INSPIRASUNS

It’s Derby Day! One of my favorite days of the year! We’re hosting our little communities Derby party this afternoon and we’ll have all the tradition that goes along with it. Mint Juleps, pecan pie, and other assorted southern foods. There will be prizes for the best hat and the most dapper dressed and of course, roses to remind us of the beautiful garland that will be placed on the winner following the race.

The red rose became the official flower of the Kentucky Derby in 1904. There is a very cool history about the making of the garland, it is actually made by hand each year at a local Kroger grocery store. Yes, I said at a Kroger grocery store. The florists that work on this beautiful garland are so honored, and many have worked on it for several years now. As you can imagine the community comes out just to watch the making of it! You can watch a short clip of this year’s garland being made here. Side note, that garland actually gets a police escort to Churchill Downs 🙂 .

So yes, a fun day on tap, and along with the 100k people at Churchill Downs today, and the many other millions of people across the country, we’ll be watching the fastest two minutes in sports! If by chance you are one of the few who has never watched it, I so encourage you to do so. I mean hey, it’s two minutes but I’m guessing you will find yourself glued to the race.

There have been some amazing horses to win this race, but none greater than 50 years ago this year, when in 1973 a true champion named Secretariat won the Derby in record time, in LESS than 2 minutes, 1:59 2/5 seconds. Secretariat actually won the triple crown in 1973, and as you might guess, he set world records on every track that year, and what is even more impressive, those records STILL stand today. An amazing animal indeed!

Ok, so now that you have a little history about the Derby, I just wish you all a wonderful day. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite songs by Dan Fogelberg, Run for the Roses. It’s a beautiful song and one that I play every year on this day of course.

Father, watch over the gift of your amazing animals today. May you bless them and keep them safe as they simply do what they love to do. Thank you Lord for the gift of these beautiful horses.

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!