148th Kentucky Derby - 2022

 

“You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.” 

~ Donald Cerrone

 

 

Thirty seconds before the deadline entry of the Kentucky Derby, Ethereal Road was pulled from the race at Churchill Downs.  His owner did not feel that the horse was as focused and sharp as he needed to be to compete.  Since Rich Strike had placed 21st in the qualifying round, he now had the chance to race.  Owner, Rick Dawson, received the call and accepted the invitation.

 

Facts:

As a 2-year-old colt, Rich Strike finished last in his first race and was sold to a man who had missed out on buying another horse he wanted to purchase.

 

Rich Strike was bought for $30,000 last fall and raced against horses that were bought for 2o times that amount.

 

Rich Strike won a race by 17 lengths and then continued to place either third, fourth, or fifth.

 

Sonny Leon, the jockey, had never won a graded stakes race.

 

Neither the owner, trainer, or jockey had every been associated with any horse in the Kentucky Derby.

 

This was the first starter and Kentucky Derby rider for Eric Reed, since a barn fire claimed 23 horses and equipment 6 years ago.

 

Rich Strike had the second longest shot in Kentucky Derby history with 80-1 odds.  The longest odds went to Donerail at 91-1, the winner in 1913.

 

Rich Strike had no idea any of this mattered so he just ran.

 

Kentucky Derby Race:

~ Rich Strike started the race from gate 20, the furthest starting position from the inside rail.

~ As the race began, Leon immediately started moving toward the inside rail.

~ Rich Strike was in 17^th place down the backstretch.

~ At the halfway mark Rich Strike was 16 horses back from the lead horse.

~ Weaving in and out of openings, Rich Strike moves up to fourth place!

~ Two seconds before the Finish Line, Rich Strike passes the two front-runners to win the 2022 Kentucky Derby!

 

Lessons to Consider:

* Staying ready helps you seize the opportunity when it comes.

* Never give up.

* Any horse/person/team can win on any given day.

* Opportunities can come as quickly as disappointments.

* Doing your personal best makes a difference.

* Concentrate on the things you do have and not on what you wish you had.

* Past failures do not have to define you.

* A race position, number, or other people’s opinions don’t determine your value or chances in life.

 

When going for a Triple Crown win, the logical decision was for Reed to enter Rich Strike to run in the Preakness in two weeks.  Realizing his horse does not have the running style for that race, plus needing additional time for training, he chose his horse’s best interests over his own.  The team will now concentrate on readying Rich Strike for the Belmont.

 

Even horse races can teach life lessons of the importance of being prepared, seizing opportunities, and doing your best, whether the odds are against you or not.  And sometimes it’s important to forego the good in order to prepare for and attempt the best.

 

 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Intentional Gifting

 

Blythe is in 5th grade and recently celebrated her 11th birthday.  One of the guests invited to her birthday celebration was Olivia, a 15-year-old 1oth grader she knows through her church, Antioch Community in Pearland, Texas.  For her gift, Olivia gave Blythe an intentional hang out time.  When the special day arrived, the girls went out to eat for breakfast, paid for with money Olivia had earned from babysitting.  Next the girls went to a park with a lake.  Olivia brought out two canvases and paints.  As they sat and visited, the girls painted the lake and its surroundings.  After the outing, Tiffany, Blythe’s mother posted her appreciation and pictures from their special time.  “I can’t thank you enough, Olivia.  I love that Blythe has you to look up to.  I am posting to honor you and because y’all are super cute but also to encourage other high school girls to have little girls on your radar.  It will mean more to her (and her parents) than you will ever know.  You don’t have to spend money to invest in another life!”  Olivia’s mother also gave an intentional gift by providing the transportation, since Olivia doesn’t have her driver’s license yet.

 

Anna Elmas related a story about a resident of Kyiv, Ukraine this past week.  A man left the bomb shelter for a while, to check things out, and spotted a parked car on the street.  As he walked by, he noticed the keys had been left in the ignition and the doors were unlocked.  For two long hours he watched and waited to see if anyone would claim the car.  When no one came, the man quickly grabbed his family, got in the car, and drove to Vinnitsa to be with relatives.  Upon inspection, a phone number was found in the glove compartment of the car.  A phone call was placed and the man confessed to stealing the car, in order to save his family.  In reply he heard, “Thank God, don’t worry, I have 4 cars.  I took my family out in my jeep.  The rest of the cars I filled with fuel and left in different places with the keys in the ignition and the number in the glove compartment.  I received calls back from all cars.  There will be peace – see you.  Take care of yourself!”

 

This week may we, too, be intentional in finding ways to gift others with our time, money, talents, and resources.

 

 

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:9-13