You’ve got mint juleps chilling in the freezer, a “Seabiscuit” hardback displayed on the coffee table and your widescreen TV tuned to prerace coverage from Churchill Downs. Looks like it’s time to party — Kentucky Derby-style!
Only one thing can ruin Saturday’s pony party now, and you know what we mean. Quick quiz: Who won last year’s race? If your answer was Street Sense, your party just might be OK. If you whiffed, all is not lost: RedEye has conveniently assembled a little Derby trivia so you can drop some knowledge at your shindig.
* This year is one of the tougher ones to call. Big Brown was installed as the early 3-1 favorite in the 20-horse field after Wednesday’s draw, followed by Colonel John (4-1) and Pyro (6-1).
* Toddler power! No thoroughbred has won the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby more than once, but that’s because the race is open only to 3-year-olds.
* Jockeys have discussed their controversial methods of weight loss, which can include induced vomiting after meals and diet pills. Saturday’s race will be a bit of a relief with the weight limit set at 126 pounds, or about 16 pounds more than an everyday race.
* Eight Belles is the first filly in the field since 1999, but the Kentucky Derby is no boys’ club. Five female jockeys have ridden in the race, and 13 women have trained Derby horses. And, for the record, three fillies have won the race: Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988).
* Big money, big money! Worldwide, gamblers legally wagered $118,317,714 on the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Roughly $12 million was laid on the line at Churchill Downs, and the remainder plunked down at off-track betting centers.
* The horses aren’t the only stars. New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino, movie director Steven Spielberg and musician Burt Bacharach are among the celebrity owners who have entered horses in the race. None of them won.
* The Bears can only dream about numbers like these: Churchill Downs reported an attendance of 156,635 for last year’s race. That’s enough people to fill Soldier Field more than 2 1/2 times.
* Secretariat ran the fastest Kentucky Derby in history, timed in 1 minute 59.40 seconds, and also went on to win the Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes to complete the Triple Crown in 1973. Only two horses have won the Triple Crown since then — Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978.
DOG DAZE
By Whizzer
THAT’S RIGHT, YOUR FAVORITE PROGNOSTICATING POOCH WORKS SATURDAYS TOO.
1. Trouble brewing
Milwaukee knocked the Cubs out of first earlier in the week, but the Cardinals could knock them out if they aren’t careful.
2. Derby day
I come for the horse racing, but I stay for the mint juleps.
3. My pick?
I’m going with Eight Belles, the only female horse (that’s called a filly for the uninitiated). She’s the Danica Patrick of horse racing, I hear.
4. Hype it up
Speaking of Danica. It’s May, and that means one thing: The annual month of hype leading to the Indy 500 and whether she will be the first woman to win it. I don’t think we care anymore.
ON THE TUBE
WHAT TO TUNE INTO THIS WEEKEND
Cubs at Cardinals
2:45 P.M. SATURDAY, FOX; 7:05 P.M. SUNDAY, ESPN
Major percentage points are at stake for the National League Central’s top dogs.
White Sox at Blue Jays
12:07 P.M. SATURDAY, CSN; 12:07 P.M. SUNDAY, WGN
Poor Alexei Ramirez. He won’t get to visit the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Kentucky Derby
3 P.M. SATURDAY, NBC
I’m rooting for Recapture the glory.
Wachovia Championship
2-5 P.M. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, CBS
Don’t mean to rag on a field that includes 19 of the world’s top 25 players, but … Tiger, get well soon.
