I don't know what time anything really is anymore, Roger...I just record hat I wanna see when I wanna see it.
There was one yellow feathered hat that was the size of a kitchen sink....
Once upon time, the Kentucky Derby was a BIG THING in my year -- I never missed it, introduced many of my near and dear to the TV racing season, and we often indulged in viewing parties and other revelry.
Then, several things happened --
Dick Francis died. (He was the original inspiration for my interest in racing.) Also, there were a rapid series of horse tragedies surrounding the Triple Crown season, which made me more anxious than joyful when watching a race. So, I moved on.
C'est la vie . . . though I sometimes still wear my 'racing pins' on Derby Day, and check out the kitchen sink-sized hats online. ;-)
Naming registered thoroughbreds is getting harder and harder... I think each time a new registered thoroughbred is born, they have to find a name no other registered thoroughbred has used before. They probably misspelled it on purpose, so they could use the name.
I watch every it year. Those 3.5 hours of waiting for two minutes of excitement are worth it. The great Canadian horse Northern Dancer won in 1964 and still holds the 3rd fastest time ever.
American Pharoah was meant to be its name from a winning entry in a competition, but the entry was misspelled and they just basically copy/pasted it into the registration
From the American Jockey Club....
""The name request for the 2012 colt American Pharoah was submitted electronically on January 25, 2014, through The Jockey Club's interactive registration site," Gagliano said. "Since the name met all of the criteria for naming and was available, it was granted exactly as it was spelled on the digital name application. We wish Zayat Stables and American Pharoah continued success."
It's a pigs ear to rename in a birth certificate which is what the registration is to all intents and purposes
I'll bet you do, Cliff . . . Oops! I mean Clif! ;-)
@Abbie (off-topic) -- Kudos on being a Dick Frances fan! As a preteen, I received 'Forfeit' as a birthday gift, and was hooked. I went straight to the public library and started checking them out in chronological order, beginning with the first. I've collected them all, through the years, most in the hardcover version, and have read and reread them. They've become comfort food for my mind. I was lucky enough to exchange several letters with the author, back in the '80s. Pure bliss for this overgrown fangirl! :-)
@Abbie (on-topic) -- As for American Pharoah's name -- I remember Oprah Winfrey saying her name situation came about similarly . . . misspelled on the birth certificate. She was meant to be called 'Orpah', after a character from the Book of Ruth.
One of the best books I have ever read is "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand. It tells the story of how a runty little thoroughbred with sprung knees managed to beat "better" horses race after race. It's also a story about jockeys, and some of that is pretty horrific. Not an easy life by a long stretch.
Here is a wonderful video of Seabiscuit's legendary face-off race with the celebrated champion War Admiral:
When I was a kid I read a book called "Old Bones", which was about the legendary race horse Exterminator. He preceded Seabiscuit, and according to Wikipedia: "His career record of 33 stakes wins has never been broken by any thoroughbred raced in North America."
Seabiscuit was runty, while Exterminator was very tall but so awkward and ungainly he earned the nickname "Old Bones", "That Goat" and "The Galloping Hatrack". But man could he run.
I love racehorse names - "American Pharoah" is a great one. So is Citation, Affirmed, California Chrome, Man O' War (relative of War Admiral), Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and my favorite racehorse name - Whirlaway.
And then there's the tragic story of Ruffian - a two-year-old mare who was an amazing racer, but, during a face-off race with another winner, Foolish Pleasure, she broke her leg and was finally put down. Here are the details:
"Ruffian was the greatest horse at under a mile. Maybe even the greatest ever. She could sprint or stay and would beat anyone and everyone they threw at her. But on that fateful day she would face a colt for the first time in her life. At the start she banged her left shoulder on the starting gate and swerved hard on her right foot. But despite any pain she kept running and in a few strides she was dead even with Foolish Pleasure. After a brisk three furlongs a flock of birds flew in front of them and the great filly's ankle snapped. But she kept running pulverizing her sesamoids ripping the bone through her skin until finally after 100 yards she stopped. After 8 hours of trying to save Ruffian's life, she was finally put to rest. Her final resting place is in the infield at Belmont Park, with her nose pointed towards the finish line."
