My knowledge of the Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown and horse racing in general, is severly lacking.  But when it comes time for the race, I get excited and nervous.  There is something magical about the tradition at the Kentucky Derby, and the effort these trainers, jockeys and owners put into this race.  But that is not why I am fascinated, I am fascinated by the horses.

Not only are they beautiful, but they are the best athletes on the face of the Earth.  Their speed and grace can be compared to no animal, human or any other species, and it shows from the moment they are released from the gates.  However, this is not what intrigues me about these horses, what intrigues me is what's going on in their mind.  Do they know they are competing against the best of the best in their sport? Or do they just run when they are told?  I do not know the real answer, and maybe no one does, but when I watch the Triple Crown every year I like to believe that these horses know what they are involved in and know how much the race means.  It is fun to imagine the horses with butterflies in their stomach before the gates open, going over in their mind how they are to run the race, and anxiously waiting the bell.  It is most likely just instinct, they run and may not know why, but they run as hard as they possibly can without thinking about it.  

Barbaro is the winner this year, winning the Kentucky Derby by seven lengths, blowing away the competition starting with a quarter of a mile to go in the race.  He will now move on to the Preakness Stakes as the favorite, and if he wins their, he will head to the Belmont Stakes with an opportunity to win the first Triple Crown since Affirmed won it in 1978. 

And just think, these horses do all of this, at the age of only three.