run for the roses

It was a great day at Churchill.  The juleps were flowing.  The hats were huge.  The odds were long and the racing was intense. In a mild upset, Animal Kingdom won today's Run for the Roses.  I’m no expert handicapper, but I didn’t see that coming.  Neither, by the way, did a lot of those that you would call experts.  I offer you my post-race thoughts and a brief look forward.

Uncle Mo has been ruled out of the Kentucky Derby.  It’s a sad day for the first leg of the triple crown.  It was shaping up nicely, with four or five really quality horses that would all be fighting down to the wire.  Now, the race’s biggest name is out; but the race might have just gotten better.

It’s just about that time.  Post time (and party time?).  Time for (enchanted mornings?) the most exciting afternoon in horse racing.  Time for comically large floppy hats, mint juleps and some mile and a quarter racing.  That’s right, it’s Kentucky Derby time and I for one, am pretty excited.