Tag Archives: horse racing

Raced to Death: Is the Kentucky Derby Cursed?

I wonder if that’s what the horses whisper amongst themselves in their stables. “Who’s it going to be next?” they might whinny to each other. If I was a racehorse being groomed to run the Kentucky Derby next year I might wonder such a thing. Especially after the bad luck that befell Barbaro a couple of years ago and then Eight Bells this year. (Although Barbaro didn’t sustain his career-ending injuries at the Kentucky Derby. That happened two weeks later at the Preakness.) Or maybe the track at Churchill Downs isn’t cursed. Maybe racehorses die every day, and not necessarily … Continue reading →

Riding High (1950)

This predictable Bing Crosby movie had a lot of build-up and a whole lot of let-down. I don’t know about you, but when I hear that a movie has a big name in it, like, oh, I don’t know – Bing Crosby, I tend to think that it’s going to be a decent film. I also think that I’m going to hear some really good singing. Oh, I’m so naïve. Hollywood sometimes misses the mark, and when the actors are under contract to star in whatever movie they’re told to take, there is no guarantee. Bing plays Dan Brooks, a … Continue reading →

Barbaro’s Journey Ends

Today saw an end to suffering for Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. After eight months of struggle, owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson made the decision to euthanize the four year old horse. Barbaro was born and raised at Springmint Farm near Nicholasville, Kentucky. The breeder said the horse was “enormous”, and grew in “two-inch spurts”. Barbaro started his career racing (and winning) on turf, but was soon switched to dirt tracks in search of the Triple Crown — three races of varying distances in five weeks. Despite coming to the Kentucky Derby after a long break of five weeks, Barbaro raced … Continue reading →