Because of his job, Brian Hernandez Jr., a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, had to be in Louisville, Kentucky at the same time as the last Friday and Saturday of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
He and his wife are both big fans of the festival so they planned to take a 6.a.m. flight to New Orleans to be there for its last day, Sunday May 5. But things did not work out as he planned.
First of all, on Friday there was his equivalent to a day at the office. Hernandez is a jockey and, on that day, he was scheduled to ride in the Kentucky Oaks, the top race in the country for three year old fillies. Riding for trainer Kenny McPeek, Hernandez mounted a horse called Thorpedo Anna who ran like she was a torpedo. The horse soared around the track winning by 4 ¾ lengths. Hernandez could have left a day early to attend the Jazz Fest and already have had a big weekend, but no, there a commitment to ride for McPeek in another race the next day, Saturday, May 4: The Kentucky Derby.
This time the horse was named Mystic Dan. He was a good horse but not one that would likely win as easily as Thorpedo Anna had done the day before. The Derby is the sport’s most heralded event. The competitors, both the horses and the jockeys, are at the top of the trade.
Odds makers rated Mystic as 18 to 1; respectable but not a spot that is going to make anyone rich.
Who would get the trophy would be known in a little over two minutes as the horses charged down the track at the sound of the starter’s gun. From the beginning Hernandez steered Mystic near the rail.
This year’s Kentucky Derby already had some historical panache because it was the 150th anniversary of the race.
For both horse and rider, to have won the Sesquicentennial race would provide lasting fame as they would be rediscovered anytime anyone searched through the Derby’s history.
As they reached the finish line there were two horses in contention for the crown. The term “photo finish” came from horse racing referring to a camera at rail side that is used to decide which of the animals running so close together as to defy the human eye had the nose that crossed the finish line first.
Sierra Leone, who was an early favorite was one of the two front runners and when he made a late surge it looked like the race was going to be his. At his side though was the other contender, Mystic Dan.
Defying physics and the laws of time it seemed to take an eternity for the camera to discern the winner. Everyone there; men and beast, looked toward the big screen.
“It still hasn’t sunk in,” the Louisville Courier Journalwould quote Hernandez responding to Mystic Dan having had the winning nose. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take to sink in; but it is definitely a surreal moment right now.”
So, Brian Hernandez of Lafayette, Louisiana, having won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, won the Kentucky Derby Saturday. His life would be different now. He was a celebrity and there would be press conferences, celebrations and events to attend.
For the moment life was great, though, gosh durn, there was one loss. If you happened to be at the Jazz Fest Sunday, May 5, in the crowd of thousands, you might not have noticed that the attendance was down by two people.
It was a tough call, but the decision was decided by a nose.
—30—
Have something to add to this story, or want to send a comment to Errol? Email him at errol@myneworleans.com. Note: All responses are subject to being published, as edited, in this article. Please include your name and location.
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENTS: Errol’s Laborde’s new book, “When Rex Met Zulu: And Other Chronicles of the New Orleans Experience” (Pelican Publishing Company, 2024, is now available at local bookstores and in the myneworlean.com store.
Laborde’s other recent publications: “New Orleans: The First 300 Years” and “Mardi Gras: Chronicles of the New Orleans Carnival” (Pelican Publishing Company, 2017 and 2013), are available at the same locations.
SOMETHING NEW: Listen to “Louisiana Insider,” a weekly podcast covering the people, places and culture of the state. LouisianaLife.com/LouisianaInsider, Apple Podcasts or Audible/Amazon Music.
WATCH INFORMED SOURCES, FRIDAYS AT 7 P.M., REPEATED AT 9:30 A.M. SUNDAYS.WYES-TV, CH. 12.
