Kentucky Derby

Bob Costas

The 2012 'Run for the Roses' takes place on May 5th at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. If you're like me, you're probably a bandwagon horse race fan that gets interested and excited about this sport the 1st week of May every year.  You B.S. your friends into making them believe you have the inside scoop about which horse will easily win and why, or better yet, you're so confident in your ability to pick the top three in order that to boastfully walk to the betting window and Box a Trifecta at the minimum $1 bet. You likely tune in to Bob Costas' tear jerking rendition about the history that's taken place in years past under the twin spires and buy into the heartfelt stories highlighting various horses running in this years race. Of course, this is the year of the next Triple Crown winner.



Birdstone denies Smarty Jones to win the 2004 Belmont Stakes.



You know... it's amazing horse race times haven't gotten any faster since the mid 1970's when Seattle Slew and Affirmed won the triple crown back to back in '77 & '78. Over the past 35 years, some of the best minds and smartest livestock people have been able break so many other milestones in animal breeding & genetics and yet, horse track times just haven't changed much. Speaking of smart- Smarty Jones almost pulled off the sweep in 2004, only to finish 2nd in the Belmont Stakes to 36-1 long shot Birdstone by giving up his first lead in the home stretch in his entire career.

Enough rambling.... the point of this is to introduce a few special pieces we'll have on the blog over the next two weeks leading up to the fastest two minutes in sports. A young lady named Jordyn Burco, who knows more about thoroughbreds than most of you ever will is going to be sharing her insight with us about this years Kentucky Derby. She'll be highlighting her favorites running in this year's race and put you on the inside track to placing that Box Trifecta in the correct order on May 5th. Be sure to look for Jordyn's first article tomorrow April 20th right here on News From The Coffee Shop.

The twin Spires at Chuchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

We're also looking for the 12 Most Ridiculous Derby Hats. Beginning Monday, April 23rd, we'll be posting the most ridiculous hats that our followers send into us. So get out there find that stupid hat and send it in to prburmeister@gmail.com or text to 319-327-0806.