2 minutes is all you get. If you're a minute late, you miss almost all of it. If post time is 6:24 EST, be there at 6:20 ready to watch the 'fastest 2 minutes in sports'. Around the country people gather at their own houses, local bars, and at Churchill downs dressed to the nines with elaborate hats to match for a race that's over before you can finish listening to the Star Spangled Banner. Horse racing may not be talked about as such a tough, nitty-gritty, rival sport, but the blood, sweat and tears that go into training and racing are real. We may not be able to interview the horses to ask how they're feeling but their eyes, heavy breathing, excitement contained in their haunches, tells their jockey that they're ready. Locked into the starting gate, the longest seconds of the day for these thoroughbreds... but then we hear... 'And they're off!'There is a certain athletic grace that you can only find in horses, not just in thoroughbreds and racing horses, but when watching these 3-year old horses it's almost chilling the power and grace they display. For some it's difficult to think that a near 2,000 lb animal can be so majestic, however the beauty is hard to match. I rode horses (equestrian jumping) for near 7 years it's not the same as thoroughbred racing, but to be a top such a graceful animal is exhilarating. These horses are built to run, that's what they want to do. You can see it when they are guided onto the track, not able to walk straight or calmly, impatiently waiting to start. Right out of the gates, the power in their legs and their drive to run gives the jockey's an almost seemingly easy job.
This year's field of 19 3-year old horses in the 136th running of the Derby was filled with favorites (Mucho Macho Man, Dialed In) and long-shots (Decisive Moment, Watch Me Go) it seemed possible that it was almost anyone's race unlike years past when horses like Big Brown and Smarty Jones were near guarantees for the roses. Every horse and their jockey this year had a shot. Veteran Calvin Borel a top Twice the Appeal isn't one to count out especially in winning three of the last four Derby's, but then rookie Rosie Napravnik riding Pants on Fire had a chance to become the first female jockey to win. However, the only expected horse and rider to do well, finished in 3rd, Mucho Macho Man couldn't hold of the last turn charge from the eventual winner. A 30-1 odds horse, at one point was in 12th place, and a jockey who wasn't even supposed to ride him came around the last turn found an opening, took off to the finish line and no one could stop them.
Animal Kingdom wasn't even the trainer H. Graham Motion's 1st choice. Originally scheduled to race was Toby's Corner, a viable Derby contender, but came up lame on Tuesday morning. Leaving Motion with the difficult choice of entering Animal Kingdom, a horse who before Saturday had never raced on dirt. Jockey Robby Albarado entered to then ride Animal Kingdom slipped off Smokin' Al on Wednesday causing the horse to step on his face and despite a few days of rest, Motion and owner of Animal Kingdom Barry Irwin had to make the difficult decision of scratching him from the race on Saturday. Lucky for John Velazquez, who originally was a top Uncle Mo, found himself without a mount after he was scratched. Velazquez rode Animal Kingdom for the first time in his 13th Derby appearance. #13 doesn't seem so unlucky anymore.
Watching Animal Kingdom take off in the final home-stretch to his eventual victory, is exciting for anyone watching except for Albarado, but that's the reality. Alabarado knowing he was supposed to be the jockey on top of Albarado, could only stand idly on the side as another jockey took his victory. Are we able to, however, assume that he still would have won if Valazquez wasn't the jockey? Would Albarado have raced differently and come out with a different result? It's something we'll never know.
Like any other sport, one 'athlete' wanted it more, while a jockey can do everything they can to win, it's ultimately coming down to the horse. A 110 lb man (or woman) can put as much power into the race, but the 1,800 thoroughbred horse is in the driver's seat. Some may argue that these horses don't understand what we do when there is a victory, but we can't see into their minds. Animal Kingdom with the assistance of his jockey ran better, smarter and faster whether he knows it or not.
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