KENTUCKY DERBY 2011: Oaks and Derby Day Schedules (and unofficial Bourbon post)
by Matt Gardner on May 5, 2011 11:02 AM EDT
in Kentucky Derby
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PrintBelow are the race-by-race schedules at Churchill Downs for both Friday (Oaks Day) and Saturday (Derby Day). All times are Eastern.
Churchill Downs will be offering the usual assortment of betting options, with a Pick 5 added to the mix this year. The Pick 5 will start on Race 7 on both Friday and Saturday and is a $0.50 minimum bet. Nice. Very nice.
UPDATED: This post will be our unofficial Kentucky Derby Bourbon post. Got a bourbon you like on Derby day...or any other day...chime in.
Friday, May 6th
| Race | Post Time | Condition | Age/Sex | Dist. | Surf. |
| 1 | 10:30a | Maiden Special Weight | 3up, f&m | 8.5 | Dirt |
| 2 | 11:00a | Maiden Special Weight | 3up | 8.0 | Turf |
| 3 | 11:30a | Starter Allowance - $25k | 3yo, f | 8.0 | Dirt |
| 4 | 12:05p | Optional Claimer 80k/N3X | 3up | 9.0 | Turf |
| 5 | 12:43p | Optional Claimer 75k/N1X | 3yo | 7.0 | Dirt |
| 6 | 1:26p | Grade 2 - La Troiene Stakes | 3up, f&m | 8.5 | Dirt |
| 7 | 2:08p | Edgewood Stakes | 3yo, f | 8.5 | Turf |
| 8 | 3:02p | Grade 3 - Eight Belles Stakes | 3yo, f | 7.0 | Dirt |
| 9 | 3:52p | Grade 3 - Alysheba Stakes | 3up | 8.5 | Dirt |
| 10 | 4:44p | Grade 2 - American Turf Stakes | 3yo | 8.5 | Turf |
| 11 | 5:45p | Grade 1 - Kentucky Oaks | 3yo, f | 9.0 | Dirt |
| 12 | 6:21p | Maiden Special Weight | 3up, f&m | 6.0 | Dirt |
Saturday, May 7th
| Race | Post Time | Condition | Age/Sex | Dist. | Surf. |
| 1 | 10:30a | Starter Allowance | 3yo | 8.0 | Dirt |
| 2 | 11:00a | Allowance N1X | 3up | 8.5 | Dirt |
| 3 | 11:30a | Maiden Special Weight | 3up | 6.0 | Dirt |
| 4 | 12:04p | Optional Claimer 80k/N3X | 3up, f&m | 8.5 | Turf |
| 5 | 12.38p | Optional Claimer 75k/N1X | 3up | 7.0 | Dirt |
| 6 | 1:19p | Grade 3 - Turf Sprint | 3up | 5.0 | Turf |
| 7 | 2:08p | Grade 1 - Humana Distaff | 4up, f&m | 7.0 | Dirt |
| 8 | 2:59p | Grade 2 - Churchill Distaff Turf Mile | 3up, f&m | 8.0 | Turf |
| 9 | 3:51p | Grade 2 - Churchill Downs Stakes | 4up | 7.0 | Dirt |
| 10 | 4:46p | Grade 1 - Woodford Reserve Turf Classic | 3up | 9.0 | Turf |
| 11 | 6:24p | Grade 1 - Kentucky Derby | 3yo | 10.0 | Dirt |
| 12 | 7:20p | Allowance N2X | 3up | 7.0 | Dirt |
| 13 | 7:50p | Maiden Special Weight | 3up | 8.5 | Dirt |
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The saturday schedule
is exactly why I’m going to be playing Belmont, Hollywood and maybe something else in addition to Churchill. While I understand why they are doing it because they’ll have 100,000 people on track, 50 minutes between races is a lifetime if your watching it at home.
Yeah, they milk those post times...
I’m sure it helps get more money put in through the windows…but if I’m not playing other tracks, I’ll be going through way too much bourbon waiting on the next race. Still, it’s a decent card and the Pick 5 looks tough, but manageable for a not too outrageous sum.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on May 5, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
What bourbon
Will you be having way too much of? I bought some knob creek the other day, it had been a long time since I had it and I’m glad I got it. I was torn between it and Woodford. Next time I’ll have to go with the Woodford.
I tried Woodford for the first time last year, and really liked it...
so I’ll go with that again this year. They sell the special Ky Derby Woodford bottles in the liquor stores here in Washington state, so I like to pick one up.
In year’s past we’ve gone with Makers or Knob Creek, and I like both of those, as well.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on May 5, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
cant go wrong with Woodford, it’s fantastic. if you want to save a few bucks, i’d suggest Bulleit as well.
I tell people all the time to
Try Bulleit. It’s a good bourbon and you can get it for far less than Woodfood, Makers, Knob Creek. I make a cherry liquer by putting some bing/black/whatever kind of fresh cherry you can find in a gallon jar with bourbon and 2 cups of sugar. I used Bulleit and it turned out great. If you like things a little on the sweeter side but still get that bourbon flavor it’s a great drink. Only problem, it takes about a month of marinating. The cherries will float in the bourbon, every day you shake it or turn it over a couple of times to get the sugar to mix in. Once the cherries sink, it’s ready to drink!
P.S. Don’t eat the cherries, discard them and strain your finished product into jars or bottles.
Nice.
I’ll have to try Bulleit. I’m making a run to the liquor store this morning so I’ll be on the look out.
So, I think we’ll make this the unofficial bourbon post for the week.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on May 5, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Best Bourbon...
I’ll add a +1 to Bulleit. Higher on rye than most and solid. But…if you want the best bourbon combo of value/quality/taste-you need to hit up something from Buffalo Trace Distillery. Fantastic bourbons. Great value.
I’ll recommend their Eagle Rare 10 Year Single Barrel first. Best bourbon you can buy in the $25-$30 range. Woodford, Maker’s and Knob Creek run around the same cost but are half the bourbon, at best. http://www.bourbonenthusiast.com/forum/DBvd.php?id=62&task=displaybottling
Their standard bourbon and a tick down from the Eagle Rare is the Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Still a phenomenal bourbon and only about $20/bottle. http://www.bourbonenthusiast.com/forum/DBvd.php?id=57&task=displaybottling
If you’re into bourbon, or want to be, I urge you to put down the Woodford, Maker’s and Knob and try something new. Derby Day is the perfect chance. Here’s a good link for some other solid bourbons: http://www.ultimate-beverage.com/wine_reviews/spirits-results/#category_12
Enjoy.
Excellent info.
I saw the Buffalo Trace at the liquor store this morning. Going to need to try that one out.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
All bourbons mentioned are great.
Being a Kentucky boy I have to say my two cents here. Desert island bourbon is Maker’s without a doubt. Woodford can seem a bit ‘tinny’ to me at times. Wild Turkey is much maligned though it shouldn’t be. 101 is great in a Manhattan and the Russell Reserve and Rare Breed bottlings are awesome. Any of the higher end labels from Four Roses are worth exploring. Don’t forget Basil Hayden, and two of the best-Blanton’s, and Van Winkle (all of th Van Winkles). I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here.
"To win the game is great. To play the game is greater. But to love the game is greatest of all."
I'm actually pretty new
to bourbon. I like Makers, but from what I understand they are not close to the quality they used to be. A friend of mine had a poker game one night and his father in law brought over a bottle of Makers that hadn’t been openned and it was from 1964. We cracked it that night and shared it. It was really good, and interesting to think I was drinking something that was bottled about 18 years before I was alive.
I have tried a lot of different bourbons, but have not had the pleasure of Blanton’s though I love the bottle. I really don’t think I’ve tried any of the Buffalo Trace offerings either. One day though, I would love to buy a bottle of Pappy 20 year. I thought at first it was just hype, but after reading reviews and articles about it, and that it basically received the highest rating any spirit has ever been given by the Beverage Tasting Institute.
Here’s the link to a good article about Pappy Van Winkle. http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/24/smallbusiness/van_winkle_bourbon.fortune/
My fiancee loves Basil Hayden, that's her stand-by.
I’ve never been a big bourbon drinker (as I’ve mentioned before), I usually prefer scotch, but I’m starting to come around on bourbon on days other than just the Derby.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
Okay, so here's a bourbon question for the knowledgable ones...
are there bourbons that are better/worse to use when making mint juleps? You hear a lot with tequila that you don’t want to ruin a good tequila by throwing it into a margarita. What about with bourbon?
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
I'd agree
Same thing as with margaritas. No need to throw a Pappy 20 or really anything more than a $20 bottle into a mint julep. I take my bourbon neat with just a splash of water to open it up. My recommendations and preferences are made on that basis.
With mint juleps, there’s so much sugar and mint, in addition to the ice, you lose a lot of the character of the bourbon. I usually just go with something smooth and rounded-usually lower on rye, which gets spicy and, for me, doesn’t sit well with the spice of the mint.
Key, for me, with the julep is to get a good amount of mint and to use crushed ice and superfine sugar. Some people swear by simple syrup, which works as well. But I prefer to muddle my mint with the superfine sugar beforehand to get the oils from the mint really working in there.
Damn, know what I’m drinking tonight.
Well,
mint juleps have a lot of sugar and mint to mask some of the subtleties of the bourbons so if it’s cheaper to go with a well bourbon then I say go for it.
But if you want to throw some money away (and have a super discerning palate) I think any of the wheated bourbons (Maker’s, Weller, Van Winkle, Berhheim) generally go well with mint juleps because they are usually a bit softer and sweeter.
But seriously, if you put in some Old Crow or Jim Beam (white label) I don’t think most people would notice.
I love bourbon, and I think there are only a few of ways to truly enjoy them to their fullest:
straight
with a bit of water (bourbon/branch)
with ice (though diehards with think that’s blasphemy)
In terms of mixed drink I will I usually will use a higher end bourbon in a Manhattan, but that’s it when it comes to mixing. Mint juleps and other drinks should be made with cheap bourbons only (and enjoyed only on special occasions).
"To win the game is great. To play the game is greater. But to love the game is greatest of all."
Horseplayers/fans like their bourbon
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on May 5, 2011 10:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Brillant Speed
I’m custom sorting columns in excel this way and that way and making lists and looking at data in different ways – - somehow Brilliant Speed is always in the picture.
Was Paddy O’Prado’s Derby run because it was sloppy or just good timing? He didn’t bounce back well in the Preakness then went back to turf. Any similarities with Brilliant Speed?
I figure one of the turf horses is going to run well
But I really don’t know which it will be. Probably Brilliant Speed or Master of Hounds, who is absolutely bred to run all day long….although I don’t like his light schedule.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on May 5, 2011 10:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
"HELD"
Last year for the first time I kept a column for those horses who ‘held their own’ going up in distance starting at 7f and held or increased their Beyer every time they went longer for the first time. Since none have gone 10f I thought this was a nice view point.
Last year I found four horses in that category: Super Saver, American Lion, Devil May Care, Ice Box. Three of them were in the top four.
Ugh, I missed the bourbon discussion
Picked up a bottle of Maker’s 46 last night to celebrate Derby weekend. Never tried it before but have heard several good things. Bulleit is one of my favorites. My Dad introduced me to this bourbon a few years ago & I’ve kept a bottle in my cabinet ever since.
I’ve had Pappy 15 year and it’s worth the price (and scavenger hunt to find it). Never tried the 20 year or 23 year but may have to treat myself if I hit my Oaks & Derby picks.
by UL is my hot hot sex on May 6, 2011 8:50 AM EDT reply actions
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