2008 Kentucky Derby

[trifectarich]

It's Derby Week. Looks like a full field of 20 and to me it's a wide open race.

I'm guessing Gayego (three wins and two seconds in five starts) will be the favorite.

Good luck to all.

 

[trifectarich]

Let me amend that.

Post-time favorite likely to be Big Brown (3-for-3 lifetime by a combined 29 lengths).

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Awesome! I'll be going to the track early Saturday (Twin Rivers in RI) - make my picks have a nice lunch plus a few adult beverages and then I'll be off to my favorite watering hole where we have a $20 pool and a poker game. I love the Derby.

Any tips on any of the earlier races on the card will be most welcome.

 

[trifectarich]

I'm going to be in Chicago this weekend. Anyone there know if there are facilities where I can bet the race early, say, Friday night?

 

[CollegeJournalist]

I'm going to be in Chicago this weekend. Anyone there know if there are facilities where I can bet the race early, say, Friday night?

If you have an account open with Churchill Downs, I think betting opens by phone earlier in the week.

By the way, Derby's a big deal -- I'll admit that. But if you've never been to Oaks or Dawn at the Downs on Thursday morning, GO. By far the best two days at the track.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

If Big Brown's feet don't falter, he's the best Triple Crown candidate in a loooong time.

 

[Armchair_QB]

If Big Brown's feet don't falter, he's the best Triple Crown candidate in a loooong time.

Cue the Najeh Davenport jokes.

 

[cranberry]

Probably going to box a triple w/Big Brown, Colonel John and Tale of Ekati. California horses usually scare me off but Colonel John had a good workout in Lousiville yesterday, which suggests to me that folks were making too much of the fact that he's run almost exclusively on synthetic surfaces

 

[Ace]

Any love for Pyro? Last race a fluke or is he flaming out?

 

[cranberry]

Any love for Pyro? Last race a fluke or is he flaming out?

Pyro is essentially the horse that I'm betting against because he seems like the biggest obstacle to claiming my triple. He was pretty bad his last time out (Blue Grass) and I'm hoping he stays in that funk on Saturday. Denis of Cork has me a little concerned, though.

 

[Ace]

Any love for Pyro? Last race a fluke or is he flaming out?

Pyro is essentially the horse that I'm betting against because he seems like the biggest obstacle to claiming my triple. He was pretty bad his last time out (Blue Grass) and I'm hoping he stays in that funk on Saturday. Denis of Cork has me a little concerned, though.

Sounds like you just need to get your wallet back out, cranny.

 

[cranberry]

Any love for Pyro? Last race a fluke or is he flaming out?

Pyro is essentially the horse that I'm betting against because he seems like the biggest obstacle to claiming my triple. He was pretty bad his last time out (Blue Grass) and I'm hoping he stays in that funk on Saturday. Denis of Cork has me a little concerned, though.

Sounds like you just need to get your wallet back out, cranny.

In the end, I'll end up taking a tip from an old lady with a smoker's cough while I'm on line at OTB.

 

[Ace]

Any love for Pyro? Last race a fluke or is he flaming out?

Pyro is essentially the horse that I'm betting against because he seems like the biggest obstacle to claiming my triple. He was pretty bad his last time out (Blue Grass) and I'm hoping he stays in that funk on Saturday. Denis of Cork has me a little concerned, though.

Sounds like you just need to get your wallet back out, cranny.

In the end, I'll end up taking a tip from an old lady with a smoker's cough while I'm on line at OTB.

That's the spirit.

 

[CollegeJournalist]

Any love for Pyro? Last race a fluke or is he flaming out?

Pyro is essentially the horse that I'm betting against because he seems like the biggest obstacle to claiming my triple. He was pretty bad his last time out (Blue Grass) and I'm hoping he stays in that funk on Saturday. Denis of Cork has me a little concerned, though.

How much of Pyro's struggles in the Bluegrass could have been because he ran on Polytrack?

 

[Moderator1]

Big Brown is what we call our oldest, biggest, brownest dog.
That bet is a LOCK at our place.

Pyro? Flaming out? Don't forget to tip your waitresses. He'll be here all week.

 

[JayFarrar]

I've heard that some long-time regular Derby attendance papers won't be making the trip this year, due to travel budget cuts.
Anyone else hear the same?

 

[dixiehack]

I'm going to be in Chicago this weekend. Anyone there know if there are facilities where I can bet the race early, say, Friday night?

The dog track down here was already accepting Derby futures bets a couple of Saturdays ago. Any parimutual facility should be able to hook you up.

 

[frozen tundra]

There's a horse race during the Derby? I always just thought it was an excuse to drink bourbon.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

I used to work the Derby and Oaks when I was in high school. Can't say I miss that aspect of it. Working from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. both days wasn't fun.

As far as seeing all the drunk people and various celebs, and getting to watch the race in person, I miss that part of it.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

Has anyone from a smaller paper ever tried to get credentials to the Derby?

I did about 10 years ago and was treated poorly. I called about credentials; said I was ASE of and out of state but regional paper; outlined that I wanted to do a story on the Derby experience, not just the race itself; made it a point to say I wasn't asking for a press box seat or even parking; just let me on the grounds.

Guy asked about circulation. I told him 18K. He said he couldn't give me Derby credentials but I could come up all week through Oaks day on Friday (which, I guess means I wasn't treated poorly, in retrospect).

I reiterated that I wasn't asking for a press box seat. I could do my story if they'd just let me in the door and maybe access to the barns to interview people. Dude says "Sorry, we just can't have an 18K circulation paper HERE on Derby day." I kinda took offense to that and said, "You know what? If I want to come to your horse race, I'll buy a ****ing ticket."