As a Kentuckian, there are no two minutes in any sport that I look more forward to than the Kentucky Derby. The first Saturday in May has always meant something special to me.

As a kid, my parents would always have or attend Derby parties.  I was eight years old when I hit my first exacta and my grandpa gave me the $84 it paid. 

When I got to college I made my first trips to Churchill for the big day. Three straight years in the infield where I think I saw a total of three horses and three dozen sets of breast.  I have been to Mardi Gras, Las Vegas, Talladega, and many more great places, but the infield best party of the all.

My love for the sport and respect for the tradition has led me to heading down once again for a third straight Derby. However, gone are the days of the infield past. Now we go into the a private room and do it up like the royalty that started the sport intended it to be.

Regardless, here are five reasons you should make it a point to go to at least once in your life:

(1.) THE TRADITION
They have done it for 133 years. How much more tradition do you need? From the mint juleps to the burgoo the day is full of traditional Kentucky rites of passage. However, there is nothing better than the when the horses head to the track for the post parade and the band strikes of "My Old Kentucky Home". I still get goose bumps everytime.

(2.) THE BUZZ
I have been to Louisville so many times in my life I have lost count, but something happens to that city during Derby weekend. Words can not describe it. It is electric! Celebrities and tourists flock to the city from all around the world. The people and workers in the city open their arms up to all of it and are always gracious hosts!

(3.) THE BUCKET LIST
The Derby is just one of those things you have to do before you die. The movie Bucket List was a perfect example of this as Morgan Freeman created a "bucket list," or things to do before "he kicks the bucket" after his character his diagnosed with cancer. I'm not saying you have to get crazy like me and go every year, but you should do it at least once.

(4.) THE THOUGHT THAT THIS COULD BE THE YEAR
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Affirmed winning the Triple Crown. He was the last horse to do so.  Dating back to 1989, a dozen horses have surged to victory in the two of the three legs, but none has been able to get the third race.  Seeing a horse win the first leg of the Triple Crown in person would be a chance in a lifetime. Think of it like this. Seeing Tom Browning pitch his perfect game is something any of us would have given our left limbs to see. His perfect game is one of eight there has been since Affirmed accomplished the monumental feat.

(5.) THE CARD
The Derby is a crapshoot. There's 20 horses and with than many going around the oval anything can happen. Handicappers will rejoice in a full day of quality races to bet on and good prices to boot.

OTHER LINKS
Preview & Picks: 134th Kentucky Derby
Derby Party Game (pdf) - Take your party to antoher level with our FREE and simple party game
Triple Crown Lowdown (mp3) - Horse Racing guru Ryan Wolking joins me on GetSportsRadio.com to break it all down

The field for the 134th Kentucky Derby is set and its time to seperate the pretenders from the contenders:

FAVORITES
#20 Big Brown (3-1) will have to overcome the fact he has only ran in three races. A horse with that few of races has not won the Derby in 93 years. Now,  he will also have to become the first horse to win the race from the No. 20 post since 1929.  His initial workouts at Churchill were impressive as he ran three furlongs in 35.33. The horse has the

Santa Anita Derby winner #10 Colonel John (4-1) is the best from the West. He comes to Churchill having never ran on dirt and that is reason for concern. His style suggests he be more than able to handle 1 1/4 miles. He's training well and right now is my pick to win the race and has been for the past six weeks, that could change by time I get to the window though.

If the Derby were ran a month ago, #9 Pyro (6-1) may have gone off as the favorite. However, a terrible showing in the Bluegrass Stakes (10th place, lost by 11 1/2 lengths) last month was enough to raise concern. Still, this horse is more than capable of making a Triple Crown run and has to be considered here.

CONTENDERS
#2 Tale of Ekati (15-1): This horse is a wildcard and has heart; Trainer Barclay Tagg did it with another horse like that a few years back with Funny Cide.

#14 Monba (15-1): Already has win over the track and is coming off surprising win at Bluegrass; has to be considered in the exotics.

#5 Eight Belles (15-1): That she would go in the Oaks, but instead she is the latest filly to take on the boys.

#6 Z Fortune (15-1): After losing early ground in Arkansas Derby he showed what he can do finishing second by a nose; Can do some damage.

#19 Gayego (15-1): California-bred did good moving from sythetic to dirt surface, but will have to overcome tough post position.

MY LONGSHOTS
#16 Denis of Cork (20-1): Horse is on his home course and jockey Calvin Borel knows the race all too well; great play for the price.

#17 Cowboy Cal (20-1): He went from the turf to the polytrack and did well, can he do the same moving to the dirt of Churchill Downs?

MY TRIFECTA
$2 Trifecta wheel 10/9 with the 10/9/2/14 wtih 10/9/2/14/5/16 - total cost $48 (could pay in the thousands); you can also go $1 Tri-wheel for $24:

Win - #10 Colonel John, #9 Pyro
Place - #10 Colonel John, #9 Pyro, #2 Tale of Ekati, #14 Monba
Show - #10 Colonel John, #9 Pyro, #2 Tale of Ekati, #14 Monba, #6 Z Fortune , #16 Denis of Cork

OTHER LINKS
Derby Party Game (pdf) - Take your party to antoher level with our FREE and simple party game
Triple Crown Lowdown (mp3) - Horse Racing guru Ryan Wolking joins me on GetSportsRadio.com to break it all down