Kentucky Derby

Feb. 1st-After leaving Thomas Edison's, we went a few miles to Churchill Downs.  Driving into the parking lot, the facility is very impressive.  The museum is very good and interactive.  The 360 degree movie theater was a fun way to start.  We enjoyed immersing ourselves in this part of our history and learned many intersting facts like:
*Nickname for race is the  Run for the Roses
*Race is 137 years old.  Started one year before Custer's last stand when we only had 37 states.
*A champion horse can go from 0-40 mph in 3 strides
*Oaks is the race the day before for fillies only.  Has become "Louisville Day" and is treated like a national holiday.  Schools, businesses closed so locals can go.
*M. Lewis from Lewis and Clark.  His grandson was honeymooning in England and brought the Upson Darby idea back which eventually became the KY Derby. Was a mile 1/2.  Later changed to mile 1/4.
*Three fillies have won.  The third Winning Colors in 1988 was the largest horse and stayed in the lead the whole race.
*Three year olds only and only get one chance
*20 horses in derby, most races only 14
*One of safest race tracks, mix sand in with dirt
*Horses only run about 15/20 minutes a week in training.  Surprised that they didnt train as we think of an athlete.
*Three types of racers: stalker, front runner and closer
***Secretariat's heart weighed 21 lbs. Most horses 9 lbs..  Sham was 15 lbs.  No wonder Sec. could keep getting faster every 1/4 mile.
*2011 winning jockey gave some of his earnings to the jockey who had riden and worked with Animal Kingdom the most.  Unheard of generosity in this cut throat profession.
*Manarcos and Secretariat only 2 winners under 2 minutes.  Sham though (Secretariat's competitor) also ran it under 2 minutes.
*Man of War never ran in Derby but War Admiral his son won.