[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he longest running sporting event in the United States is the Kentucky Derby. The first installment of the event was held in 1875—143 years ago! Dubbed “The Run for the Roses”, the race has, from inception, been held at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. Last Saturday the 114th edition took place, and made history. With more than 157,000 in attendance (the 8th highest in the history of the event), a thoroughbred, Justify, and its jockey, Mike Smith, romped home to first place by 2½ lengths. Favoured to win the race, the 3-year old horse didn’t disappoint, despite having been in just three previous races (winning performances, all). This was the first time in 136 years that a horse won the Derby, not having raced as a 2-year-old.
The owners of Justify— WinStar Farm, Head of Plain Panthers, Starlight Racing and the China Horse Club—received US$1.24 million (EC $3.348 million). The 52-year-old jockey collected US$124,000.
There can be only one winner per race, but not when it relates to collecting rewards. There is a prize for each of the first five horses to cross the finish line: second place received US$400,000, third $200,000, fourth $100,000 and fifth $60,000.
There is also the added exciting opportunity for fans to cash-in. Per the Kentucky Derby’s official site, there are three basic wagers: betting on a horse to win the race; betting to finish in the top two and betting on a finish among the top three. Betting is not limited to being at the racetrack; there are countless convenient online sites for bettors. One particularly lucky woman from Texas turned an $18 bet on Saturday’s race into US$1.2 million!
By now it’s hardly news that among the thousands at the Derby were Prime Minster Allen Chastanet and Desert Star Holding’s Teo Ah Khing, who hardly needs introduction, save to add that he is the China Horse Club’s main man.
“It was an incredibly exciting day!” announced the PM at Monday’s pre-cabinet press briefing. “Post the event,” he went, “I was invited to the winners’ circle and to the press conference. I was given the opportunity to speak and indicated that we are very proud to be working with Mr. Teo Ah Khing on a development in Saint Lucia.”
He expressed to the media on Monday his immense enjoyment of his time spent interacting and associating with China Horse Club members. He said he was able to promote the horseracing track at the highest levels of the sport. Obviously high on the prospect, the PM noted: “When we’re going to run an international horse race competition in Saintt Lucia, we’ll have access to some of the best horses in the world!” He also provided an update on on-going works on the local racetrack: “I am very excited about the announcement of hosting a major international horse race event here on February 10. Those who remain sceptical, please go down to Vieux Fort and see the level of work taking place there. We’re working seven days a week getting that facility ready. The track itself will be completed by the end of July. There were two things that delayed us: we had not been registered at the international level to be quarantined and we were having difficulties in resolving some problems related to some of the properties. So now it’s full steam ahead. The momentum is certainly behind us!”
