<< photo by Annie Spratt >>
The 149th Kentucky Derby took place on May 6, 2023, and what a race it was. The field was shaken up early in the week with the news that three horses, Practical Move, Lord Miles, and Continuar, were scratched from the field. Along with that, the deaths of two horses earlier in the week trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., also led to an indefinite suspension of the trainer due to the “unexplained sudden deaths.”
Amidst the turmoil, the race began. Verifying, Kingsbarns, and Reincarnate got out of the gate strong, followed by Two Phil’s as the field came to the backstretch. Verifying was on the inside with Kingsbarns on the outside, and then Two Phil’s overtook them as the field came to the stretch. However, the real shocker came when Mage broke strong on the outside to the line, coming across ahead of Two Phil’s and Angel of Empire. Mage was given 17-1 odds at post time.
The horse race got more interesting as the early favorite, Forte, was scratched as a result of an injury suffered during training on Thursday, which came as a shock to the fans as well. Skinner was scratched as well, leaving just 18 horses in the field. With Forte out of the field, Tapit Trice (9-2) and Angel of Empire (9-2) moves into position as co-favorites early on Saturday. However, those odds shifted late in the day, as Angel of Empire moved into position as the favorite. Mattress Mack, a well-known person in the betting world, made a wager of $1.2 million on Angel of Empire, which pushed the horse into the favorite’s spot.
The Kentucky Derby is by far the most lucrative race of the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby pays out twice as much in its total purse as the Preakness Stakes and three times as much as the Belmont Stakes. The total purse for the Derby is $3 million, to be split among the top five finishers. In addition, the winning jockey will receive a 10 percent cut of the prize money, while the second and third place jockeys receive a five percent cut.
Mage’s victory at the 149th Kentucky Derby was an amazing upset, but the horse still has more races to win. The next step for Mage is to aim for the second leg of the Triple Crown at the Preakness Stakes, which is scheduled for May 20 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is important to keep in mind that no horse has won the Triple Crown since Justify accomplished the feat in 2018.
It is always essential to acknowledge that horse racing can be a dangerous sport for both horses and jockeys. The deaths of the horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. earlier in the week are a reminder of the risks involved. It is crucial to ascertain that safety measures are put in place to safeguard the welfare of the horses and jockeys.
In conclusion, the Kentucky Derby is a historical race for many reasons, including the amount of money at stake, the odds, and the impressive feats performed by both horses and jockeys. Mage’s victory will be remembered as a significant upset and a testament to the unpredictability of the sport. However, apart from celebrating the wins and the losses, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of safety measures for both the horses and jockeys.
