MND-B, 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers gallop to glory in 1st running of the 138th Kentucky Derby in Iraq

Photo By Spc. Elvyn Nieves | Jockeys wait at the starting line before they're given the instruction "gallop" during the 1st running of the 138th "Kentucky Derby" race. The event was hosted by none other than the Kentucky National Guard and required Soldiers to run a course with stick horses, which were decorated by the different sections within the MND-B headquarters building.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.03.2008

Story by Spc. Elvyn Nieves 

113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Spc. Elvyn Nieves
Multi-National Division – Baghdad

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Determination filled the faces of both the decorated stick horses and their jockeys as they approached the line – and as fast as they rode in, they were off. This was the big one. The one everyone had been preparing for, and even though this wasn't the most traditional "Kentucky Derby" ever held, it was close enough for the Soldiers of Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division.

MND-B Soldiers got a taste of the 1st running of 138th "Kentucky Derby" race held at the divisions headquarters parking lot May 3. The "Kentucky home-grown Gala" was hosted by Soldiers of the Kentucky National Guard's 138th Fires Brigade.

Each section within the MND-B headquarters building was represented by a "jockey," which had to "gallop" one lap around the building as they mounted a creatively-decorated stick horse.

The event was celebrated the first Saturday of May – just like the classic American horse race held at home in the Commonwealth. Three races took place during the event: The Baghdad Mile, The Quarterback Cup and the main event, of course – The "Kentucky Derby."

"It's a way to pay honor to the state and the tradition of the horse racing industry," said Col. Billy West, a Richmond, Ky., native, is the commander of the 138th Fries Brigade. "The Kentucky Derby is an event watched worldwide, and here, we're just a small part."

"Kentucky guardsmen take the safety and security of the Commonwealth of Kentucky seriously, and anything we can do to bring honor to the state is a good thing," West added.

In the "Kentucky Derby" race, the participants paraded with their stick horses to make an amusing representation of the real one. There were Mint Juleps, without the alcohol of course, and the traditional playing of "My Old Kentucky Home" by the 4th Infantry Division Band.

The biggest difference between this race and the real Kentucky Derby is the fact that these horses ran on only two legs – the jockeys.

"I feel sweaty and hot, but it's exciting to bring my section to the winner's circle," said 1st Lt. Aaron Zwirner, the winner of the Baghdad Mile, who is a native of Alexandria, Va. Zwirner serves a liaison officer with the intelligence security command, Company B, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

The key element for the victory was the horse. You can see it's a natural thoroughbred, joked Zwirner.

"I was excited during the whole race, and I saw a lot of enthusiasm from the Soldiers," said Zwirner. "I saw a lot of creative horses out there."

There was a lot of excitement during the last race where the spectators intently listened to the announcer's narration of the race and telling what section was taking the lead, but in the end, there was only one winner.

"It was pretty hot and rough," said Sgt. George Martinez, the winner of the "Kentucky Derby." Martinez is a native of Los Angeles and serves as the assistant battle captain with the division engineers office.

Martinez said his strategy to win the race was to change horses at the last minute. He paraded around with a big, stylish horse, but just before race time, he changed it for a swifter, lighter breed..

"It surprised everybody when I came out with the other horse," said Martinez. "Everybody thought we were going to race with the big horse and have the disadvantage, but we actually came in the lead and won the race."

Martinez said the big horse was rough to "gallop" with and, for that reason, he hid the lighter horse between the head of the bigger one.

"It was a pretty big event today," said Martinez. "It got everybody taking their minds out of their busy daily schedules to come out here and have some fun and enjoy our time in Iraq because we don't get a lot of that here."

To conclude the event, the winner of the "Kentucky Derby" was brought to the "Winners Circle" and the winning horse was presented with a wreath. Although, this was just a celebration of the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby, the Soldiers who participated will always be able to say, "I was once a jockey, and I ran the Kentucky Derby – in Iraq."

• Date Taken: 05.03.2008
• Date Posted: 05.03.2008 20:11
• Story ID: 19078
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ