"RIDERS UP!"

[A HERETIC I AM]

Regardless of how you feel about thoroughbred racing, there's something about the Kentucky Derby that makes me feel good about this country. Traditions like the Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May, the Indy 500 on the day before Memorial day, these things mark the start of Summer and remind me of the things that are good and decent in America.


Happy Derby Day.


"Riders UP!"

May it be a safe race.

[Booster]

1. COME ON, GENERAL QUARTERS. (lump in my throat now)

[MissB]

2. I'll echo your sentiment for a safe race.

[elleng]

3. Sloppy track, grey sky, scratching favorite

has turned me off this one.

Gotta watch.

[malaise]

4. RIght here watching

Hope it's safe.

[kywildcat]

5. Happy Derby Day!

Our Senators may be crap, but out races are top notch!

[spanone]

6. they're off !!!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. ANNND They're off!

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. Yaaahooo! The fifty-to-one shot wins it!

Proof that you should always put at least a two-spot on the longshot.

[Debi]

8. c'Mon Hold Me Back!!!

:woohoo:

[malaise]

9. Mine that Bird

What an upset.

sp

[Debi]

38. Not for anyone who bet on him!

:woohoo:

[merh]

10. 50 to 1 longshot

who'd a thunk (that's the ones I like to put my $2 on) :thumbsup:

[spiderpig]

13. I'm always so happy when an under-horse wins!

What does the name mean, anyway?:fistbump:

[merh]

21. Here you go

Pedigree

Mine That Bird is the leading runner so far by millionaire Birdstone, who carved out a permanent niche in racing history by foiling Smarty Jones' Triple Crown bid in the 2004 Belmont S. (G1). A son of 1996 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Grindstone, and a grandson of 1990 Derby hero Unbridled, Birdstone stamped himself as a classic contender when capturing the Champagne S. (G1) at two. Unfortunately, the spring of his three-year-old season did not go according to plan, and he could manage only eighth in the Run for the Roses. The real Birdstone reappeared in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, rolling home late to inflict the first and only defeat upon Smarty Jones. Later that summer, Birdstone added the prestigious Travers S. (G1) to his resume. Given his proficiency at distances of 1 1/4 miles and beyond, he promises to pass on his abundant stamina. Birdstone already has two Derby contenders in his very first crop, with Arkansas Derby (G2) third Summer Bird joining Mine That Bird in the starting gate.

Mine That Bird is the first foal from the unraced Mining My Own, who is by Smart Strike, sire of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Preakness (G1) and the third-place finisher in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. The 1996 Grade 1 winner is a relatively new broodmare sire and will have the opportunity to shine for years to come.

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/racing-information/contenders/mine-bird/pedigree

[spiderpig]

27. Thanks, merh! I'm a total ignoramus when it comes to horse racing

but I'm completely in awe of the magnificence of these animals. I once read an analysis of athletes and which sports required the most strength, endurance, concentration, etc. - and jockeys were number one. No wonder - these guys sure are one with their horse.

[merh]

31. I just got teary eyed when the current horse trainer took the time

to give credit and name Mine that bird's first trainer, the Canadian trainer.

He didn't have to do that but he did and it was terrific.

[spiderpig]

35. You're not alone being weepy.

What a story!:cry:

[merh]

39. The trainer is just a good guy

I mean, he didn't have to give a call out to the Canadian trainer, that was just incredible. He is now on my list of people I'd like to met.

[spiderpig]

41. Me too. And Sam Shepard can play him in the movie!

:popcorn:

[merh]

44. Isn't Sam Shepard too old

Why not George Clooney, I mean the guy likes his motorcycles and the horses.

[spiderpig]

45. You''re right. Sam's older than I am!

I was just thinking of "The Right Stuff" where he played Chuck Yeager - guts and integrity personified. Time flies when you're having fun.

I'm always ready for some Clooney, myself!

[merh]

46. Clooney could pull it off

[Glimmer of Hope]

11. That was amazing!

[malaise]

14. They won both the Oaks and the Derby

How cool is that?

[A HERETIC I AM]

18. Love the fact that it's sort of a Cinderella story...

The horse was brought to the track not in a plush, 18 wheeler horse transport, but a regular horse trailer hauled behind a pickup truck, trained by a first time derby entrant.

[malaise]

20. Really sweet

The trainer is on crutches.

[Glimmer of Hope]

19. Not bad for a $9,500 horse.

[spanone]

15. i love an upset like this!!!!!!!!!!!

[Booster]

16. 50 TO 1 - DAMN.

[kentuck]

17. That is the same jockey that rode the filly that was on Rachel's show last night

WOW! He loves the rail!

[malaise]

22. Yep - Oaks and Derby

Should have followed that hint from Rachel Alexander yesterday.
A 21 hour drive with one foot broken.

[TahitiNut]

36. That's the happiest jockey I've ever seen. No pretense with him. What a kick!

:applause:

[spiderpig]

43. Dang - this whole event made my day. My week!

:loveya:

[havocmom]

47. Gotta root for Calvin's ride, no matter who it is

The man is so out there with joy it spreads!

[elleng]

23. He's a GELDING!!!

.

[elleng]

24. Did you see that rerun, ALL ALONG THE RAIL!

.

[bklyncowgirl]

32. That was Calvin Bo Rail!

He's famous for that move.

[panader0]

25. I had a vasectomy!

[havocmom]

48. LOL Saddle up!

yee HAW

[TahitiNut]

34. Can you imagine the millions in stud fees they'll lose out on?

:wow:

[bklyncowgirl]

37. Yup, no early retirement to the stud farm for Mind That Bird.

Like Funny Cide he'll race for quite a few years barring injury.

When his racing days were over, Funny Cide's trainer kept him as a stable pony for a while. Because of back injuries that interfered with his duties as a pony he was retires last year to the Kentucky Horse Park where he's spoiled by visitors.

I envision a similar future for Mind that Bird.

[A HERETIC I AM]

26. WOW. On the overhead replay, it looked like that horse had another gear...

like he put it in overdrive at the top of the stretch and everyone else was only using 3 speeds.


Great race.

[bklyncowgirl]

40. Yeah those other horses were backing up. Great race! nt

[bklyncowgirl]

28. Holy Shit! $9,000 horse. Trainer drove him himself from New Mexico to Kentucky.

He beat the sheiks, he beat the millionaires. The other horses got to Churchill on airplanes. This horse got there in the back of a pickup. God Damn there is justice in this world!

[Elwood P Dowd]

30. Incredible story!

Just incredible.

:toast:

[bklyncowgirl]

33. That's while I still love horse racing.

You just never know. It's all about the horse. He didn't know he was a longshot.

[malaise]

42. With a trainer with a broken ankle

on crutches. And they won the Oaks yesterday.
Justice for the little guy for a change.

[Cirque du So-What]

29. Good and decent...

I've had plenty of good beer and seen lots of decent boobies at the Churchill Downs infield on Derby Day...and I wouldn't have it any other way!

[Forkboy]

49. It always makes me think of Hunter S. Thompson.

[nonconformist]

50. My husband picked Mine that Bird!

Not a bet, unfortunately. *sigh* Our family always makes blind picks just going by the horse's name the morning of the race. We're NEVER right, none of us. He's at work right now, but he's going to be so stoked when he finds out that his horse was a 50-1 and WON!

Awesome race!