The Kentucky Derby is one of the major thoroughbred horse racing events in the United States. This 1¼ miles dirt race was created in 1780 and now it takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

The race is also known as “the Run of the Roses” and it pays a $2.0 million dollar purse. The last two races ran at the track have delivered two exceptional winners; Barbaro in 2006 and Street Sense in 2007. Colt Barbaro from Lael Stables will always be remembered as one of the best horses to win this prestigious race; especially after his unpleasant incident at the Preakness the same year which ended the horse racing career.

The 2007 Kentucky Derby Winner Street Sense owned by James B. Tafel railed through his racing career as an amazing horse earning more than $4 million dollars previous to its retirement last October 2007.

The 134th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be next May 3rd 2008 and the race is expected to be an unpredictable surprise for the horse racing world. Amongst some of the most popular names that will be part of this year event are: Pyro and Z Fortune both trained by the well-known Steve Asmussen whose training career dates back from 1986 and whose background include victories at Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, Remington Park, Keeneland and Lone Star.

Without a question Pyro leads the pack with more than $1.0 million dollars in earnings and a racing record of 7-3-2-1, the horse will be raided by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. Despite, his stumble at the Blue Grass where he finished in the eleven position he is a heavy favourite. Other strong contestants are; Tale of Ekati whose breeder and owner is Charles Fipke, followed by Colonel John that has achieved three quarters of a million dollars in career earnings and Gayego and Big Brown.

The 3-year-old Big Brown has made some recent news after his five-length romp in the Florida Derby and has awoke the possibility to become the horse to beat at the race.

Let’s not forget the Santa Anta Derby winner Colonel John but there are some aspects such as the surface which will be ran that leave a big question mark in front of our eyes; the horse’s previous races were on Polytrack not dirt besides adding the extra pressure of the event itself.

"For some of those horses that have never run on dirt, obviously people are going to be watching their dirt works with interest at Churchill," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who will run at least two horses (Cowboy Cal and Monba) in the Derby. "It looks to me like the form of the West Coast has held up very well. I thought Gayego winning the Arkansas Derby was a pretty good hint that the California group is very good and that they can transfer their form from a synthetic surface out there to a dirt surface.

Nevertheless; there are just few days before the race we will follow most closely and enjoy to the best; these will certainly be “the best two minutes in sport”.

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Claudia Beckford provides outstanding Horse Racing content as well as information in the online betting industry.

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