Back to Home > Sunday, May 07, 2006 Sports Posted on Sun, May. 07, 2006 email this print this rep... Is the Kentucky Derby over

Easily regarded as one of the biggest betting holidays of the year, the Kentucky Derby is most often overlooked simply as that rather than for the stories that come out of the race.

It's finishes such as Giacomo's that draw crowds of more than 100,000 each year for a race that lasts an average of two minutes. For a nontraditional sport to attract a Super Bowl-like crowd including its share of celebrities on Millionaire's Row speaks volumes about the event.

Most people know next to nothing about the field of horses and jockeys but tune in for the compelling stories behind the race. Saturday offered its share with Bob Baffert, the face of the Derby, trying to become just the fourth trainer to win four Derbies.

There was also trainer Mike Matz's return to the Derby after surviving a plane accident and Lawyer Ron entering the Derby after winning six straight races.

Each year casual viewers and horse racing aficionados watch in hopes of witnessing the next Secretariat-like story as the Derby builds up for a chance at the Triple Crown.

Probably 95 percent of Americans who watched the Kentucky Derby on Saturday won't watch another horse race this year. But they'll be back next May to watch the festivities from Louisville.

If we're going to ogle, we should at least give credit where credit is due: to the jockeys and trainers - and especially the horses, who race for nothing more than the bag of oats waiting for them back in the stable.

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