Derby Draw
 

So the draw is May 2 at 5 on ESPN


How do they determine who picks when???


Earnings or what?

They have a draw for the draw. Believe they pick out balls out of a shaker

If I recall correctly, the 20 entrants are ordered randomly to determine the draw selection order. In that random order, the connections get to choose which of the remaining post positions they want.

Punch me in the face if I'm wrong and just made that all up :D

There is a traditional preliminary pill pull that determines the order the entrants' connections will then select a post position. Ridiculous made-for-TV non-dramatic drama.

and when chris lincoln handles it they get to do it twice!

We went to the live draw last year and it was a lot of fun! They hold it in the center of 4th Street Live and it was followed by a concert (O.A.R. last year) Lots of great pubs and clubs in that area...overall just a great time. Plus they hand out free Derby stuff like pins and signs.

If anyone has a chance to go this year...I highly recommend.

It is a bit of joke on TV. Here's a bunch of guys that stay out of the lime light on TV acting like they rather be out on the track riding a horse.

They do need to change it somehow. Maybe fun to be there but really it over played and then someone takes too long or picks a post someone has already taken.

Maybe they should do it like American Idol and have fans vote for post position.

Spyder

Why the hell dont they draw posistions based on earnings or some such measure of ability? It's no so much that deserving horses dont get into the race but that good horses get squeezed out of contention early by the ridiculous 20 horse field. Last year Lawyer Ron and Bro.Derek were good example of decent horses that were compromised by position.

Plenty of better examples from other years.

Let the good horses get the best spots and then if there's any left over let those lowest on the totem pole draw for the aux. gate. If some late blooming horse like a CHelokee turns out to be wonder horse then he can demonstrate that from the far outside, otherwise let those with highest earnings or pts get the best spots.

The draw...another excuse to throw a party. Gotta love Derby week.

That is actually a very good idea, Easy Goer. I'm surprised I haven't heard that suggestion before.

For us it's non-dramatic, but for non-racing fans its good. Show them how big this event is, how much focus it gets etc. Anytime we have an hour on a TV station is a good thing.

I agree 100%. If they are going to stick with the graded earnings formula, might as well make it mean something.