Long shots dashed hopes of favorites in Derby race
{{date|May 9, 2005}}
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Saturday's running of the [[w:Kentucky Derby|Kentucky Derby]] left favorites in dry churned up dust, as speedster '''''Spanish Chestnut''''' forced an early pace that only long-shot horses fully answered. The two top finishers, '''''Giacomo''''' and '''''Closing Argument''''' ran past race favorites '''''Bellamy Road''''' and hopeful '''''Bandini''''', who came off the starting gate well and into the first turn. But they faded under a blistering early pace that at the half-mile pole was second fastest in race history.

Only '''''Afleet Alex''''', showing at third, applied salve to the wounded crowd of 154,000 ticket-tearing fans. Betting for this year's race totaled a record $103.3 million counting both on- and off-track wagering. A 2 [[w:Dollar|dollar]] wager on the winning horse '''''Giacomo''''' paid $102.60.

TV viewership in top metropolitan markets was down only slightly from the previous year, which considering the wagering shows no lack of interest in the race:

:Win: Giacomo $102.60<br>
:Place: Closing Argument: $45.80
:Show: Afleet Alex: $19.80

==Sources==
*{{source|url= http://www.nynewsday.com/sports/horseracing/ny-spderby0509,0,3885227.story?coll=nyc-sportshome-headlines
|title=Suicidal pace gave big boost to Giacomo, nullified contenders
|author=Paul Moran
|pub=NYNewsday.com
|date=May 9, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782591073
|title=50-to-won shot
|author=John Markon
|pub=TimesDispatch.com
|date=May , 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20050508-9999-1s8dchart-a.html
|title=Kentucky Derby chart
|author=
|pub=SignOnSanDiego.com
|date=May 8, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a84VFj1qaFow&refer=us
|title=NBC's Kentucky Derby Ratings Dip Slightly Amid Record Wagering
|author=Allan Kreda
|pub=Bloomberg.com
|date=May 8, 2005}}

==Related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Kentucky Derby field chart
|date=May 7, 2005}} (Pre-race day odds chart)

 
 {{archive}}
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Horse racing]]
[[Category:published]]
Saturday's running of the Kentucky Derby left favorites in dry churned up dust, as speedster 'Spanish Chestnut' forced an early pace that only long-shot horses fully answered. The two top finishers, 'Giacomo' and 'Closing Argument' ran past race favorites 'Bellamy Road' and hopeful 'Bandini', who came off the starting gate well and into the first turn. But they faded under a blistering early pace that at the half-mile pole was second fastest in race history.

Only 'Afleet Alex', showing at third, applied salve to the wounded crowd of 154,000 ticket-tearing fans. Betting for this year's race totaled a record $103.3 million counting both on- and off-track wagering. A 2 dollar wager on the winning horse 'Giacomo' paid $102.60.

TV viewership in top metropolitan markets was down only slightly from the previous year, which considering the wagering shows no lack of interest in the race:

:Win: Giacomo $102.60
:Place: Closing Argument: $45.80
:Show: Afleet Alex: $19.80
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