LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Giacomo defied the odds and won the $2.4 million Kentucky Derby in a gigantic upset Saturday, running down a game Afleet Alex in the final strides and generating a huge payoff.
Even though trainer Nick Zito had five horses in the field of 20, including the favorite, George Steinbrenner’s Bellamy Road, this Derby belonged to a 3-year-old colt who had won just once in seven races.
The wild results produced the second-highest win payoff in Derby history. Giacomo returned $102.60 on a $2 win ticket. The Derby record is $184.90 by Donerail in 1913.
It’s true. Gambling is so pervasive in our Western society that most of us do not even notice we are gambling.
For example, do you ever buy one of those Dr. Peppers over a Coke specifically because the Dr. Pepper has a yellow lid and might be a free drink? That is gambling in a less harmful form (to the soul) than horse racing or casinos, but gambling nonetheless.
Did I spell it wrong? I don’t know Dr. Pepper’s first name, so I have to use the title. It does cause my strife, though, but Pepsi (which also has the free lids) did not look correct with a plural “Pepsis.”
Dr Pepper was invented by Wade Morrison, owner of Morrison’s Drug Store in Waco TX, in 1885. He named it after Dr. Charles Pepper who gave him his first job.
I hope this clarifies matters regarding the Kentucky Derby and horse racing in general.
