KENTUCKY DERBY 2014

How will you be celebrating and/or betting all ur monies?

Last year I missed out on Derby festivities because I could not find a place in rural Baja to watch it on teevee, so I am extra-excited for this year as it will be my triumphant return to the Much Anticipated Andy & Cassandra Derby Party in Petworth, Washington DeeCee.

Hats are de rigueur, of course. I usually whip out the black netted fascinator with jaunty feathers that made its debut at our wedding; however, said fascinator is packed somewhere and I have no hope of finding it in time (I won't even be in the same state as said fascinator until Friday).

Instead, I have found the perfect lampshade in my mother's collection. Yes, my mother has a collection of lampshades, among many, many other things. It is a standard rounded-pyramid type pleated model, which I shall start by spray-painting silver. What else should I do to my lampshade hat? I don't want to detract from its fundamental lampshadeness.

Other Derby talk, particularly about actual horses, welcome here.

I will also take this thread to chastise dayo for his failure to warn me that in Hong Kong, not only do horses run on grass (which I knew), they run clockwise on a course with a 4% grade aka a HILL!!!!!!!!!!!

Otherwise, his recommendation for going to the races at the Happy Valley in Hong Kong was totally otm, but I was really startled when I was looking toward the finish line waiting for the horses to round the final corner, only for them to come bearing down from the other direction!

I have this wes Anderson-sequence tableau in my head of 1000s of Hong konger faces all looking one way an one face looking the other and then the thunder of hooves.

Down here in Australia the state of Victoria has an official public holiday for its derby day, Melbourne cup day. It is the drinkingest of australian holidays, which us saying something.

I have this wes Anderson-sequence tableau in my head of 1000s of Hong konger faces all looking one way an one face looking the other and then the thunder of hooves.

Alas, it was only me and the husband, whom I had earnestly directed to watch in what turned out to be the wrong f'n direction, facing the other way.

I feel certain that in Europe and Aus, the horses run counter (anti) clockwise, as in the U.S.? No?

I mean horses run abroad, how on earth do they manage the change? Horses are not very bright.

Interestingly traditionally england ran horse clockwise and america switched to anti-clockwise during the revolution just to be different.

Victoria is anti-clockwise and NSW predominantly clockwise.

http://risaaustralia.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/why-race-courses-are-clockwise-or-anti.html

I suspect with horses, once forward gear has been engaged they just follow the rails.

Samraat? maybe

California Chrome's a deserving favorite but man it's hard to take the short price in a field of 19. plenty can happen and the "best horse" doesn't always win.

my superficial case for Samraat is if you like Wicked Strong (he might be 2nd choice in the race but got a tough post, #20, far outside) then you gotta like the horse who came within a nose of him in the Wood and will be a much bigger price. I'll probably play Samraat over and under Cali Chrome. or totally change my mind once I see the odds tomorrow.