The Kentucky Derby (click here) is dressing up the event, too. There is a trend in the horse racing industry to combine casinos with race tracks on the same property. Churchill Downs does not have a casino so the "Twin Spires" has come up with ideas as to how the Kentucky Derby is a good as Las Vegas.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Gemologist (click here) might have what it takes to become the second Kentucky Derby winner in three years for trainer Todd Pletcher and WinStar Farm.
The bay colt is the only undefeated horse in the field. He's a two-time winner at Churchill Downs, and Pletcher said the horse's even approach during work reminds him of another superstar -- Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. "To me, he's been Mr. Consistency so far," Pletcher said....
Wagering on horses has better odds than any Casino. The horse industry has a history and consistency that actually makes it a social event while cheering for a favorite. It is why there is a party atmosphere at Churchill Downs. This is considered an achievement for the horse breeders. These horses are well known to the community and it is sincerely a contest between members of their generation. Colts have more muscle than fillies so they are the dominant gender at the Twin Spires, but, once in awhile a filly will emerge as a contender. I don't like the fillies to compete with colts as it usually ends in tragedy, ie: Ruffian. On a very, very rare occasion a filly can compete without peril to her in some way.
A Guide to have a very Vegas Kentucky Derby (click here)
Bettin
If you haven't been following the horses all year, Vegas Chatter offers five simple tips ("We mostly play exactas!") to get you started. Wannabe winners can be in on the action by betting as little as $1 or $2. Post time will be about 3:30 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday.
For more tips, atten a free handicapping seminar before the big race at 5 p.m. today (Friday) at Lucky's Race & Sports Book inside the Riviera Hotel & Casino. Place a $20 wager and receive an official Kentucky Derby mint julep glass for free. Lucky's opens early for bets at 7 a.m. today and Saturday....
There is room for everyone in the horse racing industry. There is plenty of abuse within the industry for those that 'police' cruelty to animals. The horse race industry only this year has removed the use of Lasix, a diuretic believed to enhance the performance of the horses.
The reliance on medicating the horses has become so dominant in the industry, the breed itself has been effected all the way to the genetic content of current competitive stock. The genetics are so removed from the days of Man 'O' War and Bold Ruler the current horses could never compete. The race record times these days are all enhanced by medications these young horses are raised with. A filly doesn't become a mare until the age of five and that holds true for a colt as well. While breeding begins after the three year old races of the Triple Crown (Which it didn't with Secretariat, he continued to race he was so sound and strong there was no risk of injury.) the horses are not mature until the age of five.
The removal of Lasix is the first step to regaining the 'strength and soundness' of the thoroughbred horse, but, there is a long way to go. The process to removing medications from the industry is more or less a weaning process. If every racehorse today were taken off every medication used with them, the industry itself would most probably collapse.
Try and get that level of delicacy, concern and activism from a casino!
It ain't all about money!
Secretariat stood approximately 16.2 hands (66 inches, 168 cm) tall, and weighed 1,175 pounds (533 kg), with a 75 inch girth, in his racing prime.
Secretariat was a huge. He won handily because his conformation managed the stress of racing without a problem. His stride was enormous. His stride contributed to his victories. His girth was 75 inches which spoke to the size of his heart and lungs. Between his stride, his physical stamina and his spirit there was no stopping the fact he set records in all the race records of the Triple Crown. The clock at the Preakness was malfunctioning and never officially recorded his time, but, locals to the track stated he finished with record time on their hand held timers.
The industry can claim he was an unusual three year old, but, that is inaccurate. It is breeding and the genetics of Secretariat that happened to occur in 1973. He was a son of Bold Ruler, a lack luster thoroughbred, but he was within the Princequillo thoroughbred bloodline. That lineage is sadly understated in the racing industry today. The Princequillo bloodline thoroughbred had huge wins even if not well known. Those bloodlines were bound to be the most potent to the history of the industry, it just happened to come together at Meadow Stables under a watchful eye of a family that loved the breed and its potential.
So, the question is what kind of 'Class of 2012' does the thoroughbred industry have to offer this year? Will Gemologist prove to be a Triple Crown winner? Will he prove to run in a muddy environment as well as a dry track? Secretariat ran in and on everything and won. He ran on grass and dirt, in mud and not. He was an amazing example of the "Class of 1973."
