I know its pointless in the long run,but its fun! And can be telling a little. But here is a blog I just wrote for our site. Thought I would share.
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Every year millions of people try to handicap one of the toughest races of the year, the Kentucky Derby. The reason this race is so tough is very simple. There are 20 horses running in the race. That’s more than any other horse race in the United States throughout the rest of the year. In order to have a chance at figuring out how to cash a ticket on Derby day, you have to start by eliminating horses that aren’t going to make it. Derby journalist Jon White came up with his strike system a few years back and this list is a similar system based on some of his research. You can find even more data like this in our FREE Derby packet as well.
Now if you are keeping score….How many negative points did each horse get?
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Every year millions of people try to handicap one of the toughest races of the year, the Kentucky Derby. The reason this race is so tough is very simple. There are 20 horses running in the race. That’s more than any other horse race in the United States throughout the rest of the year. In order to have a chance at figuring out how to cash a ticket on Derby day, you have to start by eliminating horses that aren’t going to make it. Derby journalist Jon White came up with his strike system a few years back and this list is a similar system based on some of his research. You can find even more data like this in our FREE Derby packet as well.
- Dating back to 1962 no horse that has finished worse than 4th in its final prep race has won the Kentucky Derby. Only three horses have won the Kentucky Derby after finishing 4th in the same time period.
- This eliminates:
- Uncle Sigh (5th, Wood Memorial)
- Cairo Prince (4th, Florida Derby)
- Tapiture (4th, Arkansas Derby)
- Vinceremos (14th, Blue Grass)
- Harry’s Holiday (13th, Blue Grass)
- This eliminates:
- Since 1882 no horse has won the Kentucky Derby without racing at age 2. Since 2000, no horse has won the derby without winning at the age of 2.
- This eliminates:
- Hoppertunity (broke maiden on Jan. 30th)
- Ring Weekend (broke maiden on Feb. 8th)
- Vinceremos (broke maiden on Jan. 4th)
- This eliminates:
- 46 of the last 48 Kentucky Derby winners were first or second with a Furlong remaining in the Kentucky Derby; the only two exceptions were Grindstone in 1996, Giacomo in 2005. In a field of 20 you have to be close to the lead come the final furlong. Eliminate any horse that wasn’t in 1st or 2nd with a furlong to go in both their last starts.
- This eliminates:
- Wicked Strong
- We Miss Artie
- Candy Boy
- Cairo Prince
- Danza
- Tapiture
- Vinceremos
- Harry’s Holiday
- Commanding Curve
- Only three horses have won the derby since 1973 who hadn’t won a graded stakes race prior.
- This eliminates:
- Ride On Curlin
- General A Rod
- Uncle Sigh
- Harry’s Holiday
- Commanding Curve
- This eliminates:
- Only six horses have won the derby who have ran less than six total starts before entering the Kentucky Derby.
- This eliminates:
- Vicar’s In Trouble (5 starts)
- Danza (4 starts)
- Hoppertunity (5 starts)
- Chitu (4 starts)
- Midnight Hawk (5 starts)
- Cairo Prince (5 starts)
- Uncle Sigh (5 starts)
- Vinceremos (5 starts)
- This eliminates:
- Only two geldings have won the Kentucky Derby since 1930.
- This eliminates:
- Ring Weekend
- This eliminates:
Now if you are keeping score….How many negative points did each horse get?
California Chrome | 0 |
Intense Holiday | 0 |
Medal Count | 0 |
Samraat | 0 |
Dance With Fate | 0 |
WildCat Red | 0 |
Wicked Strong | -1 |
We Miss Artie | -1 |
Midnight Hawk | -1 |
Vicar’s In Trouble | -1 |
Chitu | -1 |
Ride On Curlin | -1 |
General A Rod | -1 |
Candy Boy | -2 |
Hoppertunity | -2 |
Tapiture | -2 |
Danza | -2 |
Ring Weekend | -2 |
*Commanding Curve | -2 |
Cairo Prince | -3 |
Uncle Sigh | -3 |
*Harry’s Holiday | -3 |
*Vinceremos | -4 |
So what does this mean?
In order to handicap a race with 20 horses we have to start by tossing a number of them to the wayside. Taking a closer look at thsi list I think its safe to say that a number of these horses simply don’t have a chance to win the Kentucky Derby. Now that doesn’t mean they won’t pull a Golden Soul and come from no where to finish second or third. But can we safely toss a few of these from the winners circle?
In order to handicap a race with 20 horses we have to start by tossing a number of them to the wayside. Taking a closer look at thsi list I think its safe to say that a number of these horses simply don’t have a chance to win the Kentucky Derby. Now that doesn’t mean they won’t pull a Golden Soul and come from no where to finish second or third. But can we safely toss a few of these from the winners circle?