Dan Fogelberg - Run For The Roses (Lyrics)

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile (2 km) at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57.2 kg) and fillies 121 pounds (54.9 kg). The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the US Triple Crown and is followed by the Preakness Stakes, then the Belmont Stakes. The horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown. The attendance at the Kentucky Derby ranks first in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and the Breeders' Cup.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Derby

The roses were first established as part of the Derby celebration when they were presented to all the ladies attending a fashionable Louisville Derby party. The roses were such a sensation, that the president of Churchill Downs, Col. Lewis Clark, adopted the rose as the race's official flower. The rose garland now synonymous with the Kentucky Derby first appeared in the 1896 when the winner, Ben Brush, received a floral arrangement of white and pink roses.

In 1904 the red rose became the official flower of the Kentucky Derby. The tradition was strengthened when, in 1925, New York sports columnist Bill Corum, later the president of Churchill Downs, dubbed the Kentucky Derby the "Run for the Roses." The garland as it exists today was first introduced in 1932 for the 58th running won by Burgoo King.

Each year, a garland of more than 400 red roses is sewn into a green satin backing with the seal of the Commonwealth on one end and the Twin Spires and number of the race's current renewal on the other. Each garland is also adorned with a "crown" of roses, green fern and ribbon. The "crown," a single rose pointing upward in the center of the garland, symbolizes the struggle and heart necessary to reach the Derby Winner's Circle.

Each year the Governor of Kentucky and other dignitaries also present the winning jockey with a bouquet of 60 long stemmed roses wrapped in 10 yards of ribbon.
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/experience/traditions/roses

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Dan
• Fogelberg
• Run For The Roses
• Lyrics
• Kentucky
• Derby
• garland
• Texas
• gamble

[MrRogerdb]

God I miss those days. I feel so left behind and lonely. I long for Dan Fobelberg and his kind. They still knew how to make music then. RIP and bless you Dan.

[sgsound12]

I never knew the history behind this such a good Dan Fogelberg tune....I've always loved this song, but now i know it has a meaning that Fogelberg in a magistral way put it on the tune. Greeting from Chile and best wishes to all.

[lucyjb32]

RIP, Dan. My dad's favorite singer. We all miss you.

[greamyfy]

This song has an ethereal quality to it. I think people will be playing long after the rest of us are gone.

[wolfsrule100]

I LOVE watching these horses run its amazing

[Gravida12]

Dan Fogelberg was commissioned to write this for the Kentucky Derby. I think that makes this song even more impressive--it's hard to write a great song under any circumstances, even harder to do it to a particular theme.

[KiddyWorld888]

I am letting my dad hear this. Thanks for the lyrics.

[mjcamck]

Hello. I'm privileged to comment first. I love watching horses run; they are such majestic creatures. The Kentucky Derby with the silks colors, the hats, the crowd singing and then "they're off!" And this tune is perfect in capturing the gentle, positive spirit of the horses, the training teams & fans. Thanks for posting. Best Wishes to ALL.