unless we start making it mean something again...

[bdw0617]

the derby is going to start losing some of it's prestige.

I mean... and I'm as big a horse racing fan as there is.. I just don't feel it this year. There are no great horses running Saturday. There are no potential great horses running Saturday. There is no east/west rivalry. There isn't a horse in here that will race 3 times, let alone win 3 races in 5 weeks.

Everyone says it's the race everyone wants to win. That is because it usually showed that this was the best 3YO. when you get past all the glitz and glamor that is what the derby has been about for over a century. not even close anymore. The Preakness is usually a better actual horse race than the derby is now, and the best 3YO is usually determined in august, not may.

I saw the piece on rosie on CBS and was thinking last night that's what we need, a female rider to win the race. no we need a triple crown winner that's it.. IN all seriousness, we just need the Kentucky derby to actually mean something again, besides the first 10F race for 3YO's which is all it is now. Everyone is so concerned with just getting here, the race suffers.

This is not going to be a good race. I will watch, because it is the derby, but.. i just don't feel it. Blame v. zenyatta I felt it. I felt the anticipation, the anxiety. The 2007 Breeders Cup classic I felt it. Heck last year's Whitney I felt it. I don't feel this.

[spex4me]

I too am feeling Derby blues. I don't know if I am just paying closer attention this year or not but it seems like a bunch more horses than usual have been taken off the trail. May not be, but it feels that way. The Rosie piece was good....can you imagine if one day there is a Rosie/Zenyatta theoretical combo??

[Sailor Kenshin]

the derby is going to start losing some of it's prestige.

I mean... and I'm as big a horse racing fan as there is.. I just don't feel it this year. There are no great horses running Saturday. There are no potential great horses running Saturday. There is no east/west rivalry. There isn't a horse in here that will race 3 times, let alone win 3 races in 5 weeks.

Everyone says it's the race everyone wants to win. That is because it usually showed that this was the best 3YO. when you get past all the glitz and glamor that is what the derby has been about for over a century. not even close anymore. The Preakness is usually a better actual horse race than the derby is now, and the best 3YO is usually determined in august, not may.

I saw the piece on rosie on CBS and was thinking last night that's what we need, a female rider to win the race. no we need a triple crown winner that's it.. IN all seriousness, we just need the Kentucky derby to actually mean something again, besides the first 10F race for 3YO's which is all it is now. Everyone is so concerned with just getting here, the race suffers.

This is not going to be a good race. I will watch, because it is the derby, but.. i just don't feel it. Blame v. zenyatta I felt it. I felt the anticipation, the anxiety. The 2007 Breeders Cup classic I felt it. Heck last year's Whitney I felt it. I don't feel this.

So it's not just me.

Maybe that's why Zenyatta stood out---seems to be so many indifferent racers these days.

[da hossman]

Holy Smokes! Maybe it is because I am in KY, but I get more excited every day we get closer to the Derby! Granted I am disappointed in Toby's defection today (I liked him & have a piece of a Bellamy Road yrlg), but at the same time am getting excited about Midnight Interlude, have always liked Mucho Macho Man, find it hard to pick on Dialed In, Archarcharch impresses more every day (loved Jinks blowing him out today) and Animal Kingdom's Saturday work was very impressive - hell it is Derby Week! How can you not be excited?

It is a crazy wagering opportunity - Dialed In may be the favorite but he may be as high as 7-1. I think there is a lot to be excited about - it may even stop raining in KY in time for the race!

[Whirlaway]

IT'S THE DERBY AND I'M FEELIN' IT !! !!

It may be a sad lot of em' but who cares! With no definitive favorite, that makes it that much more fun! After having reviewed the past performances, I for one think Dialed In is vulnerable - and what say you about Sway Away being on the bubble, wasn't he your horse? The nag just might get in the big dance - you gotta be hyped! And when was the last time there was an East/West rivalry? And the Preakness Stakes, with its drop in distance and drop in class will always be the little brother to the Kentucky Derby. And when was the last time we saw a truly great horse? The Great Ones are way long gone . . . Do you think that will change with the current breeding practices? All the breeders can produce is a fragile drugged up breakdown horse staggering to make it to the Derby gate, none of them suited for ten furlongs. Nevertheless, current sad state of affairs aside, it is still the Kentucky Derby!

[Bast]

I don't expect much from this year's Derby. I'll spent time handicapping it, but this is not a promising group.

I'd like to be wrong. I'd like to see a star emerge from this race, and go on to be a memorable 3 y o and maybe a good 4 y o. I'd like to see the beginning of a rivalry.

I think what we are going to get instead is a mild speed duel, followed by a messy charge into the stretch with a bunch of very tired horses, with the winner determined chiefly by chance and traffic, with a lot of them having a chance at the end. Whoever staggers the least or staggers clear of the rest will win. Perhaps none of them will be around for the Travers.

Let's hope no one gets hurt on Saturday. The horror of broken horses hobbling in terror is one I never get used to seeing.

This is not fun. This is not what drew me to the game.

What racing needs is a solid motivation to race top horses as 4 y os, including not only the purses but races at 1 1/4 mile and farther so that there is a good reason to breed that kind of horse.

American racing also needs to conduct drug-free races. The technology exists to enforce this.