Horse Science: What Makes a Kentucky Derby Winner

[IGBT]

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The odds have been set and poll positions assigned for Saturday's Kentucky Derby, often called the "most exciting two minutes in sports."

The big question: Does odds-on favorite Brother Derek (3-1) have a big enough spleen to win?

Or will undefeated and second-ranked Barbaro (4-1) suck in enough oxygen to earn a victory lap? Maybe Flashy Bull, a 50-1 long shot, has already made up his mind to wear the rose blanket awarded in the winner's circle.

These are the questions Kenneth McKeever ponders when considering the science that separates the winners from the also-rans.

Spleen of a champion

McKeever works at the Equine Science Center at Rutgers University. He knows that horses have evolved several physiological features that make them ideal for running. For example, horses can breathe only through their nostrils, which are situated on the sides of their snouts. This is likely an adaptation for preventing kicked-up dust and dirt from entering their lungs when running with their mouth open.

Derby contenders keep one of their best tricks hidden close to their hindquarters.

"Horses have what I call a 'natural blood doper'?a huge spleen that stores a blood supply very rich in red blood cells," McKeever says.

 

[Eddieo]

Should be a good race.

 

[Syringer]

Was his mother a mudder?

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: Eddieo
Should be a good race.

..do they still give them pain shots to make em run faster with an existing injury?

 

[Baked]

There is no science. The winner's pre-determined months ago.

 

[Drakkon]

"When it comes down to it, a lot of times what's going on in that horse's head is what makes him a good runner," McKeever said. "In the lab when we have a horse on the treadmill, he'll often paw at the tread, as if he's saying 'hey, I want to go. I want to have some fun.' So a lot of what makes them a good racer is up in the head."

I think this quote is the truest of all in that article. Its not the spleen, or the lungs, or the ammount of "pain medication", its how much the horse WANTS it. As a race horse part owner/trainer I've seen horses come and go my whole life, and its been ones like my current horse that find running fun are the ones that win. Before the race he'll pysche himself up, on the track if another horse bumps him he'll smoke him, and if there are horses in front of him the jockey may have to hold him back if its too soon, and just overall he seems to truely enjoy leading the pack. Thats what you want in a racehorse.

That being said it looks like a great field this year. I like baffert horses, I like steppenwolfer, i like lawyer ron, so theres my tri box this year. Yes It'll be a drop of $60 but its the Derby 😉
In fact this same weekend, there are tracks all across the country having races.View here: http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbEntriesFullIndex.cfm and see if there is a track near you to go see the derby from, but watch a few races as well. I dont think theres any better way to do the derby frankly unless your there in person.
Me....I'll be at Sonoita at the Santa Cruz County Fair races - In the 7th race with our horse Saxmeamemo
I love this time of year, its the build up to the summer racing season where dad and i will be traveling around northern AZ racing our horse.