Kentucky Derby 2012: Why Compelling Race Will Improve Horse Racing Fanbase

Later this afternoon, I'll be set. I'll have my snacks in front of me, my TV turned on and I'll be glued to the Kentucky Derby.

I've been looking around this morning, and I've seen how Union Rags is the current favorite at 9-2, followed by Bodemeister (7-1) and Gemologist (9-1). It does seem like this is an extremely talented field, but the main thing I want—and what horse racing needs—is a dramatic race. An exciting one. One with a great storyline—or many of them.

When horse racing captivates people best is when there's a great story that hooks even the casual sports fan.

Just go back to 2006, when Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby by six-and-a-half lengths. This is it, we all thought: a sure-fire Triple Crown winner. The horse was incredible. Two weeks later, though, Barbaro shattered his leg at the Preakness, and his career was over. Doctors tried to save him, and his fight gained national attention before he was eventually euthanized in January 2007.

Before Barbaro, there was Smarty Jones, who won the Derby in 2004. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and later went on to kill the Preakness by a record 11.5 lengths. Here was an extremely compelling story, but Smarty Jones wound up losing to Birdstone, a 36-1 underdog, at the Belmont.

Those are just two examples, and there are a ton more.

If you get some drama on the backstretch, or a huge underdog that pulls off the victory, then we could have something special to follow. Even if you're not a die-hard race fan, trust me, you'll get hooked. You don't need to wear gaudy, poofy hats or be sipping on Mint Julips to get into the Derby.

All it takes is a great story and you'll be hooked.

I remember seeing the TV always turned on for the big races as a kid, but it wasn't the Derby that hooked me into horse racing for good. I actually was helping cover the Breeder's Cup back in 2004 for the Ft Worth Star-Telegram and was assigned to morning practices. I'd get out there by 5:30 a.m. and watch as the most elegant creatures I've seen walked off the track.

On race day, I covered the Juveniles and watched as Wilko, a huge underdog, won by three quarters of a length over Afleet Alex, who placed third in the Kentucky Derby in 2005 but also won the Preakness and Belmont. That's what I mean: great race, great stories and a new fan was born.

That's what horse racing needs again today. Time to sit back and see if the Kentucky Derby will deliver.