Making the Most of Derby Day 2020
It was the first Saturday of May in 2019. Maximum Security crosses the finish line on a sloppy track to win the 145th Kentucky Derby. Or did he? The previously undefeated colt was disqualified for interference ceding the garland of roses to Country House, a 65-1 long shot. For the first time in the near century-and-a-half history of the Kentucky Derby, a winning horse was disqualified. What could possibly be stranger than that?
Well, in 2020’s unrelenting efforts to over-weird and out-suck everything we’ve seen in our lifetimes, the 146th Run for the Roses won’t be on the first Saturday of May. The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously-held sporting event in America. The only other time it wasn’t held in its traditional date on the calendar was in 1945 when it was postponed due to World War II. That year it was contested on June 9. If you want to impress your friends, the winner in 1945 was Hoop, Jr. ridden by the legendary Eddie Arcaro. Arcaro won the Derby five times and piloted two Triple Crown winners in Whirlaway and Citation. He is the only jockey to have won the Triple Crown more than once.
To add insult to the 2020 misery…After suffering through bad weather and wet tracks the last three years, of course the weather in Louisville on this would-be Derby Day is perfection: sunshine, blue skies and temperatures in the low 80s. The Kentucky Derby is now scheduled for September 5. We should all start praying now that it doesn’t snow.
So, how do you make the best of “Derby Day 2020”? Some folks are dressing up in their suits and hats and sundresses anyway. Talk about all dressed up and nowhere to go! As for me, I won’t be doing that, but I can share with you some other ways to enjoy the day.
Arkansas Derby
In a brilliant maneuver, following Churchill Downs’ announcement that the Kentucky Derby was moving to September, Oaklawn Park rescheduled the Arkansas Derby from early April to the first Saturday in May. To further heighten interest, the Arkansas Derby was divided into two separate heats. So there will actually be TWO Arkansas Derbies this year. The first will be Race 11 with a post time of 6:29. It features an even-money favorite in Charlatan. This colt trained by Bob Baffert has been impressive in his two lifetime races, but was not presented with much of test in either contest.
The second heat of the Arkansas Derby brings a deeper field. It will be race 13 on the card and will go off at 7:43. The favorite is another Baffert trainee, Nadal. Nadal has been a very consistent performer in his three races and has shown grit holding off competition down the stretch.
While many of the horses you’ll see in these two Arkansas Derby heats may end up in the Kentucky Derby in September, the most competitive race on the card may be the Oaklawn Handicap. It is sandwiched in between the two Arkansas Derbies as race #12. The Handicap features a few horses from the 2019 Derby. All of these races will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network.
Triple Crown Showdown
NBC will air a three-hour Kentucky Derby Special starting at 3 PM. What will they fill those three hours with? Who knows, but this is what we get when there are no sports. They have even created a Derby Party Pack that you can download for this event. Part of that special is what they are calling the Triple Crown Showdown. All 13 Triple Crown winners will compete in a virtual mile-and-a-quarter race around a computer-generated Churchill Downs track. While there isn’t actual wagering on this, you can go to the Kentucky Derby website and enter your choice to win for a chance at the Ultimate Derby Experience. The virtual race is scheduled to “run” at 5:45.
The favorite (yes, they generated odds even for this make believe race) is, unsurprisingly, Secretariat at odds of 7-2. My pick will be 5-1 Seattle Slew. Why? Why not!
Old Forester Kentucky Turtle Derby
I mentioned earlier that there has only been one other time when the Kentucky Derby wasn’t held on the first Saturday in May: 1945. That year 6,000 fans packed Louisville Gardens to watch a race consisting of 167 turtles. Old Forester has resurrected the spirit of that event with the 2020 Kentucky Turtle Derby.
Thankfully, instead of 167 turtles this version will feature only eight turtles. It is being billed as the “slowest two minutes in sports”. Each turtle has been named and odds have been assigned. I have no idea how odds were generated or what their relevance is. I don’t believe there are any places where you can actually wager on the turtle race. Even Draft Kings…which offers betting on Russian table tennis and soccer in Belarus…does not have action on the Kentucky Turtle Derby.
I will say that that I won’t ever support a heavy favorite on Derby Day, even if it is in a turtle race. So, I won’t be backing 3-5 favorite, Green Mamba. I also think you have to look elsewhere beyond Steve. The odds are nice at 15-1 (again…not that it matters) but lots of people are going to be pulling for Steve because they are named Steve (hey, Colonel Akley) or they know a guy named Steve. I was considering Seattle Slow, but he drew the #1 post position and everybody knows you can’t pick a runner on the rail on Derby Day. So, for absolutely no good reason, I’m going with GalapaGo.
The Kentucky Turtle Derby will be aired on Old Forester’s You Tube channel at 7:00.
My Kentucky Derby Cocktail
I am not a fan of Mint Juleps, but I’ve probably never had a good one (the ones at the track are gross). So, I want to share with you my favorite Derby cocktail recipe. First, pick a glass – rocks, highball, glencairn, solo cup – any glass will do. Second, select a favorite Kentucky Bourbon and pour two ounces into your glass. Next, pour two more ounces of your favorite Kentucky Bourbon into the same glass. Optionally, garnish with a large cube of ice. Enjoy!
Down the Stretch
The schedule of events for the day dovetails pretty well:
3:00 - Kentucky Derby Special (NBC)
5:45 – Triple Crown Showdown (NBC)
6:29 – Arkansas Derby #1 (NBC Sports)
7:00 – Kentucky Turtle Derby (Old Forester You Tube)
7:43 – Arkansas Derby #2 (NBC Sports)
Feel free to enjoy drinking my favorite Derby cocktail whenever you’d like. Be sure to sing a verse of “My Old Kentucky Home” and raise a glass in hopes we keep the streak alive and actually get the 2020 Kentucky Derby in September. Cheers!
