135th Kentucky Derby: Call for Nominations

In honor of the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby, we are taking nominations for your favorite horse or horses that came close, but never won, the first leg of the Triple Crown.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPs7SNpl1y8 320×265]

My vote is Curlin (in this video winning the Dubai World Cup), a chestnut beauty that I saw up close and personal in Monmouth, N.J. Here’s him winning the 2007 Breeder’s Cup Classic. Chills.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsLOcQYi9ys 320×265]

Updated 5/1/09: Here is Curlin v. Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes, which was not only a great race for the ages, but one I forgot to mention I saw in person as well. It was a major dual with both horses showing amazing fight to the wire. Everyone there knew they’d seen an absolutely stupendous race, with the Filly going the distance and Curlin kicking into another gear whenever he was asked. Rags got him by nose, the first Filly to win the Belmont in a 100 years.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URl70KylKZg 320×265]

Please use comments to enter your nominations.

More Derby history is here.

For those of you against horseracing: Here’s where to donate to PETA.