Another Kentucky Derby in the Books

Another Kentucky Derby in the Books  By Matt Benjamin Q is for (EXTREMELY) Q-U-I-C-K ÂDid you watch it? The 132nd Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs on

Another Kentucky Derby in the Books

Â

By Matt Benjamin

Q is for (EXTREMELY) Q-U-I-C-K

Â
Did you watch it? The 132nd Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs on Saturday evening.

Â
I did.

Â
Or did you miss it?Â

Â
I almost did.

Â
For all the hype, for all the work, for all the money, the entire race is over faster than George O’Leary’s tenure at Notre Dame. Well, for the winning horse it is. Barbaro, and winning jockey Edgar Prado galloped to victory in 2:01.36.  Bluegrass Cat received Place, and Steppenwolfer took Show.Â

Â
It probably has something to do with the fact that I have no connection to horse racing, but it has always seemed odd to me that a year’s worth of hard work, a week’s worth of media hype, and a day’s worth of extravagant activities, mount up to a two-minute horse race.

Â
But now I realize that a quick horse race keeps the sport stable. In horse racing, time and intensity have an indirect relationship. A shorter race will ultimately serve to be more intense than a longer one. Because let’s be honest, if there ever was a marathon, or even a 5K horse race, no one would sit there watching, screaming at their television sets, “Come on Crock Pot Cooking Ramen, only 2100 more laps!”Â

Â
Just like that it was over and I almost missed it. It happened so fast.Â

Â

What’s In A Name?

Â
Seriously. What goes into naming a horse, in particular the one’s that are going to be raced on national television? What happened to the good ‘ole days when horses had regular names like, “Bob” and “Sally?” (I have no evidence to prove that times like these indeed existed).

Â
It’s hard not to wonder how much time is put into the names of certain horses, especially when so many of them are eccentric. Take Cheesecake Fall Out Boy for instance. If I had a horse I would name her this because of my overzealous appetite for cheesecake and strong appreciation for the band Fall Out Boy. Other horse names raise the question if putting together a bunch of random words is essential in creating the perfect name, like Sweetnorthernsaint (this one even lacks spacing!)Â

Â
Still the Derby wouldn’t be the same without a few tongue-twister-horse-names. They have become apart of the racing culture, and I appreciate all of them.Â
Â
Â
Triple Threat? You Betcha!
Â
On May 20, Barbaro will race at the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland. A win would set up a Triple Crown try at the Belmont Stakes on June 10 from Elmont, New York. It would be the seventh time in the last ten years that a Triple Crown attempt would still be feasible entering the last race.Â

Â
The hype of the Belmont relies heavily on the other two races, and the chance at a Triple Crown. Recent history has allowed the horse racing community a chance to see a possible Triple race winner Crowned, but will this year be similar?

Â
I must admit I am a casual fan of horse racing. It’s not my cup of tea, or bottle of glue, however you want to look at it. Still, every year come springtime I get wrapped up in the hype and pay attention to the Kentucky Derby. Something about the intensity and glamorous attire lures me in.Â

Â
As I watched intently this year on my couch, and as Barbaro began to pull away (winning by 6 1/2 lengths), I thought, “Barbaro is going to win the Triple Crown.” Like I said, I have no prior knowledge of horse racing. Still, something came over me and I felt obligated to share my prediction with all of you. Barbaro will be the first to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed did so in 1978. Â