* 2020 shouldn't count, it didn't happen
Well today is the 2021 Kentucky Derby, and you'll hear "return to normal" 50,000 times on the broadcast (most people aren't masked, for example). It's not fully attended, but still closer than in a long time.
As we always do here at Third Edge of the Sword world headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio†, we'll place our bets on the winner of the Run for the Roses. Except we won't actuallybet: outside of the United States it's actually very difficult to do without attending your local racetrack and for a number of reasons (including a useless socialist mayor) that option isn't available.
† Why there? As you may not know, it's across the river from Northern Kentucky (Covington KY is actually a suburb, much like Jersey City and NYC)
Yesterday was the Kentucky Oaks, won by favoured Malathaat who came back from behind in the last half mile. The story this year will be the crowd: most of the horses have played their entire careers under Wuhan Flu lockdowns, so the question will be who can and cannot handle the change of style. Also, the favoured Essential Quality is being ridden by 2019's disqualified jockey Luis Saez, so if he's looking good during the race don't count your chickens or despair at your loss.
Win: Rock Your World
Place: Sainthood
Show: Midnight Bourbon
Super-trifecta 4th place: Essential Quality
Super-trifecta 4th place after the disqualification: Known Agenda
And for those who find the Derby not up to their speed, here's the slowest two-minutes in sports (even slower than Milan Lucic in the NHL Fastest Skater competition).
