The Kentucky Derby is upon us yet again. For many people my age it is another time where we can go out and start drinking at eleven in the morning and not feel shameful for doing so. For a small minority of the country it is a time where they can indulge themselves in the lifestyles of the rich and the famous but for us that are not so rich and not so famous it is a time where people can sit and say “Wow. I knew I should have bet on that horse.”
I don’t know about you but the females in my family are the type that feel horses are the most majestic creatures in all of the Animal Kingdom, no pun intended. These are the type that act as if there is no other thing more important in the world than pretty horses. My mother actually placed bets on a horse because and I quote, “He seems like he would be fun to hang out with.” And why do they do this. Well that question has been bothering me since I was a wee lad.
We as a society no longer ride our trusty steeds across lands relying on them in our daily lives. Sure horses do play some role in the daily lives of humans such as farmers, ranchers, and the Amish but not nearly as integral as they did a century or two ago. Why do people in society still have this obsession with what is essentially a farm animal. Do we celebrate donkeys the same way the can essentially perform the same function.
I know I am digging myself into a ditch here I can personally think of many flaws in my argument here but really wanted to look at why humans are fascinated with and spend millions of dollars on horses. Now back to the festivities. Thank you Kentucky Derby.
