The Run for the Roses

Last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Derby was postponed until September 5. This year the 147th running of the Derby is back to its usual start, the first Saturday in May. It is the first jewel in the Triple Crown of horse racing. It is dubbed “The Run for the Roses”, stemming from the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is also known in the United States as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” because of its approximate duration.

The Kentucky Derby is only open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds, thus entrants in the 2021 race were foaled in 2018, as part of the North American foal crop of 21,181.^[4][a] The field is limited to twenty horses who qualify based on points earned in the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of designated races that was first introduced in 2013. This point system replaced the previous graded stakes race earnings system.

Most positions in the Derby starting gate are earned on the main Road, consisting of 35 races in North America plus one in Dubai. The major preps for the Kentucky Derby are the Louisiana Derby, Jeff Ruby Steaks, UAE Derby, Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby and Arkansas Derby. Each of these races provided the winner with 100 qualifying points, essentially guaranteeing that horse a berth in the Derby provided the owner pays the required nomination and entry fees. The first four of these major preps were run in late March and were won by Hot Rod Charlie, Like The King, Rebel’s Romance and Known Agenda respectively. The next three major preps were run on April 3 and were won by Bourbonic, Essential Quality and Rock Your World. The last major prep was run on April 10 and was won by Super Stock.

One qualification position is also available via the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, and another via the Japan Road. Due in part to ongoing restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic, none of these offers were accepted in 2021. These two positions reverted to qualifiers on the main Road.

The Field

The favorite for the 2021 Kentucky Derby is expected to be Essential Quality, who is undefeated in five starts including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Blue Grass Stakes. Essential Quality trains at Churchill Downs and has previously won at the track, giving him a potential “home field advantage”. His main rivals will be the Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World, Florida Derby winner Known Agenda, and Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie. There are also several highly regarded horses who were runners-up in these events, including Highly Motivated who was second in the Blue Grass, Midnight Bourbon who was second in the Louisiana Derby, and Medina Spirit who was second in the Santa Anita Derby.

The other major preps were less impressive to handicappers, and the winners will be relative longshots in the Derby. For example, Bourbonic, who won the Wood Memorial at odds of 72–1, is expected to go off at odds of about 30–1.

he post position draw was held at 11 am on Tuesday, April 27

 

Finish	Program Number	Horse	Qualifying Points	Trainer	Jockey	Morning Line Odds	Final Odds	Margin	Winnings
	1	Known Agenda	102	Todd Pletcher	Irad Ortiz Jr.	6–1
	2	Like the King	104	Wesley Ward	Drayden Van Dyke	50–1
	3	Brooklyn Strong	10	Daniel Velazquez	Umberto Rispoli	30–1
	4	Keepmeinmind	18	Robertino Diodoro	David Cohen	20–1
	5	Sainthood	40	Todd Pletcher	Corey Lanerie	50–1
	6	O Besos	25	Greg Foley	Marcelino Pedroza	20–1
	7	Mandaloun	52	Brad Cox	Florent Geroux	12–1
	8	Medina Spirit	74	Bob Baffert	John Velazquez	15–1
	9	Hot Rod Charlie	110	Doug O’Neill	Flavien Prat	8–1
	10	Midnight Bourbon	66	Steve Asmussen	Mike Smith	20–1
	11	Dynamic One	40	Todd Pletcher	Jose Ortiz	20–1
	12	Helium	50	Mark Casse	Julien Leparoux	50–1
	13	Hidden Stash	32	Vicki Oliver	Rafael Bejarano	50–1
	14	Essential Quality	140	Brad Cox	Luis Saez	2–1
	15	Rock Your World	100	John Sadler	Joel Rosario	5–1
n/a	16	King Fury	20	Kenneth McPeek	Brian Hernandez Jr.	20–1	Scratched[c]	n/a	n/a
	17	Highly Motivated	50	Chad Brown	Javier Castellano	10–1
	18	Super Stock	109	Steve Asmussen	Ricardo Santana Jr.	30–1
	19	Soup and Sandwich	40	Mark Casse	Tyler Gaffalione	30–1
	20	Bourbonic	100	Todd Pletcher	Kendrick Carmouche	30–1

There also Derby Traditions

In addition to the race itself, several traditions play a significant role in the Derby atmosphere. The mint julep—an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint, and sugar syrup—is the traditional beverage of the race. The historic beverage comes served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup. However, most Churchill Downs patrons sip theirs from souvenir glasses (first offered in 1939 and available in revised form each year since) printed with all previous Derby winners. Also, burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby.

The infield—a spectator area inside the track—offers general admission prices but little chance of seeing much of the race, particularly before the jumbotron installation in 2014. Instead, revelers show up in the infield to party with abandon. By contrast, “Millionaire’s Row” refers to the expensive box seats that attract the rich, the famous and the well-connected. Women appear in elegant outfits lavishly accessorized with large, elaborate hats. Following the Call to the Post, as the horses start to parade before the grandstands, the University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band plays Stephen Foster‘s “My Old Kentucky Home.” This song is a tradition which began in 1921. The event attracts spectators from a large area, flying in hundreds of private aircraft to Louisville International Airport.

The Derby is frequently referred to as “The Run for the Roses“, because a lush blanket of 554 red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. The tradition originated in 1883 when New York City socialite E. Berry Wall presented roses to ladies at a post-Derby party. Churchill Downs founder and president, Col. M. Lewis Clark, attended that event. This gesture is believed to have led Clark to the idea of making the rose the race’s official flower. However, it was not until 1896 that any recorded account referred to draping roses on the Derby winner. The Governor of Kentucky awards the garland and the Kentucky Derby Trophy. Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed the song “Run for the Roses“, released in time for the 1980 running of the race.

“Riders Up!” is the traditional command from the Paddock Judge for jockeys to mount their horses in advance of the upcoming race. Since 2012, a dignitary or celebrity attendee recites this phrase.

There is also a Kentucky Derby Festival which starts the two week run up to race day, It was cancelled last year due the pandemic. I’m not sure it took place this year either, since the pandemic is just starting to abate and there has been considerable civil unrest in Louisville where amny of the festivities take place.

ek hornbeck noted the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” is one of the most racist anthems in sports.

The race will be broadcast by NBC, with coverage by NBCSN of undercard races beginning at 12:30 PM EDT and main network coverage of pre-race activities starting at 2:30 PM EDT. It will also be livestreamed on NBCSports.com. The estimated post time is 7:01 PM.

I’ll post the winner and the finish for the rest of the field as it comes available.

The winner is Medina Spirit.