Boring Derby??
 

Maybe it's just me but I found this year's Derby incredibly boring. I'm glad everyone had a clean and safe trip though. For about 3 seconds I thought we were going to have a showdown between AP and Firing Line. I like AP and thought he ran a fine race but the overall experience for me this year was just "meh".:eek:

Agreed, same 3 all the way around and not very fast but way it goes

When the best horses in a race are all tactical speed types, there is no cheap speed,so the pace is not pressed, you are going to get a chalk-fest like today's Derby. It was extremely formful, and might as well have been a 5 horse stakes race like Santa Anita and Belmont grind out with regularity now. The rest of the horses were window dressing and most never had a realistic opportunity to be involved.

seemed like a pretty good race to me. ...a win is a win!!!!!:):):):)

I heard discussed a lot this week that point system may have something to do with this. It keeps all the sprint types who may have qualified previously on earnings from being in the field. In past years they were the ones who helped push the early fractions. Not saying its a bad thing but I definitely think its a good observation that played out yesterday.

Due to the TVG adw blackout of track feed, i had to watch NBCS. BORING,
Never saw paddock, post parade, etc. took me out of it.

Santa Anita redux derby, only Frosting came too late.

Thanks to ATR, i learned of Tepins workot w/ the Malibu horse and made my day.

I must have been watching a different Derby. But then again the tri I picked, came in and $200 on AP was not too bad either. It wasn't chalky (not my problem the betting public saw it right) since down the stretch any three of the top three could have won it but the best and most talented horse did, much to my liking (bet or not bet) . . . because that doesn't always happen either.

BTW, not in any particular order after the tri, the top six horses in the race I picked showed up as the top six in the race. And that rarely if ever happens for me.

Those not on the AP bandwagon yet will just have to join in later or stand on the sidelines and watch the parade go by. I have reserved enthusiasm right now. We'll see.

Nice redboard.. Congrats.

I also hated NBC's coverage of the Derby. Can we lose all the BS with the ice skaters PLEASE???? I'd like to hear more about the horses and the owners, trainers and jocks. As soon as the race was over NBC went right to golf. No analysis of the race, no information about how the other finishers fared. I didn't even see them talk to the winning owner but I may have missed that.

And for God's sake, shut up about the hats.

Thanks for the laugh!! This may be the post of the year.

I'll take my trophy now, thank you!!!

Not sure if you mean the race itself, the experience leading up to the Derby, the God-awful and unwatchable coverage or what BUT it is unfathomable to me to use the words Derby and boring in the same sentence, period.

The scratch of Stanford was the key to the race. He was definitely going to gun and it was a question of which of the Baffert's would engage. As it was all other horses decided to change tactics that got them to the derby and not get involved in what should have been a strong pace. As it was the race ran like a Euro Turf race with the top 3 not really testing each other until the Sprint for home. The duel down the stretch was anything but boring.

For some reason, this year I didn't have a clear cut favorite horse. Several of my early faves were taken off the trail early on. I just wasn't as excited about the Derby this year and the lame coverage did nothing to increase my enthusiasm. I was happy to see BB back in the winner's circle though, just like old times!! I had Frosted but I wasn't even very excited about him. I was truly appalled by the coverage though.

That was a tough horse to pick. What made you think AP was going to win it? I didnt hear anyone talking about this horse winning the derby.
Nice Score! Share your secrets for the preakness (and other races) next time.

I have an idea next year for all those that hated the coverage. I do it all the time. I watch the non Churchill races I want to bet on my ADW and go downstairs to watch the Derby Day races at 1 minute to post on the big screen. All I watch of the coverage is the load and the race. If no races I am interested are running I'll watch a ball game until scheduled post time and change the channel. Life is way too short to torture yourself with something that you can't stand doing.

I have greatly enjoyed the coverage in the past, just not this year. I enjoy watching the vignettes about each horse and owner/trainer/jockey. I know some people don't like that 'fluff" but I want to hear about, and see the horses.I don't know why 2 ice skaters have to play such a big role on Derby Day. In the past the "hoopla" as we call it has been really entertaining to watch. I don't want to turn on the race i minute before post. I want to be entertained.

Yep, the favorite always wins the Derby. I don't listen to the "experts", the "analysts" and don't care what they say. I learned that I long time ago. I handicap and pick horses the same for any race, Derby or a 10K claiming. There ya go, my secret is out. :eek::D

Thats a good way to do it. I enjoy Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss but the rest is filler garbage. Especially having those two ice skaters hosting the event (knowing nothing about the sport) is quite nauseating. Its almost as if NBC is mocking the sport have those two on camera.