I didn't get a chance to reference the Kentucky Derby in yesterday's blog because it was basketball heavy but I wanted to comment a bit. First of all Calvin Borel pretty much can mandate to any owner whatever amount of money he wants. It's pretty obvious he's the best jockey in a long ass time. If I was him, next year I'd ask for a fluffer - for him and the horse. But next year he needs a better hat. With that Super Saver hat on he looked like the produce manager in a local market.
The other thing that caught my eye was the post race coverage of the infield. With all the pomp and glitz of the owners boxes and turf club, you might not know that the Derby infield is pretty much filled with the same crowd as Woodstock 94. Here's this year's highlight - an impromptu mud wrestling bout.
Of course the Derby infield isn't near as rowdy as the one at Pimlico for the Preakness. Be sure to check out the highlights in a couple weeks from this race on Youtube. After banning outside alcohol and losing money last year Pimlico is now offering fans a $20 bottomless beer.
This year, organizers are adding a dash of debauchery to the infield to lure back the thousands of lost revelers such as Lotfi. They're cutting the cost of admission and offering all-you-can-drink beer. The changes are designed to boost attendance, which dropped nearly 35,000, to about 77,000, in 2009. Despite the addition of live music, a bikini contest and volleyball game, the infield was a sparsely attended shell of its former raunchy self.
"We were boycotted by the college kids, but we still believe that was the right decision," said Mike Gathagan, spokesman for the Maryland Jockey Club. "Obviously, we took something from them last year. This is trying to give something back." - Baltimore Sun
This should make for an interesting day at the track. It may even result in the return of the Running of the Urinals. I'm pretty sure this fall killed it though.
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