133rd Kentucky Derby

[mayormommy 8]

Others may goof off at work to fill in their NCAA basketball brackets, but for me the least productive week of the year is when I'm trying to pick my favorites for the Kentucky Derby. With 20 horses in the field, many of them with only a few races under their girth strap, it's going to be a tough race to call. So far, I like Street Sense (lives up to his name with incredible toughness), Nobizness but Shobizness (fast but distractable), Dominican (cured of his distractedness by recent gelding and a good closer, but has bad post position), and Zanjero (another good closer). But I think I may be taking some chances discounting favorites like Curlin and Scat Daddy. And what about potential overachievers like Cowtown Cat and Hard Spun? Ack, what to do? Anybody got any advice? Which ones do you like?

The field (in order of post position):

1. Sedgefield

2. Curlin

3. Zanjero

4. Storm in May

5. Imawildandcrazyguy

6. Cowtown Cat

7. Street Sense

8. Hard Spun

9. Liquidity

10. Teuflesberg

11. Bwana Bull

12. Nobizness but Showbizness

13. Sam P.

14. Scat Daddy

15. Tiago

16. Circular Quay

17. Stormello

18. Any Given Saturday

19. Dominican

20. Great Hunter

[Zelgadis 638]

Well, I can't say I follow the horses. But I love the Kentucky Derby! There's nothing quite like the entire state shutting down for the big event.

Everyone, be sure to go out and get yourself a mint julep!

ISF

[hym 358]

Well, I can't offer too much help myself because I'm not really that big on horse racing. I'd ask my aunt as she is big on horse racing, but she doesn't keep up with the stats of the horses and whatnot.

[Frankie_Grove 32]

Ah, the Kentucky Derby, I'm really not into horses, but I used to live deep in Thoroughbred country, where all those horses go to get their training for the races. I've seen most of the famous horses on various training grounds, horses worth many millions of dollars...Pretty cool to see them train and such, but I've only watched the actual Kentucky Derby once or twice.

[mayormommy 8]

Well, I should have known it would be tough to get suggestions when even my husband hasn't given me his picks (though I think he's putting Scat Daddy in some sort of trifecta). He's out of town so it's my job to run up to the OTB Saturday morning (shudder).

They claim the Queen isn't going to bet but I find that hard to believe...I wonder what her picks are...

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: mayormommy

They claim the Queen isn't going to bet but I find that hard to believe...I wonder what her picks are...quote>

The Queen never bets.  She has aides that do though.  I wonder if she owns any of the horses?  She is a renowned horsewoman.

5/5/07:  Well, its all over.  It was a pretty race.  I have never seen a jockey so happy in my life.  You would have thought he'd had twins.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Seems the queen was there

http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/050507whasckTopQueenAtChurchill.3dc26fde.html

Nice 11.80 is a nice payoff.

[Meg 368]

A very nice, come from behind victory.

[Palpatine001 57]

And yes Queen Elizabeth the Second was there

The Article covers that and poor Bush's heartache at the formality of being at a State Banquet with I would say if she decided to go Dictorial one of the most power people in the world

Anycase read here

AMERICA- For a President who would really rather serve guests a burrito or some other Tex-Mex favourite and still be in bed by 10pm, tomorrow's state banquet for the Queen could be a trying time for George Bush.

There is the attire - white tie and tails - the first time his Administration has risen to such formality. There are the constraints of etiquette - no swigging water out of plastic bottles, or wolfing down food. And then there is the conversation.

The Queen's grandson Harry is about to deploy to Iraq, and there has been speculation on America's public radio network NPR, and elsewhere, about whether the monarch might just say something to Bush about the war.

Social jitters at the White House aside, the past few days have been good for the Queen. Americans may not be taking the monarch to their hearts the way they did Diana, but they are warm, and respectful.

The Queen's first visit to America came when Dwight Eisenhower was President in 1957, and her return to Virginia after half a century has earned her almost uniformly positive coverage in the press.

The Daily Press, a regional paper, simply printed a giant headline saying: "A royal treat". The Virginia Pilot also plastered the Queen across its front page.

In Louisville, where the Queen fulfilled a lifelong ambition on Saturday by attending the Kentucky Derby, the premier event in the US racing calendar, more than two dozen employees at Churchill Downs track were given a crash course on etiquette.

Even the correspondent for the Racing Form felt obliged to offer tips on royal etiquette. There is no need for Americans to bow or curtsy, but if the Queen extends her hand, try not to shake too hard. "If the Queen extends her hand to shake yours ... try to refrain from vigorously pumping the royal arm; a brief touch is preferred."

CNN warned: "Do not touch the Queen."

The Queen will host a return banquet at the British Embassy on Wednesday.

-OBSERVER

[davidstriegel 2]

I work at churchill Downs.