Most exciting two minutes
Ran this past Saturday, the Kentucky Derby holds a unique place in the sports world at the intersections of horse racing, gambling and pageantry. Ladies show up in gigantic hats and sun dresses, men in seersucker suits, sip mint juleps and expensive whiskey. It’s a scene from long ago that only partially counts as a sporting event.
To outsiders it may seem like an attempt to spice up a desperately boring part of the sports calendar. The event’s tag line, “The most exciting two minutes in sports” belies its purpose further: How exciting can anything be if it lasts only two minutes?
But like many great sports, the athletic contest is a very small part of the attraction, an excuse to engage in questionable and reckless behavior that would otherwise be improper. The Kentucky Derby itself is actually the culmination of the two-week long Kentucky Derby Festival.
The festival includes the largest fireworks show in the United States, concerts, fashion shows and private parties. Waiters carry glasses of wine through an obstacle course in something called the Run for the Rosé. In terms of pageantry, The Derby makes college football look like a courthouse wedding.
Hunter S. Thompson, of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas fame, got his big break by writing about the Kentucky Derby. He slammed it as overtly racist and sexist, a place where a myriad of real-life ‘Colonel Sanders’ “make an 18th century ass of themselves.”
Charles Bertram / McClatchy Tribune
This year’s winning horse was owned by the son of a mob figure who played a key role in the corruption trial of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. He’s a self-described cowboy, who beat, among other horse owners, Sheikh Mohammad, the emir of Dubai. Kid Rock, Gretchen Wilson, Travis Tritt and Aaron Rodgers were in attendance.
The concept of equality and social welfare is a joke to the men who spend millions on the acquisition and training of horses. Wastefulness is a way of life. Millionaire’s row is what they call the luxury suites where the affluent and famous patrons watch the race, basking in the glow of their own good fortune.
Adding to the craziness is lack of evidence that spending money will win the race. Mine That Bird, this year’s winning horse, cost 9,500 bucks. Some of the losing horses cost more than two million.
The poor man’s equivalent of Millionaire’s Row is the infield of the track. Infield ticket holders have almost no shot or intention of actually seeing the race. Instead, it’s where ordinary patrons go to drink themselves silly and party with abandon.
As the horses are paraded around the track before the race, the University of Louisville band plays the state song, “My Old Kentucky Home.” Written in 1853, it describes life on a slave plantation. Luckily, in 1986 the Kentucky General Assembly changed some of the lyrics from “darkies” to “people.”
Too old-world for liberals, too sinful for conservatives and too rich to be shut down, the Kentucky Derby is one of the last bastions of overtly bigoted and politically incorrect behavior left in America. And the millions spent by Mohammad and the mob will keep it going for decades.
I would never defend the going’s on in Louisville, but it may be best to just accept it for what it is. Mix up that mint julep, put on your sundress and enjoy the most exciting two minutes in sports.
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2009 Super Bowl Nielsen Rating: 42
2009 Derby Nielsen Rating: 9.8 (The highest its been in 17 years)
Yeah, I guess Horse Racing is the most popular sport in America. Oh, and just to stir up some more controversy and 20 more comments from you horse lovers (since apparently none of you work) ESPN’s top stories today: Manny Roiding, NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs, and ONE blip about Mine That Bird. And yes, I do believe ESPN is the god of all sports, so go ahead and bash me for it I could care less, but it’s the truth. By the way, is a jockey considered an athlete? How do you guys feel about euthanasia? and what are the odds for Mine that Bird in The Preakness? Thanks for the info and I’m looking forward to 100 more comments that I could care less about!
2009 Super Bowl Nielsen Rating: 42
2009 Derby Nielsen Rating: 9.8 (The highest its been in 17 years)
Yeah, I guess Horse Racing is the most popular sport in America. Oh, and just to stir up some more controversy and 20 more comments from you horse lovers (since apparently none of you work) ESPN’s top stories today: Manny Roiding, NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs, and ONE blip about Mine That Bird. And yes, I do believe ESPN is the god of all sports, so go ahead and bash me for it I could care less, but it’s the truth. By the way, is a jockey considered an athlete? How do you guys feel about euthanasia? and what are the odds for Mine that Bird in The Preakness? Thanks for the info and I’m looking forward to 100 more comments that I could care less about!
More people watched the Kentucky Derby (11 million viewers) than watched Game 7 of the Celtics-Bulls NBA Playoff series (about 6.9 million).
Last year’s NBA Finals got a rating of 9.2. The Derby did 10.3 this year. The Derby also out-rates the World Series and NHL Finals. It’s a popular event.
If you had to go look up the rating for the Super Bowl to put down the rating for the Kentucky Derby, that puts the Kentucky Derby in a good light.
More people watched the Kentucky Derby (11 million viewers) than watched Game 7 of the Celtics-Bulls NBA Playoff series (about 6.9 million).
Last year’s NBA Finals got a rating of 9.2. The Derby did 10.3 this year. The Derby also out-rates the World Series and NHL Finals. It’s a popular event.
If you had to go look up the rating for the Super Bowl to put down the rating for the Kentucky Derby, that puts the Kentucky Derby in a good light.
Bulldog True:
At least be intellectually honest with your argument. Picking an aberration like the Super Bowl doesn’t cut it.
How about the 2008 World Series? Highest rating of five games, 9.6
Or the 2008 NBA Championship series? 9.3
And I always find it amusing when someone commenting on the internet takes potshots at people for commenting on the internet (“…since apparently none of you work…”), all while claiming, “that I could care less…”
Bulldog True:
At least be intellectually honest with your argument. Picking an aberration like the Super Bowl doesn’t cut it.
How about the 2008 World Series? Highest rating of five games, 9.6
Or the 2008 NBA Championship series? 9.3
And I always find it amusing when someone commenting on the internet takes potshots at people for commenting on the internet (“…since apparently none of you work…”), all while claiming, “that I could care less…”
gc and Gary,
How does picking the Super Bowl not cut it? The Derby and Super Bowl are both one-day events. Of course the Derby gets higher ratings than the NHL, NBA and MLB, it’s a 2 MINUTE RACE. How can you compare a seven-game series with a two-minute horse race that happens once a year? It’s really easy to have high ratings when people only have to tune in for less than five minutes. How about the ratings for a race that’s not a part of the Triple Crown, show me the those numbers, then maybe we can talk.
gc and Gary,
How does picking the Super Bowl not cut it? The Derby and Super Bowl are both one-day events. Of course the Derby gets higher ratings than the NHL, NBA and MLB, it’s a 2 MINUTE RACE. How can you compare a seven-game series with a two-minute horse race that happens once a year? It’s really easy to have high ratings when people only have to tune in for less than five minutes. How about the ratings for a race that’s not a part of the Triple Crown, show me the those numbers, then maybe we can talk.
Bulldog True:
If you’re argument is that the Super Bowl is more popular than the Kentucky Derby, congratulations. You’re right. By about a billion viewers. No news-flash there.
The Derby is a very popular event by any measure and has a long and storied history. That should be investigated and understood before using words like “bigoted” “racist” and “politically incorrect” (as the author did). It’s great to have an opinion, but back it up with more than what Hunter Thompson said 40 years ago or what was in the original song 100 years ago. That’s what’s got all us loser horse-lovers a little upset. It’s cheap, don’t you think?
Bulldog True:
If you’re argument is that the Super Bowl is more popular than the Kentucky Derby, congratulations. You’re right. By about a billion viewers. No news-flash there.
The Derby is a very popular event by any measure and has a long and storied history. That should be investigated and understood before using words like “bigoted” “racist” and “politically incorrect” (as the author did). It’s great to have an opinion, but back it up with more than what Hunter Thompson said 40 years ago or what was in the original song 100 years ago. That’s what’s got all us loser horse-lovers a little upset. It’s cheap, don’t you think?
Gary,
I am not condoning what Mr. Willis said about “bigotism,” “racism,” or being “politically incorrect.” I’m just saying the comments have turned more about attacking the CSU system and Mr. Willis personally than having an engaged commentary on sports. What he said can and rightfully should be argued about, but commenting on his ability to write and his character is a bit much, when he’s just offering an opinion on something. You seem like an understandable person Gary, so this isn’t directed at you personally, this refers to everyone who has been taking these comments to an unhealthy and uncalled for level. Gary, I welcome friendly sports banter anytime, and thank you for bringing the discussion back to where it needs to be.
Gary,
I am not condoning what Mr. Willis said about “bigotism,” “racism,” or being “politically incorrect.” I’m just saying the comments have turned more about attacking the CSU system and Mr. Willis personally than having an engaged commentary on sports. What he said can and rightfully should be argued about, but commenting on his ability to write and his character is a bit much, when he’s just offering an opinion on something. You seem like an understandable person Gary, so this isn’t directed at you personally, this refers to everyone who has been taking these comments to an unhealthy and uncalled for level. Gary, I welcome friendly sports banter anytime, and thank you for bringing the discussion back to where it needs to be.