Friday Fun: Not My Usual

As mentioned on several previous occasions, I am not a huge sports fan. However, I am a sucker for a good rags-to-riches/Cinderella/underdog story. Judging by the popularity of movies like Miracle and Cool Runnings, I must not be alone.

Horse racing used to seem to me like just an excuse for people to gamble. When my parents started watching, I became a little concerned. In 2008, we stopped at Churchill Downs on our way to Virginia. Okay, there was more to horse racing than just gambling. These race horses were amazing, still not really my thing, but amazing nonetheless. Also, horse racing is a big deal to a lot of people. Breeders and trainers and owners and jockeys live and breathe horse racing.

Fast forward to 2014, when I heard about California Chrome. Unlike many race horses, California Chrome does not have an impressive pedigree. His owners aren't (or weren't) incredibly wealthy. They are just normal people who took a risk. They spent just a few thousand dollars on two horses they thought could breed a winner. It worked. California Chrome has won two of the three races that make up "The Triple Crown" (a.k.a. the biggest deal in horse racing and extremely rare). The final race is tomorrow. For the first time, I'm excited about a horse race....What is happening to me?

Anyway, here's a little intro to California Chrome. Be careful; you might get excited, too.