All Oaks

With just two weeks until the first Saturday in May, Derby Fever is beginning to reach a high. With that comes Kentucky Oaks Fever. Here are a few tidbits that have caught my interest regarding the Run for the Lilies over the last few days:

A well-researched blog by my cubicle neighbour Esther Marr on the meaning behind the names of Oaks-bound fillies. Esther has done a wonderful job keeping us all posted on the happenings of the Oaks trail:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/archive/2010/04/15/what-s-in-a-name.aspx

An emotional HRTV segment on a special triangle involving 2009 Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra, her former trainer Hal Wiggins, and a critically-ill young girl named Rachel Mattson. I made the mistake of watching this in the office, and was tearing up throughout. How can one not love this horse, this trainer, and this little girl? Underlying it all, being reminded that Rachel was taken from Wiggins' care is truly heartbreaking.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/watch/B44924AD-43ED-4A3A-B51B-272395E449E2

*Warning: fetch a box of tissues before beginning this video.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I will be posting more of my thoughts in the final two weeks leading up to the Derby and Oaks, both of which I will be attending with The Blood-Horse.