On the first Saturday in May, even those who aren’t horse racing fans turn their attention to the Bluegrass State of Kentucky for “The Most-Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” The favorite for this year’s Kentucky Derby is Big Brown, a dominant colt who many think has a real shot at the Triple Crown, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Affirmed took the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes back in 1978.

“I feel we have the best horse in the race, the fastest horse,” Big Brown’s trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said yesterday. “He’s giving me every indication that he is sitting on a big race.”

Challenging the favorite on what could be a muddy and messy Churchill Downs track will be 19 other thoroughbreds, including Colonel John, Pyro, Monba, Tale of Ekati, Gayego, and the filly Eight Belles.

So will our WORLDMagBlog Bunch be watching this afternoon? And if you’re a longtime fan, tell us your favorite Derby memory. (I can never forget the great Secretariat’s record-setting win in 1973.) Have any of you ever witnessed a Derby in person?

Here’s a trivia question for you: How many roses make up the blanket awarded the winner?