the best. Great outfits/hats. Could see the Brit influence taking hold. Have to do it in person some day.</p>
<p>Horrible incident at Churchill Downs after the race. Apparently a person died behind the stables sometime between the time of the Kentucky Derby and dawn, when the body was discovered. Not sure yet if it was natural causes or murder, but police are investigating. Very sad.</p>
<p>barrons, speaking of the Brit influence, in addition to attending the Kentucky Derby in 1982, I also attended the Derby at Epsom that year. The Brit version is slightly grander in the grandstand with the royals in attendance, but has a different flavor in the infield. Instead of drunken, sun burned college students in the infield, there are double decker buses with the tops removed filled with fans and lots of gypsies. Attendance was 150,000 at Epsom that year, if I remember correctly, but considerably less than 100,000 at CD. Of course, that’s been 30 years and things are bound to have changed.</p>
<p>mom60, please report back in 4 years to give us the follow up. I’m wondering if your husband will be dying to make this a reality for your daughter as he watches the years go by so quickly during her college time. Although I’ve only been a poster since 2005, I’ve started lurking in 2002, so I figure I’ll still be here like so many others whose children have long since applied to, attended, and graduated from college!</p>
<p>“Race was one of the best. Great outfits/hats. Could see the Brit influence taking hold. Have to do it in person some day.”</p>
<p>Quite a few Fascinators in the crowd. </p>
<p>I’ve only been once and it was years ago (Swale won and then died the next day!) when I was young(ish) and thought being in the infield would be fun. I don’t believe I actually saw any of the races. </p>
<p>That same year I went to the Preakness, too, but we had seats in the grand stand. </p>
<p>My favorite place to go to the races is Saratoga. It’s a beautiful track.</p>