Todd Pletcher and Rags to Riches

Well, my last post was about how Todd Pletcher has never won a Triple Crown race. That came to an end in the Belmont Stakes, when his horse battled down the stretch with Preakness winner Curlin and won by a head. The astonishg thing about it? It was a filly. A very large chestnut one named Rags to Riches to be precise. She broke from the far outside and stumbled within two strides, and already the general public was putting her far out of it. However, her jockey sat cool and let her run near the back of the pack for much of the race, before powering three wide around the tiring Slew's Tizzy, C.P. West, and the valiant Hard Spun. Twice it seeming she had put Curlin away, and twice the colt battled back. In the end, though, the extra weeks of rest gave the Kentucky Oaks winner the Carnations and the honor of being the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes. The best of luck to the pair for the future!

The Run for the Roses

The first Saturday in May is the date of one of the biggest events in America, but most people on the street don't have any idea what that event is. It's been dubbed the most exciting two minutes in sports, with the most expensive drink. The Kentucky Derby at Churchill downs is a 134 year tradition, the biggest race of the year for three years olds and the start of the legendary Triple Crown. It is a grueling mile and a quarter, but it turns into a sprint as twenty horses vie for dominance.

As the first leaders fall back, others take their place, until the horse with the most stamina and speed, or the luckiest horse, is the last one standing. It's a time honored tradition, with the rich and famous of the world flocking to fill expensive boxes and the less rich and famous to fill the lower grandstand and infield. The record holder is Secretariat, nicknamed Big Red. He ran the race in a mind-blowing 1:59 2/5. Average Derby time is 2:04 3/5.

The most recent winner was Street Sense, whose come from behind victory had people all over the contry singing his praises. His Triple Crown dreams came to a bitter end two weeks later, as he just missed a head bob finish to third place Derby finisher Curlin.

The year before, horse racing was buzzing over Barbaro, the undefeated bay colt by Dynaformer, who won the roses by the biggest margin in 60 years. Two weeks later, fans cried out in astonishment and horror as he was pulled up as the field passed the finish for the first time, his leg shattered in 23 places. Eight months later, the racing community mourned his death from laminitis.

The Run for the Roses is a race of agony and ecstacy, with the best horse not always winning. Giacomo, the 50-1 long shot, won in 2005. He has only won once since. Still, a Derby win is a Derby win. You have to realize that even though some horses in the Derby may not have much chance, they are still one of the greatest three year olds in the country. Of the thousands of horses born every year, only twenty can run three years later.

To win a Derby classifies you as among the elite. The best trainer around, Todd Pletcher, is 0 - 23 in the Triple Crown races. He is good, even great, but he hasn't won the Roses yet, and therefore hasn't truly joined racing's legends.

I'm Back!

Sorry for my unexcused abscense, I went to Mexico for a week. Love me or hate me, I'm back! I'll have a more meaningful post up soon, about what I won't say, except it may have something to do with roses and the first Saturday in May.
Love and Kisses,
Darkhorse

Dollar Signs

I recieved a few dollars in change today, and happened to see a rather interesting note scrawled across the edge of one. It said 'I will leave him.' It made me wonder if there are any more folks out there who keep track of the things they see on dollars. 'Find George' doesn't count my friends, but let me know about other stuff!
~Darkhorse

Welcoming Myself!

Welp, here we go. First post as the fabbity-fab Darkhorse. Just so you fools know, this blog has no point. Completely random. Stuff I need to remember, stuff you guys probably don't care about but read just for the hell of it. Love it or hate it, it is what it is.
Ciao for now,
Darkhorse