Your First Derby

[Sightseek]

What was the first Derby you ever watched on tv and/or saw in person?

The first Derby I ever saw on TV was 1992. I remember they showed what seemed to be HOURS of coverage of Arazi and no other horse. When Arazi didn't win, I was all like "What???"

The first Derby I saw live was in 2005. I'm pretty sure I had the same response as in 1992.



A little Kentucky Derby Montage ('87-'06) to get everyone in the mood!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E33yV1pDaPA

[Merlinsky]

On TV, 1991 Strike the Gold, which is weird because I'd been a fan for a few years, but for some reason didn't see the Derby until then. One reason, I'm sure, that I picked him to win was the montage about what happened to Alydar. I won't pretend I knew anything about numbers or conformation at that time. I just knew a sad story and that he was a chestnut.

Random thing related to that, someone I knew tried to convince me their parents owned Strike the Gold. The guy was a pathological liar, and obviously they didn't own the horse, but didn't stop him from swearing it was so.

[keithting]

Never been to Churchill Downs

1st Derby on TV - 1976 Bold Forbes

[goodcopy]

1964 Northern Dancer with my dad and mom and two older brothers

[GenuineRisk]

1983. Sunny's Halo. I wrestled with whether to pick him or Desert Wine, and finally picked him. My grandfather gave me a scratch off lottery ticket for picking him that won me $5.00. I thought I was rich. (Note: I don't count it as red boarding when the person was too young to wager at the time )

My grandfather picked Caveat, I recall. And, of course, my dad had to redeem the lottery ticket for me (see: too young to wager).

My grandfather's birthday was May 2nd, so many Derby viewings happened as part of birthday weekends with the extended family. He loved it.

[TouchOfGrey]

Never saw one in person, but my first exposure to horse racing occured when I was a child; when when my father turned on the Kentucky Derby for his horse-crazy daughter.

The year was 1979. The horse was Spectacular Bid.

[Aly-Sheba]

1973 Secretariat. A Great year to starting getting interested in horse racing as a kid!!
Never been to a Derby

[Thunder Gulch]

TV 1977 Seattle Slew
In person- Strike the Gold, and every one since. Damn' I'm old.

[Arletta]

T.V, 1977 Seattle Slew.

I don't think I would go to a live Derby even if I had the chance.. Way too many people. Unless of course it was V.I.P all the way

[my miss storm cat]

Smarty Jones, on tv.

1955, when Swaps beat Nashua. I was 13 years old, and watched it on our 10" black and white RCA Victor tv set.

I'm not sure, but I think the tv coverage of the match race between them later that year attracted a larger audience than the Derby coverage. Nashua and Arcaro turned the tables on Swaps and the Shoe.

Of course, Disney's "Davy Crockett" was the biggest thing on tv in 1955; the Dodgers winning the series was the only sports-related topic I cared about then.

[Rileyoriley]

Originally Posted by Aly-Sheba

1973 Secretariat. A Great year to starting getting interested in horse racing as a kid!!
Never been to a Derby

Ditto!

[cmorioles]

First and only was Real Quiet. Too many people for me. I had a blast, but once was enough.

[santana]

First Derby on tv was about 1969.....watched everyone since then...Never been to a live one. I went to every Belmont stakes between 1970 and 1983....some great stuff.

[MaTH716]

1981 Pleasant Colony on TV.

Some day I'll make it to Louisville to see it in person.

[outofthebox]

First Derby i watched was 1975. I think it was also my first time watching any race. First Derby i attended was a winning visit to the winners circle with Swale as a hotwalker in 1984..

[ironprospect]

Sunnys Halo, i was busted from earlier in the day trying to make money to bet Sunny, who I had picked the previous year. Just before Post Time a brief downpour caused all the drunks and they were all drunks to run to the tunnels.

This gave me a better shot at getting closer to the fence and I happen to kick over a half a pack of Newport with a twenty stuck in the wrapper. Barely made it to the window and never actually saw the race til the Preakness.

stayed in a hotel on the Cinncinnati side of the river and the 11 o'clock news showed about six seconds of the race

I was born in 60 so on tv, lets go with 63s race

[Calzone Lord]

First Derby I was at live was the Go For Gin Derby. It was a rainy mess. More importantly, I got to get out of school a day early and was there for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday...and it was an excellent Oaks.

I've been there for three downpours. The Smarty Jones year was the worst of them. The Super Saver year wasn't pleasant either.

[Gate Dancer]

On TV, I have vague recollections of Cannonero II, but definitely remember Riva Ridge and Secretariat. Those were prepping me for my first betting years at Ak-Sar-Ben.

In person, only one time and it was in 1990. I was pretty solid with Summer Squall and then Unbridled came whizzing by. Had fun in the infield, the couple in front of me and a buddy had tank tops and cutoff shorts while smoking pot the whole day and the couple behind us were the quintesential Southern gentleman and his wife, complete with a tux and gown. Quite the contrast.

The other interesting thing about that year is that on Oaks day we could roam the entire facility and have no problems. Just wasn't as big a day as it is now.

I'll go back for another, but only when I can afford to be in the Grandstand with seats.............electric event for sure!!

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

First and only was Real Quiet. Too many people for me. I had a blast, but once was enough.

My husband had the same reaction to Smarty Jones' Belmont. Minus the having a blast part. He reeeeeeallllly hates crowds.