The Kentucky Derby

The afternoon sun beats down on a long dirt track as an announcer calls out ridiculous names of amazingly quick four legged mammals. The springtime air is cool and comfortable, and it keeps you awake for the two most exciting minutes in sports. This is a pretty accurate description of The Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is a Grade 1 stakes race that takes place in Louisville, Kentucky. They race only the finest of three year old thoroughbreds. The race is held on the first Saturday in May. The race is also known as The Run for the Roses, because the lucky horse and jockey combo are draped with a blanket of roses. The race is a short one and a quarter miles long, but you can bet the crowd is up in their seats eyes glued to the track. The race was invented by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. grandson of famous William Clark. He was inspired by a famous French race known as the Grand Pre De Paris. He ventured to France, and after returning home set out to create Churchill Downs. He named the track for his relatives, who provided the land needed for the track. When Meriwether started the race the original length was one and a half miles long, but they soon changed it to one and one quarter. On May 17,1875 in front of 10,000 people 15 jockeys and horses lined up for the very first Kentucky Derby.

The air was buzzing with excitement as the race began to take form, the horses lining up, jockeys mounting. As the race began people found their eyes making one large concentric circle, and when the race was done they found themselves raucously cheering for Oliver Lewis and his colt Aristides (also called King of Turf). Oliver and Aristides went on to win second place in the Belmont Stakes. Even through the popularity of the Kentucky Derby the Churchill Downs saw financial trouble in 1894. The track stayed afloat but barely, and then on May 3, 1952 they had the first televised Kentucky Derby, bringing in a purse over $100,000 dollars. Essentially, television saved the race, thank goodness, because now a day's the Kentucky Derby is not only one of the biggest races in the United States but also is an American Icon.

Horse racing has always been a popular sport for betting. With the number of races it is easy to place a bet on online betting sites.