The most exciting two minutes in sports is back this weekend, as the annual Kentucky Derby from Louisville, Kentucky will get going on Saturday, May 7.
This year, in the 148th edition of the race, “Messier” is looking to become the third ever Canadian born horse to win, following in the footsteps of 1964’s “Northern Dancer” and 1983’s “Sunny Halo.”
“Messier” was born in Milton, Ont on the famous Sam-Son Farm, a hallowed breeding ground that has furnished 12 horses in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
The thoroughbred is of course named after the Hockey Hall of Fame player Mark Messier. The horse is owned by a company called SF Bloodstock/SF Racing LLC, who’s managing partner is Tom Ryan.
Ryan’s wife’s father is Pat Hughes and she has an uncle named Mark Napier. Both Napier and Hughes played with Messier on the Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup winning team in 1985.
Ryan met with Messier years ago during an Oilers reunion, and when the thoroughbred was born in 2019, Ryan thought it was the perfect opportunity to name him after the Oiler great.
It hasn’t been the easiest road to Louisville for the horse, as he was initially trained by Bob Baffert. Baffert, while being a six-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer, was suspended by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, as his 2021 Derby winning horse “Medina Spirit" failed a drug test.
In order for “Messier” to be able to qualify for the race, they had to renounce all ties to the famous trainer, and they chose fellow California trainer Tim Yakteen to take over. The horse has so far finished first three times and second three times in six total starts.
“Messier” will be jockeyed by three-time derby winner John Velazquez, who last won the race aboard “Authentic" in 2020.
As of today, "Messier" has the third best odds, at 8-1 in the 20 horse field. First is “Zandon” at 3-1 odds followed by “Epicenter” at 7-2.
You can catch the race live on TSN on Saturday, with the actual post time expected around 3:57 pm. For more information, click this link.
