And they're off! The Kentucky Derby, held on the first Saturday of May, is America’s longest running sporting event, with a history that stretches back more than 130 years.
Each year the best three-year-old thoroughbreds compete at Churchill Downs in a mile-and-a-quarter race called "the most exciting two minutes in sports." The winner takes home a coveted crown and a $2 million purse. And, the race is big business for gambling. The annual "Run for the Roses" generates more than $100 million in bets... much of it from on-line betting services.
"Run for the Roses," a CNBC Original primetime program, examines the history, the champion horses, the owners, trainers and jockeys who have become part of a multi-billion dollar American tradition... The Kentucky Derby.
RUN FOR THE ROSES
The Kentucky Derby Each year more than 150-thousand people attend the Kentucky Derby and 14 million more watch at home on TV. Twenty of the fastest thoroughbreds explode onto the racetrack at Churchill Downs and America’s favorite horse race is underway.
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Breeding horses is big business, bringing in $4 billion a year in Kentucky. It's easy to see why the success of the breeding industry directly affects the success of the derby.
Derby Day The Kentucky Derby is the place to be and be seen. Those lucky enough to attend the race take in an atmosphere of celebrities, big hats, mint juleps along with the thrill of first class competition.
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The Kentucky Derby isn't just about the horses. More than 120,000 mint juleps are sold during Derby weekend and lets not forget the big fashion and big business of Derby hats.
It's a Gamble Horse racing is big business. Every year about $13 billion is bet on the horses... much of it generated from online betting services. Church Hill Downs has survived for more than 135 years and has transformed itself into a powerhouse in the world of racing.
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With growing competition from casinos and online gambling, horse racing is a sport in transition.
Jockey Training In an effort to limit accidents and ensure that jockeys are as well-trained as possible, in 2006, Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron founded The North American Racing Academy. It is the only accredited, two-year program of its kind in the U.S.
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The Run for the Roses is the first of three races that make up America’s revered Triple Crown. It’s followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
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