Kentucky Derbey
Col. M. Lewis Clark Jr., inspired by the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) in England, inaugurated the Kentucky Derby in 1875 at his newly opened Louisville Jockey Club Course. The race was designed to be the center of Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky. The race was also meant to be the major social event of the year in Louisville.The first Kentucky Derby was held May 17, 1875. A field of 15 three-year-olds went postward for the 1 1/2 mile contest which was won by H.P. McGrath's Aristides, trained by Ansel Williamson and ridden by the popular African-American rider, Oliver Lewis. There was an estimated 10,000 people on the Jockey Club grounds.
The fastest Derby was achieved by the legendary Secretariat, who covered the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59 2/5. Secretariat is the only Derby winner to finish under two minutes.
Even though bowling has been the object of satire in such movies as Kingpin and the Big Lebowski, it is certainly a genuine sport. And, believe it or not, it may be one of the oldest sports in the history of the world. Over 100 million people in more than 90 countries practice the game, making it one of the most popular and universally loved forms of recreation on the planet. It has been the game of kings (literally), and the startling facts behind the origins of bowling may surprise even the most dedicated kingpin.
