Gai's Kentucky Derby blog: 'I’ve been training 30 years and I’m in awe'

Cover image supplied

Gai Waterhouse here at Churchill Downs. The last two days I’ve experienced the most remarkable surge of enthusiasm, hype, and excitement about this history-steeped Kentucky Derby race meeting. It's very hard to describe the incredibly vibrant energy - absolutely contagious on all levels. We’ve got the G1 Kentucky Oaks on Friday, and the great G1 Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

I’ve spent the last two mornings with Emma Coleman, Vicky Leonard, and Bloodstock Agent Marette Farrell exploring the backside of Churchill Downs, where the horses are all stabled and the training takes place. The sheer number of people walking - trotting even - into Churchill Downs is absolutely incredible to see, and they’re all ages. So many school children, owners, fans… thousands of them.

Gallery: Gai Waterhouse takes in the Churchill Downs atmosphere, images supplied

Friday, Oaks Day, is a public holiday here in Louisville, very much like the Melbourne Cup, and it’s just amazing how everyone has embraced this carnival with so much racing enthusiasm. There’s such a buzz; the mounted police on the right, then you’ve got the hot walkers, and of course the grooms with the ponies that accompany each racehorse out to the track.

So we’ve been hanging out in the back section of the racecourse, wandering from barn to barn, meeting people. You see the horses being washed down. You’re bumping into the famous trainers like D. Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, and Kenny McPeek. The main players of the thoroughbred industry are all here, so many very, very talented horse people. I’m in awe of it, and I’ve been training for 30 years.

I can’t believe the meticulous way everything is done, it’s marvellous.

Gallery: Gai Waterhouse with Kenny and Sherri McPeek, and Thorpedo Anna, images supplied

I've spent some time with the first year class of the Godolphin Flying Start students; another terrific bunch of bright young ones. We'll be all looking forward to welcoming them to Australia on the next leg of their worldwide adventure.

What horses impressed me most?

Well, it’s going to be hard to go past the Kentucky Derby favourite, Journalism (Curlin). He reminds me very much of Storm Boy, Champion 2-year-old in Australia. He’s big, he’s got the most beautiful coat, and I always think very healthy horses have gleaming, healthy coats. He’s got a beautifully marked head and he’s got the most fantastic hindquarters, where the power comes from - especially racing here, on the dirt. He moves like an absolute dream.

Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) is the 2024 Champion 2-year-old and he’s got a chest on him like a sumo wrestler. He’s a very muscular colt, very much an Australian-type. Very much a 2-year-old. Will he make the weight-for-age improvement from two to three? His trainer Bob Baffert said he doesn’t know - but we’ll all know in the next 48 hours.

Flying Mohawk (Karakontie) is a good style of a horse. Bit cranky in his box, didn’t really want visitors poking around - but I don’t mind that. He wanted his space. I get it.

And Grande (Curlin) is a really lovely horse. Very much a Derby type. He’s owned by a most extraordinary man, Mike Repole. I love people that embrace racing, maybe because I’ve embraced it all my life and I love it so much - but he’s passionate about it, and he’s a larger-than-life character. You often only find them in America.

We then saw the six-time Grade 1-winning filly Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), the 2024 Kentucky Derby Oaks winner, with her trainer the wonderful Kenny McPeek. Oh my gosh, she’s a beautiful filly. She’s very big and she’s not correct. And by correct, I mean that when you look at her front legs, they’re slightly turned in. But, as Kenny said, she handles it. She’s handled it well enough to take out six Group 1s. She’s pretty damn good.

Many of these characters are in the Netflix series Race For The Crown - it's a recently released show I recommend you watch as it shows off the full colour of American racing.

Right now I'm heading back to the hotel to get my hair and makeup to return to the track for the races - 'Thurby' day they call it. Emma and I will meet up with Wesley Ward, a very good buddy of Rob's and mine, and a great trainer. Wesley's got two horses racing today and he wanted me to see them, so I'm going to be there to cheer them on with him.

After that, I'll return to freshen up and off we go again - Emma and I will go to the Derby dinner.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone all glitz and glammed up because this is very much part of racing and especially Derby week. The dressing is quite extraordinary. It lacks the elegance that you might see at Royal Ascot but it's got a vibrant energy; it’s fun and off beat, that’s what I like about it. It’s got a real stamp of America. It's really fabulous.

After the Derby Party, we will call into Aron Wellman's cocktail party for Eclipse Racing. Now, Aron is the most remarkable young man because he's taken syndication in America to another level. He has the Derby favourite Journalism, what an amazing thing to achieve. He is prepared to open his chest and pockets, and pay $825,000 at the Saratoga Sale, and he lands a horse that's favourite for not just a Grade 1 race - but the greatest race they have in America.