A crowd of over 150,000 fans reveled as Mage overcame 15-1 odds to win the Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May, giving jockey Javier Castellano his first Derby win in 16 attempts. I was blessed to shoot the race for the ninth consecutive year for Tops Magazine. I even showed up on Thursday this year, and got a few photos on “Thurby.”
As usual, I was there bright and early on Friday, getting my remote cameras set up. Here are a few photos I grabbed on Oaks Day.
And on Friday night, I had the opportunity to shoot the red carpet at the Barnstable-Brown gala, catching some photos of Jack Harlow, Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Chris Pine, and others.
But the big event took place on Saturday, and I was happy to trek around the hallowed grounds of Churchill Downs to bring you these images from Derby Day.
And as far as the big race went, I was stationed just past the finish line on the inside rail with a remote camera on my ladder and a couple of cameras under the rail. Here’s the first pass of the horses from my ladder camera, led by Verifying. The eventual winner Mage (#8 in the light blue silks) is 4th from last.
The under-rail remote angles are far more interesting. Verifying leads, and smiles at the camera.
Confidence Game, Two Phil’s and Jace’s Road head up the second pack.
The trailers include Mage and Tapit Trice, both looking miseable eating dirt.
Here are the photos from the finish, with Mage and jockey Javier Castellano powering across the finish line to win the 149th Run for the Roses.
I’m blessed to be able to do what I love, creating lasting images of the greatest spectacle in my beautiful home state. But the best part of this year was spending time with my great friend Mike Cyrus, who is battling metastatic stomach cancer. Despite the terrible toll the cancer has taken on his body, he soldiered on, and produced some glorious images. I’m so humbled to work with him, and he serves as an inspiration to me and countless others. I’ll continue to bet on him to WIN!
Heart of Big Blue Nation 