Round two of the 2008 "Off to the Races" program for UPS unfolded at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. - home to the Kentucky Derby. After racing the special #44 UPS/Kentucky Derby Toyota in Talladega Superspeedway, driver David Reutimann, along with Dale Jarrett and Michael Waltrip, visited Churchill Downs on April 30 for events that served as a prelude to the 134th Kentucky Derby. The week's activities culminated with UPS-sponsored jockey Kent Desormeaux and horse Big Brown scoring the historic win in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
The week started with the UPS announcement that it would sponsor Desormeaux in the Kentucky Derby as he and Big Brown prepared to make Derby history. A day later, Churchill Downs welcomed the UPS Racing family as Jarrett, Reutimann and Waltrip participated in a variety of activities on April 30.
The day started with a trip to the clockers' stand for a publicly addressed announcement before a round of interviews with various local television affiliates and radio stations. The trio of drivers made the most of the morning, enjoying the interviews and offering their collective pick to win the 134th Kentucky Derby - Big Brown.
"I don't want to make more of this than what there is but I was here last year and my pick for the Derby was Street Sense and we all know how that turned out," Jarrett joked. "I think I'll stick with the favorite here this week in going with Big Brown."
With that work complete, the UPS team made a trip to the barn in which Derby favorite Big Brown was spending his time preparing for the week's main event. Jarrett, Reutimann and Waltrip each took a turn visiting with the big, bay-colored colt while also meeting the trainer, Rick Dutrow and members of the ownership team behind Big Brown.
After meeting a variety of other horse racing personalities it was off to the UPS souvenir trailer where each driver participated in an autograph session with more than 400 fans that showed up for the day's festivities at Churchill Downs. After signing autographs and posing for photos, the team visited the historic Paddock area in preparation for the first race of the day - the UPS Racing Challenge. It was a maiden event in which first-time winning filly Smart Rose scored the win with the newly UPS-sponsored jockey Desormeaux making the ride.
After the trophy presentation ceremony the UPS team was offered a tour of the exclusive jockey room before finishing the day in one of the suites for some lunch and the opportunity to watch the afternoon's races. Each of the drivers made their picks during the races and took some time away from the races to visit with the various guests in attendance of the races.
The annual post position draw took place in downtown Louisville where Jarrett participated in the ESPN production of the show, offering his thoughts on the Kentucky Derby and his reasons for taking Big Brown.
The UPS "Off to the Races" program culminated on Saturday with the 134th Kentucky Derby where fans waited breathlessly to see if the favored Big Brown would make history by becoming just the second horse in Derby history to win in just his fourth career start. Big Brown silenced the naysayers convincingly with a more than four-length victory in the event and became just the seventh horse to be an undefeated Kentucky Derby champion.
The Kentucky Derby may be over but Big Brown and UPS fans will now turn their attention to the upcoming Preakness Stakes where Big Brown will attempt to take the next step in becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.
