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Vassallo: The 141st Run for the Roses
This Saturday is Kentucky Derby weekend as the 20 thoroughbreds are rarin to run to see which horse enters stardom.
I always get excited to see if this just might be the year we have another Triple Crown winner. Since 1875 when the great race began, there have only been eleven. Sir Barton was the first in 1919 with Affirmed the last in 1978. The current gap between Triple Crown winners is the longest drought in the series’ history. Other TC winners were Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assault, Citation, Seattle Slew and probably the most famous: Secretariat in 1973.
The leading favorites this year are American Pharoah (a 5-2 choice running from the 18th post), Dortmund at 3-1, and Carpe Diem at 8-1. Gata Del Sol in 1982 is the only horse ever to win from the 18th post position. My personal favorite is Upstart at 15-1 who will be out of post position number 19.
The Kentucky Derby like the Masters has more history associated with the event which makes the tradition extra special and more entertaining. There are so many fun facts regarding the horses; trainers and jockeys that you can overdose on all this info. I just learned that the 3-year-old colts and geldings carry 126 pounds into the race whereas the fillies only have to carry 121 pounds.
The girls get the lighter load and deservingly so. Only three fillies have ever won the Derby: Regret in 1915; Genuine Risk in 1980; and in 1988 Winning Colors defeated the boys by 7.5 lengths. Only 38 fillies have ever started in the 140-year history.
If you’re near a television set late Saturday afternoon, tune in the great race. Not only will you witness great thoroughbreds, you will also see the lives of the rich and famous unfold as yet another family seeks to become the 12th entry into the elite Triple Crown fraternity.
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at (985) 852-7745.
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