Notes on a Scorecard - May 7, 1994

Everything you always wanted to know about the Kentucky Derby:

This has been the most prestigious thoroughbred race in America for more than a century, but it no longer is the richest. . . .

In fact, it won’t even be the richest run at Churchill Downs this year. . . .

Prize money for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 will be $3 million. . . .

Prize money for today’s Derby is $888,800. . . .

The split is $638,800 for the winner, $145,000 for second, $70,000 for third and $35,000 for fourth. . . .

The 11 other owners will lose $20,000 because of entry and starting fees. . . .

Jockeys and trainers each receive 10% of the purse. . . .

The owner gets 80% and the horse an extra helping of oats. . . .

The possibility of rain should not affect your handicapping much. Unlike most tracks, Churchill Downs often plays fast when wet. . . .

If it does rain, hunch bettors might get down on Soul Of The Matter, whose owner, Burt Bacharach wrote, “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.” . . .

There is no garbage pickup in Louisville on Derby Day. . . .

Kent Desormeaux, on Soul Of The Matter’s second-place finish in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland: “He didn’t run out of talent, he ran out of gas.” . . .

The horse considered the greatest ever to win the Derby, Secretariat, finished third to Angle Light and Sham in the Wood Memorial three weeks before his victory here in 1973. . . .

In setting what remains the track record of 1:59 2/5 for the 1 1/4 miles, Secretariat’s closing quarter of 23 seconds was faster than pacesetter Shecky Greene’s opening quarter of 23 2/5. . . .

Favored Holy Bull will try to become the fifth gray to win the race, following in the footsteps of Determine, Decidedly, Spectacular Bid and Gato del Sol. . . .

Spectacular Bid in 1979 was the last favorite to win. . . .

Brocco supporters are encouraged by the victories of second betting choices Pleasant Colony in 1981, Sunny’s Halo in 1983, Swale in 1984, Spend A Buck in 1985, Winning Colors in 1988 and Sunday Silence in 1989. . . .

Chris Antley, who will ride Powis Castle, wasn’t scheduled to arrive in Louisville until this morning. He was taking the red-eye after competing at Hollywood Park on Friday night. . . .

All thoroughbreds share the official birthday of Jan. 1, but Strodes Creek, Smilin Singin Sam and Ulises won’t actually turn 3 until after the Derby. . . .

Holy Bull is the old-timer, having been foaled on Jan. 24. . . .

The longest-priced Derby winner was Donerail in 1913 at $184.90. The shortest-priced were Count Fleet in 1943 and Citation, who was coupled with Coaltown in 1948, at $2.80. . . .

Fifteen of the first 28 runnings were won by black jockeys. . . .

The only winners bred outside the United States were Omar Khayyam from England, who won in 1917; Tomy Lee from England in 1959, and Northern Dancer from Canada in 1964. . . .

Robert Perez--the owner of mutuel-field speedster Ulises, who has campaigned in Panama--said, “Holy Bull is el toro and Ulises is the matador.” . . .

Despite trainer Ron McAnally’s denials, the feeling is that Valiant Nature also will try to beat Holy Bull to the early lead. . . .

Affirmed beat Alydar in the 1978 Triple Crown races by a total of 1 3/4 lengths. . . .

Only one of the last 24 Derbies has been decided by less than a length--Winning Colors’ neck score over Forty Niner in 1988. . . .

A jockey who could make a difference today is Eddie Delahoussaye. . . .

Delahoussaye, the only two-time Derby winner riding today, will be aboard Strodes Creek for the first time. . . .

Corey Black, who had ridden Strodes Creek, is capable, but Delahoussaye is a Hall of Famer who, at 42, perhaps is performing better than ever. . . .

Churchill Downs seats 48,500, but as many as 163,628, in 1974, have attended the race. . . . Many of those, jammed into the infield, never saw Cannonade cross the finish line. . . .

Beware of trainer Jack Van Berg. His Blumin Affair has won only twice in eight starts, but his Alysheba had won only once in 10 starts before winning the 1987 race and eventually becoming the biggest money winner of all time. . . .

A year after Aristides won the first Derby on May 17, 1875, the National League of baseball was formed in Louisville. . . .

The suggested exacta is Brocco-Powis Castle.