LOUISVILLE, Ky. Twenty horses barreling towards the first turn in a battle for position. A screaming crowd of 150,000 and perhaps some rain that dampens the dirt strip at Churchill Downs.
It’s the 150th Kentucky Derby. Aside from a few early betting favorites, it’s an open race.
Post time is 6:57 pm EDT on Saturday. The forecast calls for 79 degrees (26 Celsius) and cloudy skies with 82% humidity and a 20% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. The dirt surface was improved to good in the early afternoon after being muddy for the start of the day’s running.
Fans stormed the gates of Churchill Downs in colorful outfits and large plumed hats. They lined up to buy mint juleps in souvenir cups. Cigar smoke snaked through the humid air.
The wet weather could benefit six horses who have won in mud or mud before, including early favorites Fierceness and Sierra Leone. The others with experience on messy surfaces are Dornoch, Just a Touch, Mystik Dan and Society Man.
The Derby will answer the eternal question of which 3-year-old can best run 1 1/4 miles in front of the biggest crowd he’s ever seen and heard.
Ferocity and jockey John Velazquez will come from 17th, which has never produced a derby winner.
The most expensive colt in the 20-horse field is Sierra Leone at $2.3 million.
“A lot of times you buy an expensive horse like this and he can’t run,” said Peter Brandt, one of the six owners. “We were very, very lucky that he made it this far. We’re looking forward to this race, but we’re also looking forward to the future of caring for this horse.”
On the other hand, Larry Demeritte only shelled out $11,000 to buy Saratoga West. The 74-year-old Bahamian native has won 180 races and nearly $5 million in cash since he began training in 1984. Demeritte is only the second black trainer since 1951 to saddle a horse for the classic.
“It’s really amazing how we got to this position with this horse,” he said.
The winner of the Kentucky Derby earns $3.1 million from a record purse of $5 million.
For the second year in a row, Japan has two entries: Forever Young and TO Password. The country never won the race.
This year’s race is also one for the ages. D. Wayne Lukas, the 88-year-old trainer with four Kentucky Derby victories, rides Just Steel. Frankie Dettori, the famous Italian jockey, is back to ride Society Man at the age of 53 after a 24-year absence.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who rides Fierceness, is in the Kentucky Derby for the 24th year and never gets old. He won twice.
“It actually makes it even more stressful,” he said.
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AP Horse Racing:
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