CharlieW

The Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday for the 135th year. It is a very big deal in Kentucky. 2 questions, Does the rest of the country even know about it? How does it rank with other sporting events, like the Indy 500?

Redlemon

Up in New England, it gets about a week of pre-event coverage in the newspapers.

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djtestudo

It gets a lot of play here in Maryland, since we're a major horse-breeding/racing state.

At the very least, it ends up a prelude to the biggest event in the state every year: the Preakness.

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hunnychile

How about the Preakness today?
The filly, Rachael Alexander - went all the way!! Her jockey rode the winner from the Derby.

Fantastic!!!

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Bacchanal

Her jockey also rode her to win the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby, which is why he made the switch for the Preakness. She is the best horse he's ever ridden according to him.

To answer the original question: it gets national coverage on NBC, and I'll guaranty it's simulcasted to every dog and horse track in the country. I worked 7 years in the racing industry, and the Derby was always one of the busiest days of the year, if not the busiest.

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PonyPotato

Even though it was great to see a filly win the Preakness (girl power!) I was still pulling for Mine That Bird since I'd love to see a Triple Crown winner during my lifetime. Another half a furlong and I think he would have caught her - I hope he wins the Belmont. I doubt Rachel Alexandra will run in the Belmont - her running style just doesn't work with a race that long.

Why do these horses only have one year where they can try to win the Triple Crown?

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Xerxys

Calling Sabrina_Fair, calling Sabrina_Fair ....

**cups mouth**

SAAAABRRRIIIIIIINNNAAAAAA!!!!

Never once ... ever watched the derby!!! I only know it involves horses, of that too I'm sure I'm wrong!

djtestudo

I was hoping that Mine that Bird would win, with Rachel Alexandria coming in a close second setting up an epic Belmont. And that almost happened, and still sets up a pretty good Belmont.

I'm also reveling in how the goobers who run the Preakness spent all day Saturday scrambling to spin their stupidity in banning BYO beverages from the infield and alienating a full third of their paying customer base when there was already at least a 15-20% chance that this time next year Pimlico will be well on it's way to being the Raceway Shopping Center.

__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

ring

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