On Tuesday, the Kentucky Racing Commission approved a new advertising rule as it relates to sponsorships and endorsements worn on jockey’ pants despite opposition to the changes from horsemen, including Churchill Downs representatives, jockeys, trainers and owners, who say that “sponsors may not want to be disclosed.” But the idea that some sponsors might ‘not want to be disclosed’ to a regulating agency or the public makes no sense when talking about sponsorship unless the money, message, and motive don’t add up. Commission member Ned Bonnie said “Transparency is like soap…It cleans up a lot of things.” That’s a fitting response considering the level of interest in, and ultimate success, of ‘the sport of kings’ relies on believing that all the kings men are playing fair.

Ultimately, before each race, the stewards are responsible for approving any advertising worn by a jockey. And that’s after the jockey has submitted the “Request to Wear Advertising and Promotional Material” form him or herself. If they want to realize the full value of their legs in the winner’s circle. And with the Breeder’s Cup scheduled for November 5 and 6, 2010 the world’s spotlight will be on the winners’ circle.

The explanation of the regulation governing the wearing of advertising by jockeys makes it pretty clear that the jockey is a representative of the sport just like a football or basketball player represents ‘the game’ and not their self and are just players on the stage set by a commission.

In other news, Greta Kuntzweiler was issued a license after review of her suspension in 2007 for an admitted drug violation. Look forward to Greta making a strong comeback and a return to the winner’s circle at Turfway Park later this year.

If no one else has realized it yet, Garrett Gomez sure has. He’s packed his tack and headed east to the circuit of the stars of the Derby.

To win the Kentucky Derby, Calvin Borel and Kent Desormeaux have ridden at Belmont, Pimlico, Gulfstream and the like, because that’s horse racing American style. Nothing fancy. No plastic, wax or rubber to put a bounce in the step of their young hopefuls. Just good old fashioned dirt. The kind at Churchill.

Gomez has ridden out west for years where he has comfortably led the jockey colony away from the star circuit.  And until recently that was working just fine.

Stars of the past like Gary Stevens, Eddie D., McCarron and Shoemaker all did it from out west. Even the ‘now’ jockey, Victor Espinoza, did it for Baffert in 2002 when War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby.

As a matter of fact, that’s where all the stars of yesteryear rode, and shined so bright you couldn’t see a difference between riding in the east or west if you wanted to win the Derby.

Boy those were the days. A jockey could pick his spot. The sunny California Pacific coastline, or the Bluegrass of Kentucky and the Everglades of Florida. Just thinking of those days brings back fond memories of Affirmed holding off Alydar in grueling races to become the last horse to win the Triple Crown. Steve Cauthen rode Affirmed. He was 18.

Gomez isn’t getting any younger and he has now watched, from behind, Calvin Borel win three of the last four runnings of America’s crown jewel of racing. And he must realize why.

Only time will tell what other effects the switch to synthetic surfaces might have on the Triple Crown. Literally, after several years of trial and error, Gomez must have decided that to win the Derby the horse is going to have to come from the east.

On Saturday, Monmouth Park opens with a bang! They’re touting this season with $1,000,000 purse days and that’s attractive. How long Monmouth is able to maintain the purse promises and keep a top rider like Gomez interested is a matter of time.

And at 38, you can bet he realizes that for him to win the Kentucky Derby, it’s also a matter of time.

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As a horse racing fan the days and hours leading up to the Kentucky Derby are anxious times. This is the Superbowl of horse racing in America, and it’s history is rooted deeply in the bluegrass of Kentucky.

People come from around the world and tomorrow will be no exception.

Churchill Downs expects somewhere upwards of 100,000 people. According to Weather.com, everyone can expect an 80% chance of rain.

Derby week opened with Escendereya the heavy favorite. Then Lookin’ At Lucky assumed the favorites role. But on the eve of the Derby as the sun sets on another day we have a new favorite, and he’s 7 to 1.

A $2 future wager on Super Saver in any of the three Derby future wager pools would yield no less than $43.20, if he wins. A bet on him tomorrow returns around $14.00.

So many things happen to affect the final odds between the time future wager pool one opens, and post time for the Kentucky Derby, that it’s hard to place a wager on the future with much confidence. Injury could knock your horse out. He could run off the road…it’s a long road. Or, it could rain.

When you bet into the future pools you’re essentially handicapping a horse — not a horse race. And if you’re confident that you’ve handicapped all the angles when you bet a double sawbuck on a 24 to 1 shot, then suddenly, and quite possibly, you could be cashing a ‘Super Saver.’