Pony Up - 5 Things You Need To Know About The Kentucky Derby
Ponies, booze and fashion, oh my!
The Derby may be the greatest day in sports because you get to wear great hats, drink mint juleps and the whole event is over in two minutes.
Short is sweet,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. The Derby is often referred to as the “most exciting two minutes in sports” because that’s how long it takes for the horses to run the 1¼ mile track. TIME YOUR BATHROOM TRIP RIGHT OR YOU’LL MISS THE WHOLE RACE
2. The favorite horse heading into Saturday’s race, Omaha Beach, was scratched this week before most people could even place their bets. There are a whole slew of rules set forth by the Jockey Club to abide by when naming a horse. Of course, nothing racy is approved but names like Hoochiecoochiemama, Bodacious Tatas and Hardawn (say it aloud) have slipped past the reviewers. WE’D PAY TO HEAR ANNOUNCERS READ THOSE NAMES ON TV
3. The horses are all three-year-old males. You’ll never see a horse win the Derby twice because they’re only allowed to race when they’re three and that’s it. The horses (and their jockey) are competing for the largest-ever guaranteed purse of $3 million, an increase of $1 million from last year. PEAKING EARLY IN LIFE
4. Ever wonder how these high-priced horses get from one race to another? Air Horse One. No, really. They fly on a Boeing 727 cargo plane nicknamed “Air Horse One.” It’s equipped with stalls built around the horse and even inflight snacks. AND YOU THOUGHT BUSINESS CLASS WAS EXPENSIVE
5. We’d be remiss if we didn’t discuss the hats. The long-standing tradition started with a goal to have high-class spectators attend the race. The Derby hat as we know it, didn’t come around until the 1960s when fashion norms loosened up and big, bright and festive were socially acceptable. THE BEST CELEBRITY DERBY HATS
Watch the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4th live from Churchill Downs at 6:50 EST.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
Stallions aren’t the only thing to talk about today, here are the top three hottest topics in sports including how U.S.A Gymnastics continues to be a hot mess, why one basketball player is literally the sh*t and an iconic sports magazine is no more. READ
When Nature Calls
You had one job, Tiger’s ridiculous look and tempers (and creativity) flare in the playoffs.
Saving you and the world from awkward conversations.
Intergalactic planetary,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Ps – Today is Earth Day so reduce, reuse, recycle and go vegan. That’s what one team is doing for Mother Earth. Read that and more in our five sports teams that are saving the planet.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
In one of the most entertaining playoff series in recent history, the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are quite literally putting up a fight. Of course, they’ve been talking trash but there have been fights, ejections, wanted posters and one angry team general manager storming the referees’ locker room. (The 76ers lead the first round playoff series 3-1). PISSED OFF AND PASSIONATE
Overtime
From the ‘you had one job' file. While the Boston Celtics (NBA) were about the sweep the Indiana Pacers, eliminating them from the playoffs, ABC switched the broadcast over to “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” EITHER WAY IT WAS LAUGHABLE
Sideline stat
Serena Williams is putting her money where her mouth is. On Instagram, she revealed the details of her investment firm, Serena Ventures. She focuses on "early-stage investments in companies led by women and people of color and those that value 'individual empowerment' and creativity." RAISE ‘EM UP
Coaches’ corner
When a player wins the Masters (golf), they can wear the iconic green jacket anywhere for one year. (After one year they can only wear the jacket on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club). Tiger Woods took advantage of this perk and wore his new favorite green accessory with basketball shorts and white tennis shoes to his restaurant. BUSINESS ON TOP, GYM RAT IN THE BACK
Around The World
It’s the weekend and time to take off into the high-flying excitement of infinite sports knowledge.
It’s the weekend and time to take off into the high-flying excitement of infinite sports knowledge.
Soaring above the rest,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS - Time for this week's tailgating favorite. Break out your meds because this one is good for the soul, but maybe not for the cholesterol levels. BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP
MLB (Major League Baseball)
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The playoffs are underway and there will be a special pint-sized guest at the Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros game- little Astros fan Chloe. She was scolded by another fan for cheering too loudly at a game and the video went viral. The Astros took notice and Chloe is not only going to the game but had a chance to meet her baseball heroes earlier this week. SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Overtime
Soul Plane has nothing on Mark Cuban. As part of the NBA’s efforts to reach its global fans, the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers are playing two games in China. Don’t fret, the Mavs didn’t have to fly coach, they flew in style on a first class private plane complete with a buffet, bar and plenty of room to stretch those long legs out. HIGH ALTITUDE BALLIN’
Sideline stat
They say actions are greater than words and in this case a Chicago Cubs (MLB) fan had to live up to both. Back in May he tweeted out that he would send a 1,000-word apology letter to Milwaukee Brewers fans if their team finished above his Cubs in the division. Well, the Cubs missed out on a spot in the playoffs when they lost in a winner-take-all game to the Brewers. INSERT FOOT IN MOUTH
Coaches’ Corner
This weekend is the biggest fight of the year for UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Taking the octagon is Khabib Nurmagomedov, an undefeated Russian fighter who practices by wrestling live bears. He’ll fight Conor McGregor, who boxed Floyd Mayweather last year and is #4 on the Forbes list of highest paid athletes. McGregor also has a new addition in his life, Proper 12 whiskey, his company which is a sponsor of the fight. BOTTOMS UP
What to watch
The NHL (National Hockey League) is also going global with a game between the Edmonton Oilers and the New Jersey Devils on Sunday in Sweden. No word on if the teams’ transportation rivaled the Mavericks (above). THIS PLANE IS ALREADY TAKEN