Kentucky Derby: The Agony of Defeat

The pain starts in the shin, wraps around the back of the leg and creeps up into the lower back. That’s the pain of walking miles and miles around Churchill Downs over a week’s time and it’s incomparable to what the connections of Forever Young and Sierra Leone must feel after coming up inches short of winning the Kentucky Derby.

The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby delivered in the best way possible. Patrons were welcomed to the racetrack with a beautiful spring day that didn’t make men sweat through their tailored suits. Anticipation bubbled in the air throughout the day until the horses reached the starting gate for post time at the Kentucky Derby.

Brian Hernandez guided Mystik Dan down the rail and the horse appeared to pull away down the stretch, but only for a moment. Forever Young and Sierra Leone were closing quickly, but could they catch him? The latter had enough in the tank, but couldn’t stay in a straight line.

“I felt like I had plenty of horse,” said Sierra Leone’s rider, Tyler Gafflione. “He wanted to lean in today and made it a little difficult. I had a hard time keeping him straight and that definitely cost us. He gives you everything, very responsive but he loses concentration.”

That lean-in on Forever Young frustrated many of the Japanese horse’s backers, who believed an inquiry could’ve moved him up to second. They weren’t as gracious as Chad Brown, Sierra Leone’s trainer who is still searching for his first Derby winner.

“You get beat a nose in the Kentucky Derby, it’s a tough one,” said Brown. “But he’s a tremendous horse, nearly undefeated. I’m just so lucky to have him, so proud of his effort today. He did what we asked him to do, just came up a little bit short.”

Life is a game of inches. Having grace after coming up inches short in an agonizing defeat is admirable.

Quiet after the Kentucky Derby Chaos

Something unusual happened following the Kentucky Derby. A frequent flyer to the Infield on the biggest race day of the year, I’m familiar with the roars that follow the horses. For the first time, there was not a roar once the horses crossed the finish line.

A quiet confusion filled the air. It was eerie.

Hours of build-up for the two-minute sprint ended dramatically with uncertainty. Nobody knew who won. Most in the crowd thought Mystik Dan held on, but no one holding a No. 3 ticket was willing to begin the celebration until a replay was shown. Even then, the response was tepid. Once the photo finish was revealed, my elated neighbor could finally exhale and enjoy a winning Pick 4 wager.

All-Time Oaks Downpour

Thurby brought the heat, quite literally. A day after sweaty, long lines, patrons got cooled down by off-and-on rain on Oaks Day. It was welcomed with open arms. The poncho stayed packed away until the clouds began to roll in just after Thorpedo Anna crossed the finish line first. What followed was a Derby Week tradition, the post-race downpour.

I’ve been stuck in plenty of those. The protocol is simple: hide under the tarp for a good old-fashioned tarp party. This was an extended one. After about 30 minutes, my friend told us to peek out underneath the tarp: we were the only people still in the middle of the Infield. My hat is still drying out from the deluge.

New Kentucky Derby Fashion

Speaking of hats, what once was excluded for Derby Day has now become a year-round trend. Yankee Doodle called it macaroni, but I’m not sure what the trendsetters are saying to describe wide-brimmed hats that are covered in different fabrics and feathers. One person I spotted at a post-Derby party had a used match tucked into the side of his hat and I don’t think I’ve seen anything cooler in my life.

The new development in this year’s fashion is the wife beater. Yes, the ribbed sleeveless shirt is back in style, but only if it’s worn beneath a suit. It was all of the rage all Derby weekend among the racetrack’s most stylish guests, a category which does not include myself.

Travis Stone’s Incredible Kentucky Derby Call

Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone is the best of the best. How can you tell? The key to the race was punctuated by Stone in real-time. “Mystik Dan cut the corner!” The drama could be felt through his voice until they reached the finish line. “Here’s the wire — PHOTO FINISH — three noses on the wire, Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone, and Forever Young in an International Thriller!”

Listen as the voice of the Kentucky Derby, @TravisStone, calls the incredible 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/FbDLqFeqnq

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 5, 2024

HUGE Kentucky Derby Ratings

The world watched the finish in awe. On the same day NBC extended its contract with the first leg of the Triple Crown through 2032, the Kentucky Derby drew an average of 16.7 million viewers, the most since 1989. It peaked from 7-7:15 pm with 20.1 million viewers, the leargest peak audience ever for a Kentucky Derby on NBC.

It Only Takes One Big Win at the Kentucky Derby

Friday afternoon I was devastated by a mistake. Three others trusted me to put together a Pick 5 ticket. We singled the opener and continued riding the good vibes until the last leg. In the final race a 20-1 Mike Maker horse crossed the finish line first. I was betting Mike Maker horses all day, surely I didn’t throw it out on accident, right? Wrong.

I kicked myself for making that costly $850 mistake until the American Turf. Graham Motion’s turf horses always get at least a second look and on Kentucky Derby Day I was willing to wager a little extra on the long shot. Trikari finished first at 47-to-1. For the first time in a long time, I finished my week of wagering with more money in my pocket than when I started. It only takes one.

This is Expert Analysis

Thanks to everyone who tuned in for all of our coverage leading into the Kentucky Derby. The response from folks I saw last week was overwhelming. It’s a grind, but it’s all worth it. Thousands of folks checked out what a multitude of racing experts had to say about the race on the KSR YouTube Channel. They provided excellent insight, but none of them could replicate Kaitlin Free’s performance. A frequent contributor on the big screen from the Paddock, in the interview below she basically described exactly how the race would unfold the day before it happened. Unreal.

Handicapper and passionate about Horse Racing, KAITLIN FREE @kaitlinefree shared with Carlos Morales her analysis and picks for the 150th edition of the KENTUCKY DERBY pic.twitter.com/NlzmC7ZW3M

— Agentes305 (@agentes305) May 4, 2024