Happy Easter - And Looking Ahead to the Kentucky Derby

First,  Happy Easter!

   Second, it's also the 15th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre here in Colorado.  There are still a lot of shell-shocked ex-students and parents who are grappling with their memories of this day of blood.

    Third, it's also 4/20 (in the dating style of the US) and that is a counterculture day to celebrate the use of marijuana.  Cannabis use is now legal in the state of Colorado, in the privacy of one's own home, and as long as you, the consumer, has less than one ounce of weed, and you don't share it with anyone under the age of 21.  You can give pot to a friend, but you can't sell it...  And you can grow up to 10 individual cannabis plants in a secure area, that the public cannot access.  People are coming from all over to celebrate 4/20 in both Denver and Boulder - and I'm sure there will be quite a few private parties throughout the state as well.

   On to horses, thoroughbreds, in particular.  Yesterday evening, the Charles Town Classic was run, and the purse this year was $1.5 million.  Game On Dude was the betting favorite,but was pressed early in the race for speed.  He finished second, behind Imperative, and ahead of Moreno.  The Illinois Derby was run yesterday, as was the Lexington Stakes.  Both races used to be (several years ago) last-minute warm-ups for the Kentucky Derby; but most trainers now believe that with the Derby only two weeks away, these two races are no longer to be considered as preparatory races.  The Illinois Derby was won by Dynamic Impact, with betting favorite Midnight Hawk in second, and Irish You Well   finishing third.  In the Coolmore Lexington Stakes, Mr. Speaker defeated Divine Oath, who was a head in front of Supermonic.  Cairo Prince, once considered a top Derby contender, is at Rood & Riddle Hospital, being evaluated by Dr. Larry Bramlage.  He is lame in his left fetlock, but X-rays are clear; it's up to Dr. Larry to work his miracles and decide what's wrong with the colt.  Another promising colt, Bond Holder, was an early entrant on the Derby trail; he has succumbed to laminitis.

  Now that entry into the Kentucky Derby is determined on racing points, we have few horses in the race who do not belong there.  Currently, there are 25 colts with enough points to run the race; 20 points are needed, and the following colts have between 150 and 20 points.  No more than 20 starters are allowed to run in the race since 1975.  Here are the names of the colts:

California Chrome

Vicar's In Trouble

Dance With Fate

Wicked Strong

Samraat

Danza

Hoppertunity

Intense Holiday

Wildcat Red

We Miss Artie

Ride on Curlin

Chitu

Tapiture

Midnight Hawk

Ring Weekend

General a Rod

Medal Count

Candy Boy

Uncle Sigh

Vinceremos

Harry's Holiday

Commanding Curve

Pablo Del Monte

Bayern

Social Inclusion

(I'll be looking into their bloodlines later this week...)

  

More About April 20

The University of Colorado, Boulder campus, will be closed to the public next Friday to, hopefully, stop the great Smokeout.  Besides closing the campus to public parking, and having security all around, they have announced that folks without clearance will be ticketed for Trespassing - which carries a fine of $750 and a 60 to 120 day jail sentence.  It sounds as though CU means business this year. 
   As I wrote last night, I am for legalizing marijuana. It is pervasive throughout society, and throughout all 50 states, and all of the territories we protect.  Why not make it legal and tax it the way the government taxes cigarettes and cigars?  The government would then be in charge of agricultural directives for the correct manner in which to grow the crop, and for the harvesting, curing, cleaning, and making of the smokes.  -  One of the things I find interesting about humans in general, is that they find something they think is "good" and then they go overboard with it.  The tobacco the Native Americans smoked, mixed with kinnikinnick, is not the tobacco that people around the world smoke today.  Today's tobacco plants originated in South America, and are (or were) 200 times more potent than what was being smoked by the natives of North America.  It was soon found that you got a higher nicotine rush from the South American tobacco, and people in Europe wanted that type, not the mild North American kind.  So South American tobacco is now pervasive throughout the world - and is the type now grown in the United States. -  This is probably what would happen with the legalization of marijuana, I think.
   It's mid-April now; and the Kentucky Derby is three weeks away, on May 5.  Today there are three Kentucky Derby prep races being run - the Calder Derby, the Arkansas Derby, and the Blue Grass Stakes.   So far, there has been no clear front-running winner to be declared the favorite for the Derby, but the betting public is still supporting Union Rags.  I'll make my picks after today's races.  There are also two graded steeplechase races being run in the US toady - the Georgia Cup Hurdle, run at 2 miles, and the My Lady's Manor Timber Stakes, run at 4 miles.  I wish I could see both of the 'chaser races!
   My kits were excited to see me this morning, as usual.  It is currently bright and sunny out, and the kits and I are enjoying the sun's warmth. I spent the night with the Thore tribe - Dhisana slept on  my legs and feet all night, while Tessa slept next to the bed.  Lyra spent a good part of the night trying to open the closet doors, and finally gave up.  I take care of Ooch today - his owner will return around 9 tonight; and I start taking care of the Clark kits, Sasquatch and Tugger, tonight.  The Thore house still has no hot water, and, as a result, no heat.  The pump in the fish pond is not working correctly.  I informed the owner of this by e-mail and voice mail yesterday, but haven't heard anything back.  At least the back fence is almost complete...
   The reason I mention the heat is because we were at 34 degrees this morning - and we have a storm coming in tonight.  We're expecting rain, sleet, and snow this evening and tomorrow morning.  The owner is due home on Monday, when the high is forecast at 44...  It will be interesting to hear what she says.