[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             KENTUCKY DERBY

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, even people who don't follow horse 
racing, and certainly those who do, have been thunderstruck by this 
year's Kentucky Derby results. The only reason I mention it is that the 
horse wearing the blanket of roses this year is a gelding from New 
Mexico. ``Mine That Bird'' swept the field on Saturday, coming from so 
far behind he was last, to win with nearly seven lengths separating him 
from his nearest competitor.
  We have seen his trainer, Bennie ``Chip'' Woolley, and his owners, 
Mark Allen and Leonard Blach, talk about this remarkable victory and 
about the outstanding jockey, Calvin Borel. He took his horse from last 
to first by the shortest route possible--along the rail. It was a 
masterful display of ability and skill from all involved, not least the 
horse, and New Mexicans are delighted that our state is home to this 
year's Derby winner. It is a first for us.

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