ROSES

Tomorrow is the first Saturday in May - It's Derby Day!  The annual Run for the Roses.  Louisville, Kentucky is the center of the universe for a day.  Huge gaudy hats are in order.  Bitter mint juleps that can only be stomached one day a year are in - this is it.  Hollywood types meet near a barn with horseshit on their $900 shoes.  I love it.

Huge horses with spindly legs are the toast of the town. (Let's hope none of their legs get broken like a dry twig tomorrow.  The track vet carries a 45 magnum.)  We all love horses - so stately, so powerful, such athletes.  Miniature muscle-bound riders steer these steeds to the finish line.  Last years winner was . . . bet you couldn't name it . . . Always Dreaming.  Always Dreaming went off at 5-1; the favorite was Classic Empire.

This year the favorite is Justify; he will go off at about 3-1.  If you want to bet a long shot, try Solomini at 30-1.  He is in the 17th post position - no horse has ever won this race from that spot.  If you want a good value bet, try Audible at 8-1.  He won the Florida Derby earlier this year - Always Dreaming won that race last year.

How fast will they run?  If the track is fast, the race will last about 2 minutes.  The record is still held by Secretariat who, in 1973, ran it in 1:59-2/5.

How many people will be there?  The usual crowd is about 150,000.  About half the people and 90% of the drunks are in the infield.

How much will they bet?  Last year they threw down $12 million at the track on that race.  Overall, $138 million was legally bet on the Derby.

How much can the horse make?  The total purse is about $2 million.  The winner's take last year was $1,425,000.

How much does the jockey get?  The rider of the winner gets 10% of it's winnings, 5% for second or third.  Unless they have a special deal, all the rest get the standard $500 fee out of which they have to pay their agent and assistants about $150.
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