BETTING ON THE MOST EXCITING TWO
MINUTES IN SPORTS
Every year, the first Saturday in May, sports
fans across the globe gather to watch "The
Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports", The
Kentucky Derby. They have been running this race
since 1875, the oldest continuing sports event in
the United States. Sports fans have also been
betting on this race since 1875.
In the last 15 years we have seen the betting
volume on the Kentucky Derby increase due to the
number of
offshore sportsbooks ready to take your bet. You
can bet the traditional win, place and show, exotics
such as exactas, horse vs. horse matchups and just
about every prop bet imaginable, including who will
come in last!
The excitement surrounding the race, for some, is
not the fact that they have a wager on the race. In
many cases, the wager is secondary. A token if you
will. Rather, the excitement comes from the process
leading up to the race. The handicapping process.
For many, that process starts several months
beforehand, with all the Kentucky Derby prep races.
For others, it's process that may only start the day
before, or even the day of the race. Either way, the
excitement comes from the process of handicapping
the race, and then tuning in to watch and see if
you're right. Many folks pour over racing forms,
post positions, speed ratings and other horse racing
systems. They toss out some horses based on these
findings and circle others. Some buy tip sheets and
some probably even throw darts.
The Derby fans day is filled with anticipation
unlike any other. He or she continues the
handicapping process all day, figuring out last
minute exotic wagers and long shot picks. The
television coverage on Derby day starts early. ESPN
carries the undercard, all the while profiling
Derby contenders. Then the network, NBC picks up
coverage, which this year, is extended to a full 2.5
hours. During that 2.5 hour stretch, we hear all the
stories. The horse that almost didn't make it. The
horse that was bought for pennies on the dollar. The
horse owned by some little old lady. There's drama
for sure. Which only enhances what's about to
come.
During the "pregame" if you will, we'll also hear
from all the so called experts who will weigh in
with their Derby selections. We'll get constant
updates on the odds as they shift all day long.
We'll get interviews with the likes of Nick Zito and
Todd Pletcher. By Post Time we'll have had our fill
of Kentucky Derby build up. We'll know everything
there is about every horse in the race, which, of
course, makes it all the mote exciting. Not unlike
the Superbowl.
After all the build up, all the hype, there's
nothing quite like the buglers call to post. Or is it a
trumpet? At any rate, right after that we hear the
first few notes of "My Old Kentucky Home" and well,
folks, there's really nothing quite like it in all
of sports. That is followed by the post parade as
the horses take the track and make their way to the
starting gate. This can be compared to a ring
entrance in a big heavyweight title fight!
We wait as the last horse is ushered into the
gate and then BAM! the gate opens and the race is
underway. For the next 2 minutes we are on the edge
of our seats, whereever that may be, as we watch
the race unfold. All the speculation, all the
anticipation, all the predictions unfold before our
eyes in a matter 2 minutes time. At which time, we
are either the hero, telling anyone who will listen
that we had the winner. That we told you so. Or,
we're sitting their scratching our head wondering
how the heck that just happened. Didn't see that
coming!
Either way, it's an event unlike any other. One
that this writer has looked forward to year after
year since he was 11 years old and watched Seattle
Slew win the Derby and the Triple Crown. Somewhere
out there, there's an 11 year old kid who will watch
the Kentucky Derby this year, and will embark on
a lifetime of anticipation for that first Saturday
in May. It truly is the Most Exciting Two
Minutes in Sports!
Watch for
our Kentucky Derby Coverage - Picks - Analysis
