Noted: April 29
– Keeneland’s spring meet, which closed on Friday, was a record-breaker, with new highs posted for attendance. The spring meet also broke handle records: “Wagering from all sources during the 15-day meet [surpassed] $143.4 million.”
– Churchill Downs opens today; Derby week begins.
– The oldest living Derby-winning jockey will visit Churchill for the first time in 70 years next Saturday. “The reason I haven’t gone back is really television more than anything else … I found out you could watch it on television and get great coverage. I never missed a Derby. I never lost interest in it. I just figured, here’s television. You can watch it right here.” Ira Hanford is not only the oldest living Derby-winning jockey, but the only apprentice jockey to ever win the Derby.
– First Samurai has an excuse for his fifth place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes: The colt came out of the race with two broken ribs. “In some ways we’re relieved,” said owner Lansdon Robbins. “His performance in the Blue Grass was difficult for us to understand, and if he sustained this at the break when hit the gate, then it gives us some perspective.”
