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THE KENTUCKY DERBY ybSports staff
Russ Harris ybSports File Photo
Black holes, novas, galaxies, and nebulas…all “things” associated with deep outerspace. “Things”, that transcend time, and continue to capture our imagination at every age. Over and over again.
Science has taught us that these “things” are light years away from us. This we know because of space exploration and math. As much as some of us would like to believe, we simply can’t catch a flight to any sector of space that we desire. Just ask NASA, the ticket price would be well out of our reach for starters, then there are the time constraints. Anyone got a few weeks to spare for travel? The Super bowl, Wimbledon, the World cup, March Madness and The Olympics… all things associated with earthly venues. These “things” also transcend time, and yes, even they continue to capture our imagination. Television has taught us that these “things” are simply mere hours away from us. This we know because of cable.
Every year of the calendar year on the first Saturday in May, The Kentucky Derby is contested in Louisville, Kentucky. Local weather reports are forecasting heavy rains the night before the Derby in Louisville so the 126th running of the Derby might be run on a sloppy track. But neither rain, nor dark clouds will disturb the beauty, and the pageantry of the Derby, and the track’s ambiance will not be any less brilliant on Saturday than it has been in previous years because of the presence of inclement weather. In fact, the sales of Mint Juleps from previous years have not dropped off because of bad weather if you believe the concessions reports.
Billed as the fastest two minutes in sports, it is often much too short to fulfill our craving and hunger, but just long enough to keep us wanting for more. Louisville is a fascinating city to visit and it offers visitors some of the country’s most amazing attractions. A tour of the “Louisville slugger” baseball factory and museum will leave any fan of sports mesmerized and euphoric.
The museum’s center piece is a section that contains baseball bats that have been signed by some of the most gifted players ever to play the game. This is definitely for the baseball lover in you. Then there is Freedom Hall. The venerable college basketball arena made famous by its’ legendary coach Joe B. Hall. I’ve covered many of the big time basketball programs along the east coast and sure, their arenas are large, expensive and antiseptic looking, but they are void of coziness, but not Freedom Hall. Although spacious, and very loud nothing quite compares to the intimacy that Freedom Hall offers its' beloved cardinals and its' famous coach Ricky "P".
So if you are going to Louisville and time is permissible, there is one little thing you might want to consider while you're there and that would be taking a stroll across the second street bridge. It’s a bridge of rather ordinary appearance that spans the Ohio River and connects one part of Louisville with another. The Second street bridge is simply put, very common looking except for one minor thing… it just happens to be the same bridge where one of sports most recognizable faces, (Muhammed Ali) threw his USA Olympic Gold Medal from into the Ohio River one night after returning to Louisville from the Olympics.
Then there’s the Kentucky Derby…and all that comes with it. This is where your mind can overload thinking about the multitude of amazing sights and sounds you will see and hear. You want beauty…half of Hollywood’s starlets will be there. What’s that you say, show you somebody with dough and lots of it! How about Air, as in Air Jordan. That’s Michael Jordan, as in the owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats basketball team and still proud owner of the title(the world's greatest basketball player, ever). Mike has made Churchill his personal hangout on derby day.
Do you like long automobile processions and heavy security? Well, I’ve got just the thing for you, political diplomats! How about those dignitaries, when was the last time a high- ranking diplomat missed a Triple Crown Race? Which one would you guess will be there this year soaking up all of the attention? This years’ race pits some very accomplished three-year-olds against one another in this grueling one and one quarter mile sprint vying for the 2 million dollar purse. Churchill is still one of the few premier racing surfaces that still use traditional dirt as its topsoil. What’s that you say? I didn’t give you enough or any history on who’s competed at Churchill? Hmmm, let me see. Does the name Man O’ War ring any bells? No? How about The Biscuit, John Henry, Secretariat, Real Quiet, Rachael Alexandra, Big Brown, Smarty Jones, Fusiachi Pegasus, Point Given, and Barbaro to name a few. Do any of these names move you? They should. At one glorious time or another they’ve all graced the front stretch between the majestic Twin Spires with their presence. All of them, remarkable in their efforts and still unforgettable to us.
And yes to this day, they all still transcend time and they continue to capture our imagination and our hearts.
