The Road to the Kentucky Derby

December 29, 2013

Dear Readers,

            It's past time for me to be getting caught up on the big races that lead up to the Kentucky Derby. Though in my opinion it’s still to early to be picking a favorite, but I do love to window shop.

            Since uncertainty is a mainstay when plotting a course nearly six months in advance, I say, where’s the harm in spending $600.00 for an early bird nomination to the Triple Crown? At best the horses that have already proved themselves solid contenders may not be around come the first Saturday in May. At worst it might be your horse munching grass in a layup pasture, nursing a quarter crack, bone chip or bucked shins.

            None-the-less let us dream, after all what’s $600.00 in the overall scheme of things. There are people who spend more on a wallet. Like this Mont Blanc Men’s Wallet I’ve seen advertised for $676.00 on line.   

            If you don’t want to sabotage your dream by nominating to a race that seems unattainable, and fear the thought of being ridiculed, take a page out of my book. Peel the sticky notes off your forehead labeling you stupid and do it anyway. It’s not about the money, it’s about the opportunity to live the dream, and the only person who can make that impossible is you.

            The early bird nominations will close towards the end of January for the 2014 Triple Crown season. After that there is a late nomination near the end of March that requires an expenditure of $6,000 dollars.

            And finally there is the ultimate cost for those owners of talented juvenile racehorses, and who waited for a somewhat higher ranking on the certainty scale. Supplemental nominations and they can get pretty costly.

            After you’ve paid a whopping $200,000 supplement to enter just the Kentucky Derby, you’d have to pass on this Louis Vuitton Urban Satchel. A mere $150,000 accessory that all well heeled green environmental missionaries would covet.  

            If your horse does well in Kentucky you might find yourself plunking down another $100,000 each, in order to supplement him or her to the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

            I’m just saying, sometimes it’s cheaper to dream than wait for uncertainty to clarify into a calculated risk. Win or lose, there is nothing like taking part in the stampede down The Road to the Kentucky Derby. And I know, because I’ve been down that road, sticky notes and all.

            I’ll spend some time on contenders next time. In the meantime, Happy New Year and get those nominations submitted.

Take care,

Shelley Lee Riley

Author of: Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure

www.shelleyriley.com