Kentucky Sports Monday Mop Up

What a Week...What a weekend
Kentucky Sports heating up!

Football Fever Heightens

It's all anybody can talk about....football, football, football. Testosterone has run amuck with the Kentucky sports media folks...and it's time for a little observations from a woman's perspective.

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On the college scene, Coach Rich Brooks has to whip those UK Wildcats into shape before the big season opener against state rival University of Louisville Cards. From all reports following a scrimmage, the UK defense is one tough bunch. However, there are doubts about the Wildcat offensive. Look for  Charlie Pinson  on the sidelines at the UK vs UofL game, set for Labor Day weekend.

In Northern Kentucky, the talk is all about the rivalry between Covington Catholic and Highlands. Both schools have awesome gridiron traditions, with 23 state titles between them. As a Boone County High School alumni, I can tell you even back in the 1970's Highlands was dominate. Each year we would have a giant bonfire to burn a paper mache' Highlands Bluebird in effigy. At that time, the CovCath Colonels were just emerging a "players." Rivalries are good things, if not taken to extremes, and we wish both teams a good season.

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Locally, the Pike County Bowl is just weeks away. The tradition kick-off of the mountain football season, matchup include Corbin vs Pikeville Panthers, and Louisville's Holy Cross vs the Belfry Pirates. Shelby Valley, Phelps, East Ridge, and Pike Central will also be participating. We look forward to the celebration!

We're not just Horsing Around!

The Kentucky Derby Museum will be the final resting place for Eight Belles. She will be buried beneath a magnolia tree there on Sunday, September 7. A fitting tribute to a real southern lady.

In response to Eight Belles untimely and tragic death at this year's Kentucky Derby, the Jockey Club has reccommended a study to see if the field of twenty horses is too dangerous. Most races are limited to twelve contenders. The Jockey Club is also recommending a national set of standards be set for doping detection.

Odds and Ends Kentucky Sports

Sparta's Kentucky Speedway was the place to be this weekend during the Meijer Indy 300. In what shaped up to be an exciting finish Scott Dixon beat Helio Castroneves.

Congrats to University of Louisville Field Hockey coach, Pat Bustin, on her "Team USA" win over New Zealand in the Beijing Olympics!

Look for UK's Jose Acevedo in the 200 m today representing Venezuela. Also look for Mike Thomas in the 110 hurdles, representing Trinidad/Tobago.

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Joyce Pinson is a Kentucky health insurance agent, who handles marketing for Charlie Pinson Insurance and Triple B Insurance. While Kentucky football be it college, high school or little league, is very engaging she'd prefer to be perched in a box seat at Keeneland!

Kentucky Derby 1978 Remembering the Magic

Alydar vs Affirmed

In May of 1978, the senior class of Boone County High School Florence KY was counting down the days until graduation. Across the county, jockey Stevie Cauthen was counting down the days until the Kentucky Derby. The class of 1978 was dreaming of making history...but Steve Cauthen made it.

Could that have really been over thirty years ago?

For generations, my family has had a fascination with the Kentucky Derby. Grandma's people had ties to Calumet farm, grandest of the Lexington KY horse farms. She even painted her house white with red trim, in honor of Calumet. In 1978, she was thrilled Jorge Velasquaz would be wearing the devil red and blue silks. So it comes as no surprise, Grandma was pulling for Alydar.

As for me, well I went to 4-H Camp with Steve Cauthen. He was less than a month older than me. He was a local kid I could identify with...and so of course I championed Affirmed. Never mind that I had never heard of Harbor View Farm.

On that glorious Saturday in May, all was well with the world. We gathered around the TV, got misty eyed when they sang "My Old Kentucky Home", then held our breath as they shouted "Riders Up!" And then, They were OFF!

It was not until the second turn that Steve and Affirmed seemed to get control. But then at the quarter mile, things got pretty exciting. After some checks, bumping, and literally jockeying for position, it was Affirmed who crossed the finish line first.

I was elated. A few weeks later, Affirmed prevailed at the Preakness and the Belmont. A triple crown!!!!

I still remember Grandma getting me a copy of Time Magazine with Stevie Cauthen on the cover in pink silks. How great was that?

In retrospect

Many horse racing enthusiasts believe that the Alydar and Affirmed rivalry, was perhaps the best in recorded history. The great equines met ten times, with Affirmed winning seven of those match ups. Alydar was to be the saving grace for Calumet, and his untimely and suspicious death may have been the nail in the coffin for bankrupt Calumet. So sad.

It's been a long time since there was a pairing the likes of Alydar and Affirmed. But you never know, the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday. Business obligations will keep me away from Louisville KY and Churchill Downs, but you can be sure we'll gather around the TV, get misty eyed when they sing "My Old Kentucky Home" and wait excitedly for the greatest two minutes in Kentucky sports.

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Author Joyce Pinson is a Kentucky insurance agent, who is passionate about the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky horse racing. On Saturday, you might hear her sing "My Old Kentucky Home" as she anticipates another great day of Kentucky sports history. Her husband, fellow insurance agent and Kentucky sportscaster Charlie Pinson, wonders how he will ever build a house big enough to store all of Joyce's Kentucky Derby memorabilia. Help Charlie.Get Kentucky Auto Insurance online