Derby Day

LIAM NOT WEARING A DERBY FOR THE DERBY

I have always loved horse-racing.  Started watching with my father, Charlie, at a young age. We would all gather around the TV and place our bets.  I knew all the famous horses from a board game I had. For the newbies who might never have played a board game- board games are those on which you move pieces around after you shake some die. You want to get a high number so your piece moves ahead. My horse in the game was "Native Dancer"  I have just looked him up and found we were born the same year.  I don't think I knew that at the time.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Dancer 

I remember we bet our allowances.  If we lost, Charlie would keep the money. His parenting wisdom was that you never let a child win just to be nice.  The lesson is learned in losing.  My father won a lot. I learned a lot about being a loser.

I have been to the tracks in NYC many times but never to the Kentucky Derby.

Horses

Hats

Bets

Mint Juleps

The Derby is a week after the royal wedding. Our chance to show even crazier hats than we saw last weekend.  Also a shot at making a mint julep.  We tried mint juleps one year but somehow we could not get it right and ended up with mint leaves, sugar and what tasted like rubbing alcohol..  So we do not make them. Paul has a Sam Adams and I have a red wine

MINT JULEP NOT

and Liam his hat. Here are some hats if you missed the race.
http://www.thepostgame.com/lifestyle/201105/kentucky-derby-hats

I pick a horse based on a mixed scientific and whimsical study.   This year it was Master of Hounds. Whimsical part-Liam is one quarter dachshund.  And one quarter beagle. So half a hound.  Liam is a rescue from Tennessee.  Right next door to Kentucky, home of the Derby.
Then you have the Irish connection. The horse is from Ireland.
Scientific part-Master of Hounds has a good trainer, fine parents (genes) and a promising racing record. The horse runs around Ireland, up and down those hills. Here is a bit about our horse
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=horse&id=6476279

We watch the pre-race. Master of Hounds is never profiled.  They have a woman jockey.  A heart transplant trainer.  Colorful jockey Calvin Borel.  A replacement rider for an injured jockey. Even Uncle Mo, scratched, gets more press than M of H.  All these make for good human interest stories. So no press for our horse. Then on the march to the track, our horse is not in the group. He is number 11. We get to number 10, then the next horse is number 12.  Where is he?  Was he lowered in by helicopter?

During the race, he is NEVER mentioned. Is he in the race?  Turns out yes, Finished fifth.  Some of the high profile horses finish behind.  Not a mention.  Not a picture. 
Fifth is excellent-there are 19 horses.

But out of the money and never in the top three.  That is okay. We are sticking with the Hound.  In two weeks, The Preakness-Aroooooooooooooooooo

OFF WITH OUR HATS, NO HAT NEEDED FOR THE PREAKNESS

Woof, woof