The Thrill of the Race: Kentucky Derby Sees a New Champion
On a rainy day in Louisville, Kentucky, a new champion emerged at the 151st Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty, ridden by Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado, clinched victory in just over two minutes on a challenging, wet track. This marked Alvarado’s first triumph at this prestigious event, adding a significant victory to his career.
Of the 19 contenders, Journalism, the favored horse, secured second place. The last time a favored horse won the derby was in 2018, when Justify took the title. The race, known as “the most exciting 2 minutes in sports,” drew an audience of approximately 140,000 spectators, all eager to witness the thrilling spectacle and the chance to win a share of the $5 million purse.
The Kentucky Derby is not just any race; it spans 1 1/4 miles, a distance that many of the three-year-old horses have not competed over before. As Amy Lawyer from the University of Louisville’s business school explained, the event introduces these horses to new experiences, which adds to the excitement and unpredictability of the race. She noted, “It’s a lot of new experiences that the horse is going through, and it makes it really exciting and really unpredictable.”
The weather at Churchill Downs posed additional challenges. The muddy conditions meant horses had to adapt quickly to the slippery surface, which can significantly impact their performance. This year, however, the event proceeded without major incidents, a testament to the racetrack’s recent safety improvements following past scrutiny over horse fatalities.
Among the competitors was Citizen Bull, trained by Bob Baffert, who returned to the Derby after a three-year ban. Baffert’s previous horse, Medina Spirit, was disqualified post-race in 2021 for failing a drug test, leading to his suspension. Had Citizen Bull won, Baffert would have achieved an unprecedented milestone in horse racing history.
Churchill Downs has faced criticism in recent years, particularly after a series of horse deaths in 2023. In response, the track has made significant changes to enhance safety, including improving track surfaces and increasing veterinary oversight. According to Molly Rollins from BloodHorse, these measures have been effective, as evidenced by the absence of breakdowns during Derby week.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
