Who was your first?
 

... your first Derby horse, that is.

... and I don't mean who you hit the big score with... I mean your first one even if you didn't have a dime on him (or her).

Even if it was back when you were a kid...that's the one I want to hear about. :)

Seattle Slew is the one that got me hooked. I remember sitting at the kitchen tables in the mornings eating my bowl of cereal and reading anything I could find that pertained to the Kentucky Derby. Back then, that was the only information we got.

I turned 18 the day before the 2004 Derby... My brother brought me to Great Lakes downs on Derby day and I bet Friends Lake, was hooked on racing that day.

I'm a late "bloomer"...I remember Barbaro, poor Barbaro. May he rest in peace.

Taylor's Special in 1984.

1976 - Bold Forbes going wire to wire over my select of Honest Pleasure

Fly So Free

Coronado's Quest. Was so happy when he dug in and fought off Captain Bodgit.

- Freddy Mo

Was a big Demons Begone fan, heard he bled, wasn't really ever the same after that.

Smarty.

Did not bet a cent... fell in love with his Cinderella story after seeing Seabiscuit.

Genuine Risk, probably because she was a filly and everyone who 'thought' they knew anything were throwing her out because of it.

Hindoo

who was your first?
 

Count Turf in 1951; I was all of 9 years old. He was owned by a NY restaurant guy named Jack Amiel who my father had a nodding acquantaince with. Dad made a pretty nice score with the bookie, I think.

Sunday silence

Spend A Buck :$:

Diabolo, lol, saw him in person and thought he was the Black Stallion, hey, at least he didn't embarass himself, ran his heart out.

Strike The Gold

Probably Spend A Buck, but I saw Affirmed/Alydar in person as 2yos at Saratoga.

Spectacular Bid. :-)

Carry Back

Sunny's Halo, but I don't think I bet him. Probably couldn't. Not sure Oaklawn even had simulcasting back in those days, but they might have. First one I ever remember actually making a few dollars on was Strike the Gold and it was a very few dollars. I think he and Best Pal were the favorites. I had tickets on both of them and another horse. I think his name was Green Alligator.

Real Quiet, 1998. Had $100 win ticket I was so proud of. In Vegas at LVH Derby Party.....showed my ticket to the guy sitting next to me.....he pulled out his ticket.....$5,000 win on Real Quiet. Only Derby I ever hit.....

Kissin Kris


-bt-

Spectacular Bid was the first I can really remember sitting down and watching in my youth.
As an attendee, my first bet was Hansel.
First win was Lil E Tee.

Trotter named Street Fiddler mid 80s. First derby winner was Strike the Gold.

Fusaichi Pegasus - he was a beast and very tough to handle.

first derby I remember was giacomo closing argument afleet Alex...pretty sure I played andromadas hero

94 Derby there was this steel gray colt I saw on a SportsCenter highlight (was a huge baseball follower). Figured I should have a look at this Kentucky derby thing. Some other horse won (Go For Gin) and the gray colt didn't do much (Holy Bull).

I got hooked as a kid rooting for Sham. We know how that turned out!!

I was a little late to the game as well ... but I was at the Derby - and in the cheap seats at the top of the stretch - when Big Brown turned it on. Was able to cash that modest win bet and have been hooked ever since.

Rumbo

Easy Goer

Secretariat............was old enough to start betting at Ak-Sar-Ben 'legally' the next year. Best Derby pick was Gato Del Sol, Best Preakness pick was Gate Dancer (duh) and Best Belmont pick was Colonial Affair. Attended the 1990 Derby and loved Summer Squall. Still kicking myself for not boxing with Unbridled.

Seattle slew.
A year later, alydar and then general assembly....

Bold Forbes. I thought his spring and Triple Crown series was truly underrated.

He will always have THE special place in my heart.

First Derby horse I remember betting on was Nobiz Like Showbiz. I was working weekends for Smarty's and remember timing my break that day so I could sneak into an empty conference room and watch it. Watched Barbaro's and Giacomo's at home but wasn't betting til 2007.

Arazi

Charismatic.....was purely a hunch play. Since that day I have been anointed a horse racing expert by my friends and colleagues. ;)

1969. Arts and Letters, lost to Majestic Prince, First win..1982, Gato Del Sol

spend a buck