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150th “Run for the Roses”: The history and spectacle of the Kentucky Derby
Every year the Kentucky Derby is one of America’s great pageants, as a horse-loving, hat-wearing, julep-swilling crowd of 150,000-plus breaks out its Sunday best on the first Saturday of May, in the shadow of those iconic white spires at Louisville’s Churchill Downs.
“First Saturday in May means something to millions of people,” said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs. “It’s Derby Day!”
But this isn’t “every year” – it’s even more special. This Saturday the longest continuously-held sporting event in America will celebrate its 150th birthday. “We have run a Kentucky Derby every single year since 1875,” said Chris Goodlett, curator of the Kentucky Derby Museum. “We’ve had two world wars, a depression, pandemics. We’ve always run a Kentucky Derby.”
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Jockey Mike Smith has had the most mounts in Kentucky Derby history – 28. He’s won it twice, in 2005 on Giacomo, and in 2018 riding Justify. With more than 5,700 career races won, Smith was asked if his two Derby wins are different. “Without a doubt,” he replied. “I’ve often tried to describe what the feeling, what it feels like. I can’t find words!”
Much of the Derby’s history is a source of pride in Kentucky. Much, but not all. Thirteen of the 15 jockeys in the first Derby were Black men, including the winner, Oliver Lewis, riding Aristides. Black jockeys won 15 of the first 28 Derbies. But then, there were no Black jockeys for an uncomfortable length of time, from 1920 to 2000 – long past Jim Crow. “It’s an unfortunate time in our history where certain laws prohibited African American jockeys from participating,” said Anderson. “Certainly we’ve come a long way since then. And we’re trying to ensure that we’re fair and there’s equal opportunities for anyone to participate in our sport today.”
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Recent history has also created challenges to the Derby’s image. Last year a dozen horses went down during training in the weeks surrounding the race. An independent investigation cleared Churchill Downs of any fault in the deaths. But questions linger.
“Churchill Downs takes safety of our participants very seriously,” said Anderson. “We don’t ever think it’s suitable or tolerable when there’s an equine death.”
WEB EXTRA: Churchill Downs president on steps taken to improve safety of horses, riders
For all the pageantry we will see unfold at Churchill Downs, it is, after all, the horses that are at the center of everything. Which is why, during the last decade, the track has spent half a billion dollars renovating and modernizing. The centerpiece is a $200 million paddock to showcase the magnificent creatures who are the stars of the show.
American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby, and then the Triple Crown, in 2015. He’s now living the life: out to stud at Coolmore Farm in Kentucky horse country, under the watch of Dermot Ryan.
American Pharoah will gently take a carrot out of your hand, but don’t be fooled: “Once he got onto the track, he was focused,” Ryan said. “And he just ran. I mean, they couldn’t stop him. And that’s what made him so good. He had the will and the heart to win.”
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This coming Saturday, for the 150th time another three-year old will possess just a touch more heart than the rest of the field, and end the day draped with a garland of roses.
Smith said, “I get emotional just thinking about it. It’s pretty neat. It’s powerful, man. It’s a feeling. I wish I could bottle that feeling up, man, and just let someone take a sip of it, man, ’cause, I mean, it’s amazing!”
And it will be like every other first Saturday in May, when they run the “fastest two minutes in sports” at Churchill Downs, only better.
“Every Kentucky Derby is special and unique,” said Anderson, “but there’s something a little bit more special about our 150th.”
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Story produced by Jon Carras. Editor: Mike Levine.
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.