2008 Kentucky Derby

[Ben_Hecht]

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."

They play rough . . . rougher then they used to, and it was never easy.

 

[CollegeJournalist]

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.

Agreed on both counts.

Working it sucks, especially since early May is as unpredictable weather-wise as any other time in Kentucky (of course, in Louisville, it's always unpredictable). It'd be sunny and 80 one year and raining and 50 the next.

What'd you do there?

 

[trifectarich]

I wouldn't go to the Derby unless I had a press credential or a reserved seat. Mixing it up with the masses gets old really fast.

Concerning Pyro's last race, I can't put all the problems on the Polytrack, not when you get beat by 11.5 lengths. The pace in all three of his races this year have been slow. There's usually someone in the Derby who ensures a good pace for the first half mile or six furlongs and we'll see if this year's field has that horse.

It'll be interesting to see how the betting public factors in that last race. You might get this horse at 5-to-1, which is awfully good for the leading money winner in the field.

 

[trifectarich]

1 Cool Coal Man (Julien Leparoux) 20-1
2 Tale of Ekati (Cornelio Velasquez) 15-1
3 Anak Nakal (Rafael Bejarano) 30-1
4 Court Vision (Garrett Gomez) 20-1
5 f-Eight Belles (Gabriel Saez) 20-1
6 Z Fortune (Robby Albarado) 15-1
7 Big Truck (Eibar Coa) 50-1
8 Visionaire (Jose Lezcano) 20-1
9 Pyro (Shaun Bridgmohan) 6-1
10 Colonel John (Corey Nakatani) 4-1
11 Z Humor (Rene Douglas) 30-1
12 Smooth Air (Manoel Cruz) 20-1
13 Bob Black Jack (Richard Migliore) 20-1
14 Monba (Ramon Dominguez) 15-1
15 Adriano (Edgar Prado) 30-1
16 Denis of Cork (Calvin Borel) 20-1
17 Cowboy Cal (John Velazquez) 20-1
18 Recapturetheglory (E.T. Baird) 20-1
19 Gayego (Mike Smith) 15-1
20 Big Brown (Kent Desormeaux) 3-1
f-filly

 

[playthrough]

Big Brown drew the 20 post? Ouch.

 

[CollegeJournalist]

Pyro at 6 and Gayego at 15 are good bets.

Big Brown's post position can help him or hurt him. It all depends on if he gets out quick. If he can get out quick and close in, it may help him. But (IIRC), no horse has ever won it from the 20 spot, even though Gato del Sol took it from 18 in '86 and there have been three from 16 since 1990.

Pyro and Colonel John both got good draws, as long as they don't get stuck in the middle early on.

 

[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.

Agreed on both counts.

Working it sucks, especially since early May is as unpredictable weather-wise as any other time in Kentucky (of course, in Louisville, it's always unpredictable). It'd be sunny and 80 one year and raining and 50 the next.

What'd you do there?

Parked cars the first time I worked ... made about $80 in tips from people asking me who I thought would win. One old lady won a few hundred bucks on the Derby and gave me $50.

Each time after that it was opening doors for people coming through the Clubhouse going to one of the bars. Met a few celebs that way, and got $75 from a very drunk Carlos Bernard (Tony Almeida on 24) one year. He won something like $1,000 on the Derby and gave me a (small) portion of it because I'm a huge fan of the show and because I was so nice to him.

 

[CollegeJournalist]

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.

Agreed on both counts.

Working it sucks, especially since early May is as unpredictable weather-wise as any other time in Kentucky (of course, in Louisville, it's always unpredictable). It'd be sunny and 80 one year and raining and 50 the next.

What'd you do there?

Parked cars the first time I worked ... made about $80 in tips from people asking me who I thought would win. One old lady won a few hundred bucks on the Derby and gave me $50.

Each time after that it was opening doors for people coming through the Clubhouse going to one of the bars. Met a few celebs that way, and got $75 from a very drunk Carlos Bernard (Tony Almeida on 24) one year. He won something like $1,000 on the Derby and gave me a (small) portion of it because I'm a huge fan of the show and because I was so nice to him.

Nice. I passed out Courier-Journals for three years for fundraising.

It sucked.

 

[RedHotChiliPrepper]

I started doing my research, watching videos and such, last night. I like Pyro and Colonel John in an exacta box and add Big Brown for a trifecta box.

I think a sleeper could be Recapturetheglory.

But then again, I haven't won a derby bet since I put $20 on Funny Cide a few years back and came out with $300.

 

[Moderator1]

With my own Big Brown lying right next to me -- there can be no other bet out of this house.

Don't like that 20 slot, though.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

With my own Big Brown lying right next to me -- there can be no other bet out of this house.

Don't like that 20 slot, though.

He won't be 5-2 out of the 20 hole.

 

[Moderator1]

So my 100 bones will get me? You think he'll go off at 5-1?

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

With my own Big Brown lying right next to me -- there can be no other bet out of this house.

Don't like that 20 slot, though.

Please tell me that you are not in the bathroom!

 

[playthrough]

So my 100 bones will get me? You think he'll go off at 5-1?

Maybe. The smart guys who won't bet a 20-post horse won't outnumber the chalk-eaters, IMO, so it's going to be tough for a 3-1 favorite to get to 5-1. On the other hand, I can't believe any horse in this field is so much better than the others to justify a 3-1 price.

I'll definitely use Big Brown in my action (me and my buddies pool a bunch of money and throw 5-6 horses together in a tri box), and I too like Recapturetheglory.

 

[fishwrapper]

So my 100 bones will get me?  You think he'll go off at 5-1?

You'll get your 4 or 5-1. But, you're not going to sniff that race. He's only been out front, and he's not going to get there from the 20 slot. 19 and 20 slots are the **** of death.
Take half that, put it on John. Been running on poly; dirt will feel like he's been running in sand all along. (Like Gayego at better price for the same reason).

 

[Bubbler]

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."

I covered my first two Derby's at a 10,000-circ and was never treated with anything but respect by the Derby flaks.

 

[fishwrapper]

Horsemen are the best. Churchill is pretty accomadating given the time.
There may be a capacity issue.

 

[trifectarich]

Big Brown may get out in front from the 20 spot, but I can't see him doing that and then staying in front for a mile and a quarter. There are a ton of unanswered questions on Big Brown, who has only three career starts, and I just can't put him on top. I'll include him in my trifectas — what ELSE would a person with my username bet — but there are some quality horses with attractive odds.

If anyone's wondering what kind of weather they'll have, Friday and Saturday they're calling for mid-70s with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

It's been 35 years since Big Red. Here's guessing Big Brown does something to draw comparison over the next six weeks.

Big Brown, Smooth Air, Court Vision in that order.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

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.

I haven't bet a TC race in 20 years, but I am hoofing it with a few hundred this weekend if the odds are still 3-1 on this horse.

I predict at least a four-length win, even from 20.