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Kentucky Derby Day...An American Dream Begins!!!

Right off, my wife was born in the great state of Kentucky! I guess that's partly the reason we have adopted 'Kentucky Derby Day' as one of our 'family sports favorites'! Every year on the first Saturday of May, we gather around the TV to watch the perennial classic of thoroughbred horse racing!!! No, we don't do the 'mint julep' thing or place any money bets on any of the horses, but the excitement we feel seems to 'mount' (no pun intended) with each succeeding year!

This year will be no different. We will still be rooting and cheering for the best horse to win! And not only the best horse, but a possible candidate to win the coveted triple crown...the super bowl of horse racing...which begins with the derby and ends when the horse has won the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes!!!

My American Dream began in Kentucky when my wife was born there!

There is more to the American Dream than finding the right home! Without the 'right' other essentials...a great spouse...great kids...great career...great faith...great family...a great home may not count for much!!! So when looking for that dream house be sure you have all the other right elements in place...maybe that's the reason for so many foreclosures and marriage failures today!

This May 3, 2008, the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby Classic, when my wife and I take those precious few minutes to sit and watch that famous Kentucky Derby...we will be rooting for 'Big Brown' or whoever else carries the torch into the triple crown! In fact I'm writing this post as the horses make their way into the 'paddock area' and I can feel the excitement mounting!!!

Whoever wins, you can be sure we will be thanking God for the many blessings and divine providence He has bestowed on our family...and we will thank Him for being the beginning of our 'American Dream'!

May the best horse win!!! Let 'The American Dream' begin!!!

Post Script: For the record...Big Brown won the Derby!!! Go Big Brown!!!

See Lenn's picture in the comment section!!!

Posted by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ on 05/03/2008 05:08 PM

Comments (15)

kentucky derby, american dream, big brown

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15 Comments on Kentucky Derby Day...An American Dream Begins!!!

Fran - For the first time in my natural born my life, I'm going to watch. I'll see for myself what all this talk is about:-)

05/03/2008 05:23 PM

by Jason Sardi, Pennsylvania Mortgage Broker (First Choice Equity Group Inc.)

Jason,

Now tell me that wasn't exciting!!! Only the 7th unbeaten horse to ever win the Derby!!! Thanks, Fran

05/03/2008 05:28 PM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

There it is.

05/03/2008 05:28 PM

by Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Real Estate

Exciting race! I just saw Big Brown won. Congratulations.

05/03/2008 05:30 PM

by Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady", Broker-Brookville, New York Real Estate (Century 21-Laffey Associates)

Lenn: I may start that 'mint julep' tradition after this exciting race!!!

Rosalinda: WOW! What a horse...what a race...!!!

Thanks, Fran

05/03/2008 05:35 PM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

I just watched as well, but had to quickly change the channel when I learned they had to put down Eight Belles, the filly, right on the track that broke both it's ankles.....how horrible and sad!

05/03/2008 05:53 PM

by The Thom And Ray Team

Thom,

An unfortunate occurrence in an otherwise unblemished performance!!! Life...in all its forms...is 'fragile'! Thanks, Fran

05/03/2008 06:00 PM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

HI Fran- Another great blog!

What a bitter sweet race. Big Brown is amazing. I could not believe my eyes as I watched. The strength and speed to come from the outside post to win was incredible.... the glory of the win was overshadowed for me when I heard Eight Belles had to be euthanized. Life in all forms is truly fragile...

05/03/2008 07:07 PM

by Barbara Carter (Exit Realty Services)

Barbara,

Well said...and what more can you say??? Maybe the 'sacrifice' by Eight Belles will yield a 'triple crown!!! Very unfortunate and sad!!! Thanks, Fran

05/03/2008 07:31 PM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

Here Fran, is a great recipe. I am from KY too, where is your wife from? My husband is from Louisville and I'm from Paducah. This is my favorite recipe. Hot Brown

The Legendary Hot Brown Recipe

Ingredients:
4 oz. Butter
Flour to make a Roux (about 6 tablespoons)
3 - 3 1/2 cups Milk
1 Beaten Egg
6 tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 oz. Whipped Cream (optional)
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Slices of Roast Turkey
8-12 Slices of Toast (may be trimmed)
Extra Parmesan for Topping
8-12 Strips of Fried Bacon

Melt butter and add enough flour to make a reasonably thick roux (enough to absorb all of the butter). Add milk and Parmesan cheese. Add egg to thicken sauce, but do not allow sauce to boil. Remove from heat. Fold in whipped cream. Add salt and pepper to taste.

For each Hot Brown, place two slices of toast on a metal (or flameproof) dish. Cover the toast with a liberal amount of turkey. Pour a generous amount of sauce over the turkey and toast. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese. Place entire dish under a broiler until the sauce is speckled brown and bubbly. Remove from broiler, cross two pieces of bacon on top, and serve immediately.

This is from the Brown Hotel in Louisville, which made them famous.

We always watch and I have a huge picture of the Derby in my kitchen, and one of my Old Ky Home in my Greatroom.

I watch yesterday and it was sad to see the filly go down.

05/04/2008 08:03 AM

by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Missy,

What an unfortunate event!!! But now we must cheer on 'Big Brown' in her memory!!!

BTW, My wife was born in Louisville...her family is from Shelbyville...Keller & Dawson!!!

Thanks for the recipe!!!

Thanks, Fran

05/04/2008 08:24 AM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

Big Brown was great. I have watched the Derby since I was a child. Some of the happiness of the way he won was unfortunately diminished by the tragedy of "Eight Belles".

05/04/2008 09:45 AM

by Linda Tremblay, Bucks County Real Estate (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc, PA License #AB065488)

Linda,

That sure took the 'steam' and excitement out of the event!!! Thanks, Fran

05/04/2008 10:59 AM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

Fran - Such a Beyer confirming event. The numbers did not lie. I would have saved $112 dollars if I had not been wrapped up in the dirt versus artificial surface confusion. So I keyed Colonel John and Big Brown over 7 horses (I included both of them in the second and third slot as well). The total triple bet was $224. The payout was over $3,000. The exacta was a tidy $144 for a $2 box of Eight Belles, Colonel John and Big Brown. I can only say "Thank God for Denis the Cork" and his rail drive to pick up third.

Now on to the Preakness with questions...Is Pyro a bust?.....Why didn't Colonel John fire?....Nakatani is not a dope and he had the horse damn near last at the second call.

It was sad to see the filly put down. I still don't believe that they should be racing the boys. Her figures were strong but 19 big horses banging you around can create a lot of stress and duress. It was no secret that the kid was going swing her wide and find a hole to slip through. He has done it in every race with her. He did, she did and ran her heart out. Breaking both legs is so rare, one must wonder if the effort expended wasn't beyond her stamina and strength.

Nice post. Yours, not the 20 hole that Big Brown blew out of. And for the record, he is the first to do so. The horse that won from the 20 post back in the day did not come out of a starting gate. In those days, the used a walk up start and did not have to contend with a gate.

05/04/2008 11:59 PM

by John MacArthur The MacArthur Group (Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc.)

John,

And I think if he had a better position his time could have been better!!! Thanks, Fran

05/05/2008 07:37 AM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

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