As you might have heard by now, long-shot Animal Kingdom stormed from behind on the front stretch to win this year's running of the Kentucky Derby. I don't pay much attention to horse racing, despite my family's Kentucky roots. So when I read about Animal Kingdom's triumph, I joined many theme park fans around the country in slapping my forehand and exclaiming, "I totally would have bet a couple bucks on that horse if I'd known."
As usual, other Theme Park Insider readers are smarter than I am. I asked on our Facebook page if anyone had won on Animal Kingdom:
"Me! Me! Haven't turned my ticket in yet (we're still at the track) but I bet a whopping $3 to win, and I believe I won in the realm of 70 bucks. Woo!""Won $109. Also bet it in a trifecta with Mucho Macho Man (in honor of Randy Savage) and Stay Thirsty (because I'm a drunk.) 2 out of 3. Would have won over $10,000! Haha."
The Walt Disney World Resort posted its congratulations to the horse via its Facebook page: "We love the name!" No kidding. For what it's worth, the horse is not owned by or affiliated with Disney. But that doesn't make it any less of a sentimental favorite now for theme park fans with two bucks (or more) to risk when the horse runs the Preakness Stakes in a couple weeks.
In case you are wondering if any other thoroughbreds have shared names with theme parks, the answer is 'yes.' A few quick searches on pedigreequery.com revealed race horses with the following names:
No horses named the following, though:
Epcot lost because he kept stopping for drinks on his way around the circuit.
Any more?
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