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The Sport Of Kings Entertains A Queen

Published: May 3, 2007

LOUISVILLE, KY. - Churchill Downs becomes a playground for the rich and famous every May, making star gazing as popular as handicapping. This year's celebrity lineup at the Kentucky Derby will be trumped by royalty.

Queen Elizabeth II.

The British monarch, an avid horse enthusiast, will attend her first Derby on Saturday - adding another chapter to a race steeped in tradition in a sport where bloodlines are valued.

"It says something about the Derby that it has universal appeal from the royals to us regular folks," Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson said. "Louisville shines on Derby Day."

It wasn't just the horses that were preparing this week for the big event.

A number of track workers attended etiquette class to avoid any social faux pas when in the queen's presence. The track's executive chef planned a sumptuous Southern-style meal featuring Kentucky favorites.

Though a late freeze snuffed out much of Kentucky's spring bloom, the track will be resplendent with thousands of flowers. For a place that's entertained presidents, movie stars and business moguls, the excitement over the royal visit was palpable.

"I don't know how you top the queen of England when you throw a party," Churchill Downs spokeswoman Julie Koenig Loignon said. "She probably is the most high-profile guest we've ever entertained."

This won't be the first time British royalty has attended the Derby: Princess Margaret, sister of the queen, attended the 1974 Derby with her husband, Lord Snowdon.

JARRETT SEES SIMILARITIES: Dale Jarrett was at Churchill Downs on Wednesday to experience some real horsepower.

Jarrett, driver of the No. 44 UPS Toyota Camry in NASCAR's Nextel Cup series, visited to promote the track's sponsorship of his car last Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.

The car, with a bright orange 44 on the roof and a Kentucky Derby logo on the hood, was on display in the barn area before moving to the grandstand later in the day. Jarrett signed autographs for fans.

"The horses are the athletes here where the cars are basically our athletes," he said. "Even though myself and the jockeys have to do our job, from what I see, the horses and the cars are just as temperamental. Making them act and react at the proper time is what it's all about."

IN THE SHADOW: Most of the Kentucky Derby excitement around trainer Steve Asmussen's barn centers on unbeaten Curlin, an impressive winner in all three career starts.

Curlin will have company in Saturday's race, with stablemate Zanjero also running.

While Curlin is precociously brilliant, Zanjero is an honest horse who has finished in the money in seven of eight starts. He was third, beaten only by a head, in his final Derby prep, the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

Asmussen started thinking Derby for Zanjero when the colt rallied for second behind Nobiz Like Shobiz in November in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct.

"He was a horse that showed his ability last year," Asmussen said. "His races this year have progressed nicely. We're hoping we get a key performance Saturday. He's an extremely manageable kind of horse."

Zanjero has an advantage over many of his Derby rivals, including Curlin: a victory at Churchill Downs. He won an allowance race here before the Remsen.

STORMY WEATHER: Rain started falling at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, and a wet pattern is expected to continue through Derby Day.

The forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of rain Saturday. The good news: temperatures should remain warm throughout the period, hitting 79 degrees for the Derby.

FINISH LINES: Edgar Prado, who rode Barbaro last year, will try to become the fifth jockey to win consecutive Derbies. Isaac Murphy was the first to pull off the Derby double with Riley in 1890 and Kingman in 1891. Jimmy Winkfield did so with His Eminence (1901) and Alan-a-Dale (1902). There was a long gap until Ron Turcotte did it in 1972-73 with Riva Ridge and Secretariat. Eddie Delahoussaye was the last with Gato del Sol (1982) and Sunny's Halo (1983). Prado rides Scat Daddy on Saturday.

The Associated Press