The Kentucky Derby: A Sporting Event Unlike Any Other

wpeery · May 13th, 2005, 05:30 PM

By Wade Peery
Drop him an e-mail at wadepeery@yahoo.com

Last Saturday, one of the most tradition filled events in all of sports was on display as 50-1 underdog Giacomo took Churchill Downs by storm and dashed his way to a highly unexpected victory. It’s certainly quite a story, but I’d say the...
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Shane · May 13th, 2005, 09:21 PM

The Derby is definitely one of my favorite sporting events every year. I grew up on a race track. Almost literally. When I was 8, I started grooming race horses during the summer, for $50 a week. I lived and breathed horse racing.

I have never been to the Derby. I know a few people that have, and what is alarming to me is that everyone that I know who has been there, NEVER saw a horse the entire time.

While I think that is wrong, it also speaks mounds for the traditionalism and lure of the Sport Of Kings.

Ishkur · May 14th, 2005, 12:40 PM

It's actually a pretty interesting phenomenon: over the past century the sports that have traditionally been the domain of the upper classes--golf, tennis, horseracing, yachting and any other sport where frivolous wealth is a necessary prerequisite for participation--have been invaded by commoners, bringing the stuffy congeniality down a peg.

And on the flipside, ragtag sports that are traditionally the domain of the lower classes--practically all field sports and especially sports that enveloped a consistent level of grievous violence--have gone corporate, completely pricing themselves outside of the working man's salary, targetting directly to the upper middle class, anyone with large amounts of disposable income, and beyond.

Today you'd more likely see the wealthy businessman get front row seats to the Superbowl, while the college dropout kid without a penny to his name goes golfing on a regular basis.

Tis said that Rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen, and Soccer is a gentlemen's game played by hooligans.

Hmmm.

Mike · May 18th, 2005, 08:25 AM

Wade your totally one with this one! The Derby is just an amazing phenonmon that attracts thousands of people each year to the Bluegrass state, not to mention the people putting their houses up as collateral in Vegas

Good read dude, well done

KP · May 18th, 2005, 08:43 AM

There's just something about a week of hype over a two minute race that I can't get excited about. Maybe, like you said, if I ever went to a race to experience the feel I would have a different opinion.

Also, NASCAR races have been known to have over 200,000 fans at a single race. If I'm not mistaken, Texas Motor Speedway seats over 200,000 every year, as does Talledega.

May 13th, 2005, 05:30 PM	#1
wpeery Join Date: 01-26-2005 Posts: 14	The Kentucky Derby: A Sporting Event Unlike Any Other By Wade Peery Drop him an e-mail at wadepeery@yahoo.com Last Saturday, one of the most tradition filled events in all of sports was on display as 50-1 underdog Giacomo took Churchill Downs by storm and dashed his way to a highly unexpected victory. It’s certainly quite a story, but I’d say the... Full Article Last edited by Mike; May 16th, 2005 at 10:50 AM.

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May 13th, 2005, 09:21 PM	#2
Shane Join Date: 06-08-2003 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 6,354	The Derby is definitely one of my favorite sporting events every year. I grew up on a race track. Almost literally. When I was 8, I started grooming race horses during the summer, for $50 a week. I lived and breathed horse racing. I have never been to the Derby. I know a few people that have, and what is alarming to me is that everyone that I know who has been there, NEVER saw a horse the entire time. While I think that is wrong, it also speaks mounds for the traditionalism and lure of the Sport Of Kings.

May 14th, 2005, 12:40 PM	#3
Ishkur Join Date: 12-27-2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 438	It's actually a pretty interesting phenomenon: over the past century the sports that have traditionally been the domain of the upper classes--golf, tennis, horseracing, yachting and any other sport where frivolous wealth is a necessary prerequisite for participation--have been invaded by commoners, bringing the stuffy congeniality down a peg. And on the flipside, ragtag sports that are traditionally the domain of the lower classes--practically all field sports and especially sports that enveloped a consistent level of grievous violence--have gone corporate, completely pricing themselves outside of the working man's salary, targetting directly to the upper middle class, anyone with large amounts of disposable income, and beyond. Today you'd more likely see the wealthy businessman get front row seats to the Superbowl, while the college dropout kid without a penny to his name goes golfing on a regular basis. Tis said that Rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen, and Soccer is a gentlemen's game played by hooligans. Hmmm.

May 18th, 2005, 08:25 AM	#4
Mike Join Date: 07-08-2002 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 10,810	Wade your totally one with this one! The Derby is just an amazing phenonmon that attracts thousands of people each year to the Bluegrass state, not to mention the people putting their houses up as collateral in Vegas Good read dude, well done

May 18th, 2005, 08:43 AM	#5
KP Join Date: 07-08-2002 Posts: 1,988	There's just something about a week of hype over a two minute race that I can't get excited about. Maybe, like you said, if I ever went to a race to experience the feel I would have a different opinion. Also, NASCAR races have been known to have over 200,000 fans at a single race. If I'm not mistaken, Texas Motor Speedway seats over 200,000 every year, as does Talledega.

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