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Welcome to Trendlines, your weekly installment of what’s trending up and what’s trending down in sports.
This week we’re talking about the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, the world’s most famous horse race.
Journalism – yes, that is actually a horse’s name – is the favorite to win, but the truth is that we really don’t know which horse is going to finish first.
We do know which humans are going to win on Saturday and that starts us with our trending up.
Trending up — Money gambled on the Derby in 2024: Up $111 million from 2004
Bookmakers have a field day when it comes to Churchill Downs. More than $200 million was gambled on just the main event last year. When you add in all the other races, more than $300 million was bet.
A little less than $100 million was gambled on the main event in 2004.
Of course, it’s easier to gamble than ever before. It only takes a few clicks on your phone.
Still, only a little more than $50 million was gambled on the next race of horse racing’s Triple Crown (The Preakness).
The Derby is unique among horse racing as it is a top-10 gambling event in the United States.
Trending down — Americans who say horse racing is their favorite sport to watch: Down 90% from 1937.
The fact that the Derby is so popular is amazing given the general state of horse racing. When polls ask about people’s favorite sport to watch, most don’t even include horse racing any more.
Less than 1% offered horse racing as their favorite in a 2017 poll from the Washington Post. Horse racing ranked 14th. In 1937, horse racing ranked fourth nationally.
The thing about the Derby is that it’s far more than just a horse race. I can’t think of another sports event that has its own fashion, which is not related to anything the athletes are wearing.
Yes, you too can wear a seersucker suit or a crazy hat.
Trending up — Americans who Google mint julep in May: Up 600% from other months
Speaking of things that are unique to the Derby, can you think of another sports event where the alcoholic beverage is something that isn’t beer?
The mint julep has had a long history in horse racing. Some winners even received sterling julep trophies for certain horse races.
One of the main ingredients for a mint julep is bourbon. Kentucky is the state that produces the most bourbon (supposedly 95%) in the country by far.
Mint juleps, therefore, are a marketing gold mine for those associated with the Derby.
My only fear is that if I drink too much too early on Derby day, then I won’t be able to stay awake for the race, so you’ll excuse me if I have a virgin julep.
It’ll be mighty sweet, sorta like Saturday’s race for whomever is able to actually pick the winning horse.