This Saturday is a significant weekend. Not only is Cinco de Mayo celebrated, it is also the day of the 133rd “Run for the Roses” at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. I love this race, the first test of the Triple Crown. There have only been eleven horses that won all three legs. The Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont. The reason that there have been so few is that God only creates a super horse once in a very long while and that’s what it takes, a super horse.

Before she passed, my wife and I would always make some mint juleps and sit in front of the tv to watch this race. She had it in her blood having owned race horses. Since then, I too have owned standard bred race horses and raced exculsively in Ontario. Because of legalized gambling at Canadian tracks, the purses are larger. It is a very exciting sport. With that in mind, here are a few things to do on Derby Day.

Go to Nothville Downs to watch the race.It’s always a lot of fun there. Bet a few bucks on a long shot or just go with your gut feeling. You don’t have to know alot about horse racing to win, that’s for sure.

Invite some friends over for drinks and a pre-race party. Make some friendly bets by putting the names of all the horses in a hat and have guests draw one at a time. The one who holds the winning horse’s name wins the $$. Don’t forget the Mint Juleps.

Metamora, Michigan, located between Lapeer and Oxford has their annual Metamora Derby Day celebration. Food and entertainment at hand with free gifts given out to fans with the most decorated hat. (Elaborate womens hats are a tradition at Churchill) You will also have the chance to see thoroughbred racehorses that are open for adoption.

So if you or your family loves horses and have never been involved with horse racing, this is your chance to jump in and have a great time following the 133rd Kentucky Derby.