Here in the nexus of Yankeemania and Red Sox Nation, in the days leading up to the 2010 Kentucky Derby, a local TV sportscaster stumbled over the name of the former Derby favorite. After the sports anchor paused, he pronounced the horse’s name – in the fine tradition of “rip and read” – by how [...]
Just a heads-up: I’ve updated the Derby coverage post to include a reference to HRTV’s programming. If you have access to that channel, you won’t want to miss out. In earlier posts in this series, we’ve talked about how I got my spot to watch the race and how the day up until The Big [...]
Continue reading about Kentucky Derby memories – 1983, part 3
A person’s “first Derby” is a big deal, right? I think so. I think it’s a big enough deal to make a series of posts, especially, as of this writing, while “Derby fever” is building. Part 1 of the series talks about how I got my most unique – and coveted – spot to watch [...]
Continue reading about Kentucky Derby memories – 1983, part 2
Although I grew up in Kentucky and lived there until I was a young adult, I never attended a Kentucky Derby then. Like millions around the world – and most Kentuckians – I watched the race on TV. Even when I was very young, I loved the Derby. I wrote my first essay when I [...]
Continue reading about Kentucky Derby memories – 1983, part 1
This weekend isn’t only about bunnies. Or chocolate. Because the fragrance of roses is getting stronger … Holiday weekend or not — two dozen guests coming for Sunday dinner or not — put down those chores to catch two of the major Kentucky Derby prep races this Saturday. The Wood Memorial and the Santa Anita [...]
Continue reading about Derby Prep Races – The Wood and Santa Anita
We’ve had a lot of company lately. Although things have slowed down now since the Triple Crown races have finished, we’ve had a lot of drop-in visitors in the past six weeks. Our stats here have paralleled TV ratings, although our numbers are nowhere near as high. Still, which race do you think drew the [...]
Continue reading about The Triple Crown Races by the Numbers
I had begun writing this post about Mine That Bird’s connections early yesterday morning. It had started as a “let’s see what else we can find about them on the web” story. But, in the afternoon, they were in the news Big Time in a rapidly changing story played out in the racing press. It’s [...]
Continue reading about Mine That Bird’s Imperfect Human Connections
Trailer for Dollhouse episode “Haunted” We do love seeing horses on TV and in the movies. And we don’t ever want to be too picky and discourage Hollywood from including them in storylines. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t have some fun. Those little details that only horse people can spot make for “The [...]
Continue reading about The Horse Movie Drinking Game: Dollhouse
A disclaimer: I am married to an ESPN engineer and am a former employee myself. I’m not dissing NBC Sports – they cover equestrian events for us horse lovers, after all – but having a little fun. Video of the end of the 2009 Kentucky Derby, before Mine That Bird enters the Winner’s Circle Although [...]
Last year, I was in Kentucky during Derby. That’s different from being in Kentucky for the Derby. A lot happens in Louisville during Derby Week. The Kentucky Derby Festival offers fireworks and steamboat races. And that’s just in Lousiville. I, on the other hand, went to Harrodsburg. I wanted to take in the annual Derby [...]
