South Dakota Top Blogs

News, notes, and observations from the James River Valley in northern South Dakota with special attention to reviewing the performance of the media--old and new. E-Mail to MinneKota@gmail.com

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Screw politics and head for the starting gate for May 4


We haven't seen the first robin in Aberdeen yet, and wonder why these harbingers seem to come up here later and later with the passing years.  So, we rely upon another harbinger, the horse race season, to get the feel for spring.  The Kentucky Derby is only a month away. The contenders field is beginning to take shape.

It is time to put aside politics and look at something more beautiful and interesting.  Horses may be quirky, sometimes ornery, but they are quite few steps up the behavioral ladder than politicos, and what is written about them escapes the petty posturing and nastiness that comprises political discourse.  



On Saturday there were two races where one can get a sighting and some good possibilities for contention.  At Gulfstream Park, 18 miles north of Miami on the coast, The Florida Derby was run.  The winner was a colt named Orb, who was held back into mid-field
Orb






at the start of the race, but at the second turn he put on a burst of speed and passed up three horses battling it out for first place.  It was his fourth win at Gulfstream.  Although Orb had already qualified for the Kentucky Derby, he added another 100 points and $600,000 to his qualifications. 

Revolutionary
At the Fair Grounds race track in New Orleans, the Louisiana Derby was run.  The winner was Revolutionary.   He hung back second from last at the beginning of the race, and then glided past the entire field to win the race by a neck and earn 100 points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. 

A horse that did not run Saturday but is handicapped as the favorite is a stable mate of Revolutionary's,
Verrazano
Verrazano.  He has run every race he's been in, and will run this Saturday in the Woods Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, N.Y. 

Here is a list of the Kentucky Derby contenders by Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert of The New York Times.


1 comment:

Kal Lis said...

Derby Day also coincides with Free Comic Book Day. It's like Geek Independence day, truly one of my favorite days of the year. (I do break faith with true Derby fans. If I have a drink it will be scotch not bourbon.)

Blog Archive

About Me

My photo
Aberdeen, South Dakota, United States

NVBBETA