This year’s Kentucky Derby was a lot closer than most would have thought. Coming off a disappointing 3rd place finish in the Preakness, everyone thought that Camelot would finally have his day. But then, almost unnoticed, an 18th century painting became an overnight sensation, and suddenly, America’s most prestigious horse race was back in the news.
Camelot’s owner, Doug Jones, made headlines when he purchased the infamous painting, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” for a whopping price tag of $16.2 million. The acquisition made him the sixth-highest bidder of the night. As you might imagine, the painting’s notoriety made it worth its weight in gold. It turned out to be a good investment for Jones, as he went on to win the Kentucky Derby with his other horse, Candy Boy.
Unfortunately, Jones’ good fortune didn’t last. He subsequently went bankrupt and had to be rescued by friends and family. But even then, his problems didn’t end there. He went on to face criminal charges for allegedly trying to bribe an Indiana horse racing official to fix the results of a race. In the end, he was convicted only of a misdemeanor and had to pay a $15,000 fine.
Other famous Kentucky Derby losers include Native Dancer (1962), Gallant Man (1977), and Strike the Gold (1992). But perhaps the most heartbreaking story comes from the the horse that arguably deserved to win the most, Big Pink. In 1945, Big Pink, owned by John T. Woolf, Sr., was the heavy favorite for the Kentucky Derby. However, after getting jockeyed out at the quarter-mile mark, he collapsed and died from internal bleeding. Woolf subsequently lost all of his horses, including Big Pink. In 2011, the original Big Pink was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. It was a great loss for the family, and many consider it one of the greatest broken-heart stories in the history of the sport.
No one knows for sure how many times the favorite has lost the Kentucky Derby. Though it’s been a while since the last instance, since 1870, when the race was initially created, it hasn’t happened often. In fact, over the past 140 years, as we’ve seen, the favorite has only lost the derby twice. This makes it one of the most successful races in American history. The last time the favorite lost the Kentucky Derby was in 1920. Since then, the race has been won by the favorite every single time. (This includes a couple of cases where the favorite finished 2nd, such as in 1926 and 1930.)
The Importance Of History
Why study history? It’s often said that if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never get there. The same can be said about the Kentucky Derby. It’s an important milestone in the history of the sport, and to this day, many regard the Kentucky Derby as the greatest horse race in the United States. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to predict what will happen each year. In fact, as we’ve seen, the favorite has only won the Kentucky Derby twice in the past 140 years. Therefore, it would be wise to examine the facts and develop a better understanding of what makes this race so special.
The Importance Of The Media
The media plays a huge role in sports, and it’s often the case that a breakout performance in a game can lead to unexpected media coverage and increased popularity. In 1930, during the Great Depression, thoroughbred racing was at its lowest ebb. Fewer people were able to afford tickets, and those who could usually didn’t have the money to spend on a leisure activity. For the most part, horses were seen as a luxury that most people couldn’t afford. (This is also the case today. Despite the fact that horses have never been more popular, average Americans simply can’t afford them. This is probably due to the fact that our economy has shifted to being based more on digital platforms and online shopping.)
Then, in 1933, a Canadian horse named Eskimo Joe upset the apple cart and changed the whole dynamics of the horse industry. Until that point, the majority of the industry’s income had come from breeding and selling horses. However, with the discovery of a new disease, called the “foal paralysis syndrome,” that was affecting the offspring of afflicted horses, the income potential of the sport changed. (This syndrome causes leg weakness and lameness in horses that are likely to perpetuate the problem in future generations. It’s a common misconception that the horses are actually “hammered.” This is because they become useless once they’re past their prime. They’re more often than not, relegated to breeding or showing in competitions.)
The media’s coverage of the 1933 Kentucky Derby was unlike anything the sport had seen before or since. Interest in the game was at an all-time high, and even people who couldn’t afford to go to the game made plans to follow it as closely as possible via radio. The following year’s Derby was also incredibly well-attended, and fans were more than satisfied with the two winners of the previous year’s race, Sherwood and War Admiral. They were followed by other prominent horses, including the brilliant but temperamental Stormcock, who won the Belmont Stakes. (Stormcock went on to become the sire of more than 100 foals, many of which performed admirably in the sport. Unfortunately, few were able to live up to their potential due to the fact that they were mostly raised by humans, which made them susceptible to illnesses and accidents. He also had a very short life span.)
The media has an impact on sports, and on the Kentucky Derby specifically, it’s shaped perceptions of the race and helped to make it one of the most popular sporting events in the country. While we often think of the media in relation to sports, the truth is that without enough coverage and interest in the sport, it can be difficult for it to maintain its popularity and for the favorites to emerge victorious. If you want to have a chance at winning the Kentucky Derby, you need to make sure that the media knows and appreciates your role in the sport. This means that you need to be putting in the work to establish yourself as a talented jockey in the eyes of the media before the year is out. If you do your job right, it’s possible that you could go down in history as the next great American champion.