Virtual Kentucky Derby = NBC 5/2

[RUFFIAN]

Virtual Kentucky Derby to be Televised May 2 on NBC

Track officials aim to raise $2 million for COVID-19 emergency relief efforts.

By BloodHorse Staff

Churchill Downs announced April 23 that it will conduct
a virtual running of the Kentucky Derby

during a May 2 telecast on NBC from 3-6 p.m. ET
on the traditional day of the Kentucky Derby

Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Called the "The Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown,"

The “Virtual race is a computer-simulated version of the American classic,
which was postponed this year from its traditional running
on the first Saturday in May
to Sept. 5 because of COVID-19.

Saturday's coverage will include:

• A new interview with trainer Bob Baffert, trainer of Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify , and jockey Mike Smith, who teamed with Baffert on Justify in 2018;
• A look at 2020's top three-year-olds heading into the summer racing season;
• Video from Churchill Downs during the show;
• Larry Collmus' call of the 2015 Kentucky Derby, watched by nearly 18 million viewers as American Pharoah crossed the finish line;
• A look in on American Pharoah, at his stable at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky;
• An essay by Tim Layden offering perspective on the meaning of the Kentucky Derby. Layden will provide additional commentary and articles on NBC Sports.com throughout the week;
• The Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown virtual horse race (additional details below).

Churchill Downs' First-Ever Virtual Horse Race—Featuring 13 Triple Crown Winners
The NBC broadcast will feature Churchill Downs' first virtual horse race: The Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown, which will be called by NBC Sports' Triple Crown race caller Larry Collmus. The virtual race, created by Inspired Entertainment, will feature the 13 past Triple Crown winners and use data algorithms including historical handicapping information about each horse, which helps to determine the probability of their potential finishing positions.

Beginning this Thursday, April 30, fans will be able to visit www.KentuckyDerby.com to choose their favorite horse to win the virtual race and join Churchill Downs in making a charitable donation to COVID-19 emergency relief efforts.

[DonGuido]

Thanks Ruffian. I think I'd pick American Pharoah to win, Justify second by a nose!? But, then there's Secretariat!!! Then again Justify never got beat so why would he lose this race?

[cal828]

I'm old, but even Secretariat's win was before I became seriously interested in horse racing. At first, when considering this virtual race, I thought well, the winner has to be Secretariat, after all he is recognized as the fastest horse ever in the KD, but what would happen, if Secretariat had been confronted by horses that were nearly as fast in the same race such as Monarchos, the 2nd fastest? As we all know, pace has a lot to do with it. Have to say, I don't have a clue. The only thing I know for sure is that the stars of today are not nearly as good as those of the past. You sometimes hear people say that things today aren't nearly as good as they "used to be" or "in the good old days" and you wonder the truth of that, but you don't have to wonder about horse racing.

[RUFFIAN]

Based upon my personality

I am going to go with WHIRLAWAY

[casp0555]

Barbaro...for personal and sentimental reasons his win in the Derby and subsequent tragedy is what drew me into the sport full time. Up until then, I was a Triple Crown only fan.....

[Roamin42]

My choice is Secretariat. Hard to go against a record holder. of all TRIPLE CROWN races