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The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocala and Louisville mayors make friendly wager on Kentucky Derby

Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn is betting on Magnum Moon, a horse that was trained in Ocala under J.J. and Todd Pletcher.

Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn is getting in on some Kentucky Derby fun again this year, thanks to a friendly bet with Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.

“The road to the Kentucky Derby begins in Ocala… Horse Capital of the World,” Guinn said. “This year is no different, with 17 of the horses competing having ties to our city.”

This year marks the fifth wager the two mayors have made with other. It’s become a tradition that Guinn said he looks forward to each year.

Ocala is trademarked as the Horse Capital of the World, while Louisville is home to the Kentucky Derby and the Bluegrass State is the worldwide leader in the thoroughbred industry. So, it should come as no surprise that the two mayors are betting on horses with ties to their homes states for the 144th edition of the “Run for the Roses.”

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer is betting on Mendelssohn, a horse that was bred in Kentucky and prepared by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Guinn is betting on Magnum Moon, largely because he was trained in Ocala under J.J. and Todd Pletcher, winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby with Always Dreaming. Guinn vowed last year that he would support a Pletcher-trained horse this time around, hence the selection of Magnum Moon.

Fischer is betting on Mendelssohn, a horse that was bred in Kentucky and prepared by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien.

“It would be (O’Brien’s) first Derby win, and he’s overdue because he’s one of the greats,” Fischer said. “And my grandmother was Irish, so it’s a sentimental favorite for me as well.”

Seventeen of the horses in Saturday’s race followed the same route as that of American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner, with early schooling at one of Ocala/Marion County’s 650 training facilities. Those facilities are largely responsible for the $2.6 billion annual impact in Marion County and the $6.8 billion impact the Sunshine State enjoys from the success of the equine industry, a recent study showed.

For his part, Fischer said he’s ready for Saturday’s race and the opportunity to show off one of Louisville’s proudest landmarks, Churchill Downs.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Mayor Guinn and his return to Louisville for the Derby,” Fischer said. “This friendly bet has become a spirited part of our Derby traditions.”

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