Freshly cut grass, horse manure, hats, and greenbacks make me think of two things: the time I went riding in a pasture full of money with Minnie Pearl, and the Kentucky Derby. The cash, the energy, the fashion, the animals...it's great! And the best part is that if your hat looks awesome but your horse is a loser, you still win! So place your bets on I Want Revenge, grab a Miller High Life, put on your coolest cap, and take a look at last year's top 10 fashions, lovely from Louisville. Do they beat this year's? Only time, and the blogs, will tell.
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10.
This charming lady has her arms wrapped fully around the Derby experience: she’s checking out the stats, drinking a Mint Julep, and posing, hat perfectly in place, for the photographer. She looks effortlessly chic. Well done! |
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I was thrilled to see who won the Kentucky Derby. 50 - to 1 horse! I always vote for the long shot. In horseracing a horse that cost $9500 is cheap. The trainer had a broken leg and transported he and the horse 21 hours to the Kentucky Derby. Impressive and the jockey was just as humbling. He raised a rose to the sky for his deceased, loving parents. That was so geniune. I loved the race and how he ran it, right next to the fence and was practically the last horse in the race, and he ran next to the fence and won by a very wide margin. It was like he was the only horse in the race.
Congratuations.
The English do it with their hats! Why not us, on Kentucky Derby day, I have never seen such gorgeous hats in my life, and the size of the hats got so big and the ladies looked beautiful.
All who attend, bet, or participate in this business are contributing to cruelty to animals.
So when we cheer those risking their lives and the lives of their horses you should know they are the lucky ones. The unlucky ones are back at the farm awaiting their fate which is not good at all. I know. I have a Bold Ruler granddaughter.
It is a kind of slavery...animal abuse for sure.
Hardly better than bull fighting and gladiators in ancient Rome...hardly an honorable sport!
Do you know what happens to the animals who can't run fast enough to turn a profit?
Slaughter. (A very few get rescued.)
I once had occasion to be in the area where the horses were led from the track back to their stalls. It broke my heart. I still shudder remembering how they were grasping for breath.
Horses were not put on this planet for man's cruel sports. The fashion parade adds insult to injury. Put these women in their hats at the starting gate and whip them to the end of the track at frenzied speeds. Let them really experience the "sport."
I urge all those who care for animals never to go to the race track again.
My guess is that their life spans are alot longer now than any point in history.
I have never had a mint julep but ever since I saw a recurrent reference to it 40 years ago it has been synonymous in mind with Kentucky gentry.
About the comment on the first photo. I know Philly as Philadelphia, and I know of a filly in racing. Perhaps your conflaton was a Joyceanism.