The Kentucky Derby and Mattel have teamed up to commemorate the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, May 2, 2009 at Churchill Downs with the official Kentucky Derby Barbie doll. This classic event is more than just any old horse race - it's a time-honored tradition, the first leg of the prestigious Triple Crown races, and the place to be seen. It's also a famed fashion event, where both the ladies and the gents put on their best.

This year, Barbie, a fashion icon herself, showcases the legendary Derby fashion with a floral sun dress, sassy spring sandals, a faux pearl necklace, and of course, an oversized white hat with blossoming flower accents.

I Want Revenge Looks Like the Favorite in Next Months Kentucky Derby After Sensastion Victory at Wood Memorial, Pioneer of the Nile Takes the Santa Anita , and Muskett Man Captures Illinois Derby

Buckeye State Will Be Without Most Prestigious Race in 2009

First it was the housing market, then the auto market, and now the economy is rearing its ugly head in the Thoroughbred Industry. Last month, Cleveland area race track Thistledown's parent company Magna Entertainment Corp filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Many observers around the North Randall track wondered if that meant the death of the Ohio Derby. The track confirmed the rumors yesterday that the $300,000 Grade II race will be suspended this year and said that they will sell the race track at auction later this year.

The Ohio Derby started in 1876 and has had dark years due to the economy and war in the past. 2009 will be the first time since 1951 that there will be no race held.
Among the winners of the race are Black Gold who was a Kentucky Derby winner and Skip Away who was one of the best race horses in the entire 20th century earning nearly $10,000,000 in purse money in his career.

Jockey John Velazquez rode Quality Road to a win today in the Florida Derby. The 3 year old colt trained by Ken McPeek sped past the unbeaten Dunkirk in the stretch winning the race by 1 1/4 lengths. The Florida Derby is regarded as one of the most important prep races for in the lead up for the "Run for the Roses" on the first Saturday in May.

The loss is devastating for the connections of Dunkirk who had needed a win to automatically qualify for the Kentucky Derby.

6 year old race horse Well Armed dominated the Dubai World Cup romping the field with a 14 length victory in the United Arab Emirates. The horse was ridden by Jockey Aaron Gryder and trained by Eoin Harty. The race was such a dominating performance that Gryder didn't even know who was behind him finishing second in the prestigious race.

Well Armed is the son of Tiznow, who won back to back Breeder Cup Classic Championships, who is fast becoming one of the best sires of his generation.

Here is video from the richest race in the world at a purse of $6 Million:

For the second time this month, the sport of kings mourns the loss of a champion of the most prestigious race in the United States. Alysheba, who won the "Run for the Roses" in 1987, passed away at age 25. Earlier this week, the passing of Kentucky Derby champion Lil E. Tee was announced.

The Bay colored colt fell in his stall at the Kentucky Horse Park and could not been saved. He will be buried across from fellow Thoroughbred racing legend John Henry.

Here is the 1987 race when the son of Alydar took the feature race of Churchill Downs racing season:

But Still No Word on Marquee Race the Ohio Derby at North Randall Racetrack

Bloodhorse is reporting that Thistledown has paid the $1 Million bond that ensures the Cleveland area track will still be able to offer full card simulcasts racing. Live racing returns to the Cleveland area on April 30, just in time for the Kentucky Derby weekend, and will meet for 122 dates this racing season.

Interestingly, still no official word has been given on the biggest racing days at Thistledown which leaves the Grade II Ohio Derby and Best of Ohio Stakes races in jeopardy. Inside sources at the racetrack feel that management will cut the popular races from the card this year but no official word on management has confirmed these rumors.

The sport of kings lost one its most memorable Kentucky Derby Champions. Lil E. Tee, who won the "Run for the Roses" in 1992 with Pat Day aboard the colt, was euthanized on March 18, 2009. The 20 year old horse had failed to recover from a recent surgery.

Those who watched the 1992 marquee race at Churchill Downs will remember that how Lil E Tee shocked the racing world at odds of 17-1 and scoring an upset of Arazi who was at the time considered a super horse and many thought a Triple Crown candidate.

Lil E Tee, who won had been sold for only $2,000 as a yearling and was put on the market at two but rejected by the auction company who said was unsalable. Who would of though that in a years time that he would win the biggest race in America and earn Pat Day his only win in the Kentucky Derby in his Hall of Fame career.

Here is the video from the 1992 Kentucky Derby:

Jockeys Garrett Gomez & Corey Nakatani will also join the cast.

"Jockeys", a reality television show that gives viewers a peek into the lives of professional jockeys, which debuted on The Animal Planet back in February has been picked up for a second season by the network. The docu-drama was picked up for seven more hour-long episodes, which will premiere in the late summer.

Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet said:

"'Jockeys' is all about life lived intensely. There's an intimacy and fundamental relationship between the rider and his/her horse when you ride up to 10 races a day in which you or your horse could be seriously injured, or worse. If you lose, you might clear just $18 and if you win, you can make $100,000. 'Jockeys' takes character moments like these and it sets them in high relief."

The show itself, while about the sport of horse racing, focuses a lot on the relationships between people, as well as the animals and people.

Kaplan continued:

"Animal Planet is all about the profound relationships between animals and people. This is true between the jockeys and horses - it's a dangerous and even controversial sport, but there's a relationship there, and that's the real-life drama we expect will continue to unfold throughout season two."

Six of the seven jockeys from the first season will return for the second, and two new jockeys will be thrown in the the sophomore season's mix. Garrett Gomez, who won this year's "Jockey of the Year" award, and Corey Nakatani, winner of seven Breeders' Cups, will join the regular cast including: Mike Smith, Kayla Stra, Chantal Sutherland, Joe Talamo, Aaron Gryder, and Alex Solis.

Debuting Friday on the Animal Planet television network is an interesting new reality show featuring some of the littlest guys in the world of sports - professional jockeys. "Jockeys", a 12-episode series, will take viewers behind the scenes of the high-stakes, dangerous world of horse racing.

The show follows seven riders - Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Canadian import Chantal Sutherland, teenager Joe Talamo, veterans Jon Court, Aaron Gryder and Alex Solis, and Australian newcomer Kayla Stra - both on and off the track. Billed as a documentary-soap opera, this is definitely not another run-on-the-mill, been-there-done-that reality TV show.

In the first episode we're introduced to Smith, who is dating Sutherland. Sutherland is shown leaving her family to move to Southern California so she can be with Smith, as well as try to elevate her career. Sutherland says, that competing against Smith in races and then going home with him afterwards makes for "a really interesting dynamic."

Some of the jockeys wore microphones while riding, which gives viewers a rare glimpse into an aspect of races that we don't often get to hear.