Horse racing is an intriguing pairing of human and bestial talent. And money. The preparation that lasts years is tested in two minutes. Like any endeavour that involves large amounts of resources, extensive preparation, and flashpoint testing, predictability is highly prized. Here, however, it remains elusive. It is that absence of ultimate predictability, however, that keeps the sport and its accordant culture alive.
Since my only possible qualifications for writing a substantive post on horse racing at this juncture come from an evening watching harness racing at Vernon Downs five years ago and spending last week in Lexington, during which I saw plenty of horses and horse farms, but no horse racing, let me direct you to a collection of stories and other online features that will help you get ready for this year’s Kentucky Derby:
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Complete Television Schedule – SB Nation
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Kentucky Derby Briefing Book – Louisville Courier-Journal
- Kentucky Derby Preview – Sports Illustrated
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2012 Kentucky Derby draw and preview – Washington Post
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2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders – SB Nation
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Interactive Betting Guide – Louisville Courier-Journal
- Kentucky Derby: Big numbers all around – ESPN
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How to (Properly) Drink on Derby Day – Esquire
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Derby Day Duds – Wall Street Journal
- Horse racing’s queen mothers, Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra in broodmare battle to deliver ultimate foals – Louisville Courier-Journal
- The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved – Hunter S. Thompson
- ALDLAND’s prior horse-racing coverage
Beyond this pre-race coverage (such as it is), we will be live blogging the event beginning sometime on Saturday afternoon. Stay tuned for more details.
Finally, my win-place-show prediction, based on the same thing for which war is good, is:
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Union Rags
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Gemologist
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Take Charge Indy
Two other horses to watch are Daddy Long Legs and Bodemeister. Of course, you can watch all of them at once, and I’d advise that. It isn’t too difficult.
No matter what your style, be sure to check back here on Saturday afternoon for ALDLAND’s live blog of the 2012 Kentucky Derby.
ALDLAND 
Great post! And a big week for the whole state. I designed a poster tribute for Kentucky. Check it out: http://50statesdesignproject.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/31-cool-kentucky/
Thanks, and thanks for dropping by.
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