Always expect the unexpected at the Derby | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Anything can happen in the Kentucky Derby, and it has.
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Anything can happen in the Kentucky Derby, and it has.
Columbia County produced the only Arkansas horse owner with a Kentucky Derby winner: Lil E. Tee in 1992 for the late Magnolia oilman Cal Partee, with the late Lynn Whiting saddling and Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day aboard. Stephen and Keeley DeSalvo of Hot Springs raced 2011 winner Animal Kingdom (trained by Graham Motion) in the Team Valor partnership of majority owner Barry Irwin.
Columbia County produced the only Arkansas horse owner with a Kentucky Derby winner: Lil E. Tee in 1992 for the late Magnolia oilman Cal Partee, with the late Lynn Whiting saddling and Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day aboard. Stephen and Keeley DeSalvo of Hot Springs raced 2011 winner Animal Kingdom (trained by Graham Motion) in the Team Valor partnership of majority owner Barry Irwin.
The Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 4. If you’ll looking for a local rooting interest, Honor Marie may be your pick. Honor Marie has qualified for the field. Honor Marie
Winning the Arkansas Derby would be an end in itself for Frank Fletcher, another octogenarian making news at his home track, where he was prominent long before it became Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.