DERBY

Tomorrow we will witness the Kentucky Derby.  It is the first of the three races making up the Triple Crown for three-year-old thoroughbred horses.  The "Derby" is a 1-1/4 mile test on the dirt.  The other two races are the Preakness; a 1-3/16 mile race in Maryland and the Belmont Stakes, a 1-1/2 mile trek in New York State.  To win the Triple Crown a horse must win these three in five weeks - not much time to rest.  A horse would have to be good at all three distances.  

I love horse racing and I'm one of those who wouldn't hesitate to name Secrateriat as the greatest athlete of the 20th century.  In 1973, the horse named Secratariat won all the Triple Crown races.  If you think he did it because the rest of the three-year-olds were not good, consider that he did it in record time in each race AND his records still stand.  Amazing.

Here is a side note in light of the current stress on "unwoking" America:  The Kentucky Derby is open to three-year-old colts, geldings and fillies; i.e. males, castrated males and females.  There is a stipulated minimum amount of weight each horse must carry during the race.  This weight is made up of the jockey, saddle and other tack.  For males, it must add up to a minimum of 126 lbs and for females, to 121 lbs.  My question is:  Is this fair?  That sounds like a dam advantage (pun intended).