Red Beans And Advice For Monday, May 1

My tips for enjoying the Kentucky Derby

For this week’s Red Beans, I’m diverting from a food theme and shifting to one of my favorite sports.

Saturday is the 2023 Kentucky Derby, which has been described as the most exciting two minutes in sports. The two horses to watch are Forte (above) and Confidence Game, and an unexpected winner can always zoom through the crowded field.

I’ve been going to the track most of my life. I’ve gotten to attend the Derby once, and I always plan to watch the Derby coverage. I tune in about an hour before the race starts, and miss the hours of filler.

I’m not interested in hats or mint juleps or celebrities. I care about the horses, the jockeys, the trainers and the owners. There has been a lot of conversation in recent years about abuse within the sport, and I condemn anything that is unfair to animals or humans.

However, horse racing can be a magnificent sport, and the people who participate with integrity are some of the most interesting figures you could follow.

Here are some thoughts about the Derby and my own approach to horse racing.