Book description
Each year on the first Saturday in May, the world turns its attention
to the twin spires of Churchill Downs for the high-stakes excitement
of the "greatest two minutes in sports," the Kentucky Derby.
No American sporting event can claim the history, tradition, or
pageantry that the Kentucky Derby holds. For more than 130 years,
spectators have been fascinated by the magnificent horses that run the
Louisville track. Thoroughbreds such as Secretariat and Barbaro have
earned instant international fame, along with jockeys such as Isaac
Murphy, Ron Turcotte, and Calvin Borel. The Kentucky Derby: How the
Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event calls this
great tradition to post and illuminates its history and culture.
Rising from its humble beginnings as an American variation of
England's Epsom Derby, the Kentucky Derby became a centerpiece of
American sports and the racing industry, confirming Kentucky's status
as the Horse Capital of the World. James C. Nicholson argues that the
Derby, at its essence, is a celebration of a place, existing as a
connection between Kentucky's mythic past and modern society. The
Derby is more than just a horse race -- it is an experience enhanced
by familiar traditions, icons, and images that help Derby fans to
understand Kentucky and define themselves as Americans. Today the
Kentucky Derby continues to attract international attention from
royalty, celebrities, racing fans, and those who simply enjoy an icy
mint julep, a fabulous hat, and a wager on who will make it to the
winner's circle.
Nicholson provides an intriguing and thorough history of the Kentucky
Derby, examining the tradition, spectacle, culture, and evolution of
the Kentucky Derby -- the brightest jewel of the Triple Crown.
""I have witnessed every modern Derby beginning in 1964
and have been privileged to write about the Derby many times. Through
all of that involvement, however, I could never say that I really had
my arms around just how the race came to be so embedded into the
American soul. Now, Jamie Nicholson has provided that insight. In his
lively telling, he explains the many strands of what is not so much a
picture as a tapestry. Moreover, he brings us up to date as to the
Derby's ability to withstand the winds of social change wrought by
warfare, racial relations, and, of late, the international aspects of
the grand old race." -- Edward L. Bowen, author of nineteen books
on Thoroughbred racing" --
James C. Nicholson recently received a PhD in history from the
University of Kentucky.
