Toasts and Ponies

As a followup on wedding toasts (Monday’s Buzzyblog) and in recognition of today’s Kentucky Derby, here’s a twofer for you: Bill Shoemaker was a famous horse racing jockey who supposedly gave the following wedding toast at his friend’s wedding.  When it was time to give the toast, Bill said “Keep a tight rein on her, keep her nose close to the rail and only use the whip if you have to.”

Given today’s PC-ness, Bill  would probably be in a lot of trouble for saying something like that.  Who knows, he may have even been kicked out of horse racing altogether. 

Harry and Me

As for the Kentucky Derby here are 10 things that you probably did not know about it and its long history (click here.)

There’s a 50-1 long shot horse named Harry’s Holiday in today’s Derby.  In honor of my Grandfather Harry Raley, I’d have to put a couple dollars on Harry just for fun.  

However, one of my Grandfather’s favorite bets when at the track was to always bet on a horse with alliterative names such as Red Robin, Pistol Pete etc.  Since the favorite in today’s Derby just happens to be a horse named California Chrome, how about a Harry/Chrome exacta box?  Hope that their jockeys take heed of Mr. Shoemaker’s advice on how to handle them thru the race.