They say that the Derby will be run on the first Saturday in September.
If it happens, that will be nice.
Still, the postponed race will never match those run every year since 1875.
A virtual Kentucky Derby complete with feature story trimmings will be run today (the usual Derby Day) on NBC.
It, too, in my mind, can never match the excitement we have felt for years as we've broken from the usual Saturday in May activities to sit down and watch the Derby and its many heart-warming stories about the horses, the jockeys, the trainers, the farms and the owners.
And, I, for one, have to admit a sense of sadness that this gorgeous Saturday---the first Saturday in May, always with blossoming fruit trees and green grass---will not feature the usual celebrations that the Derby has inspired here at the Lovestead over the past few years.
Derby Day always reminds me of my mother, a lifelong horse lover (the year Virginia Tibbs was born in 1921 Behave Yourself won the Derby). Somehow, knowing my mother and her saucy spirit, that seems appropriate.
When the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home" comes just before the horses go into the gates, my flood gates open with tears aplenty.
Those tears represent a nostalgic blend of the endless aspects of our family's long horse history----the stars being humans and horses alike.
There is nothing more beautiful than an athletic and beautiful horse running with extreme gusto and nostrils flared----whether it be across a green field of new spring grass or around a track.
The beautiful traditions associated with the historic Derby also awaken one's sense of nostalgia to an indescribable level.
In our household, evolving traditions of late have been quirky and very informal but always as fun as fun can be with our small-time betting, our hats, the Derby favors and all the munching that goes on in the lead-up to the big race.
That will not happen today, and, yes, I'm sad because Mother Nature has given us the usual gorgeous May Saturday for anticipating the Derby.
I'll probably spend some time watching the virtual stuff, and, we all know through this pandemic, new ideas are abounding. So, we'll see if some of those translate into future Derby parties.
Could be in September, some of that traditional Derby spirit can rebound and we can reclaim one of the great family traditions with hopes that next year the Run for the Roses will once again happen on the first Saturday in May.
For now, we mourn as so many others do for their beloved traditions. Still, we'll do the best we can to resurrect some aspects of the original.
As a part of this family, I would be remiss in not noting that this weekend also marks the 20th Anniversary of Geocaching. The 20th Anniversary bash (block party) has been rescheduled for 2021.
It's truly amazing what the sport has done for connecting people around the world and for providing endless outdoor fun for any participant who knows how to use a cell phone app or a GPS.
You can read more about the sport in the link above, and I'm told Bill will have a story about the sport coming soon in the local paper.
Stay tuned.
Happy Saturday.
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