Kentucky Derby 2017: One-eyed Patch aiming for glory in $2.4 million race
Story highlights
- One-eyed Patch racing in Kentucky Derby
- Race has purse of $2.4 million
(CNN)When three-year-old thoroughbred Patch takes to the starting gate at this year's Kentucky Derby Saturday, many people -- be it in the stands or watching on TV -- probably won't be aware that this is a very special horse.
At the left-hand side of Patch's head is a dark hole -- about the size of a golf ball -- where his eye used to be.
As a two-year-old, Patch developed an ulcer in his left eye that, despite the best possible medical care, didn't respond to treatment.
Eventually, in June 2016, the colt had his eye removed after trainer Todd Pletcher decided nothing more could be done to save it.
Recovery
Trevor Breen rode one-eyed showjumper Adventure De Kannan to victory
in the 2014 Hickstead Derby and he says the adaption for a horse after losing an eye is more of a mental than a physical one.
in the 2014 Hickstead Derby and he says the adaption for a horse after losing an eye is more of a mental than a physical one.
"I think the heart, mind and attitude of the horse are big factors in the
recovery," Breen told CNN. "The first thing is the obvious one really,
they've just got to come to terms with it.
recovery," Breen told CNN. "The first thing is the obvious one really,
they've just got to come to terms with it.
"What they used to be able to see,
they now can't. Horses are very
good at adapting and I think they
sometimes deserve a lot more
credit than we give them.
they now can't. Horses are very
good at adapting and I think they
sometimes deserve a lot more
credit than we give them.
"The key to it all is the mind of the
horse. If they have a really good
attitude and that they want to do the
job that you want them to do, then
they'll find a way to do it."
horse. If they have a really good
attitude and that they want to do the
job that you want them to do, then
they'll find a way to do it."
Patch, who was coincidentally given his name before losing an eye, is
ranked as an outside -- but not impossible -- 30-1 shot along with three
other horses.
ranked as an outside -- but not impossible -- 30-1 shot along with three
other horses.
Two other runners, Fast and Accurate and Sonneteer are given odds of
50-1.
50-1.
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The 2016 Kentucky Derby was won by pre-race favorite Nyquist (center), ridden by Mario Gutierrez.
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Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
Nyquist, now retired from racing, gets a very public bath after last year's triumph.
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Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The Kentucky Derby is known to attract famous faces, such as world champion skier Lindsey Vonn.
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Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The event, like so many other horse races, has a reputation for attracting weird and wonderful head gear.
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Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
One of the favorites for the 2017 race, Classic Empire, trains ahead of this year's race.
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Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
Kentucky Derby entrant Patch, which lost its left eye last year, is bathed during morning workouts ahead of the 143rd Kentucky Derby.
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Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The Kentucky Derby, held at Churchill Downs, Louisville, welcomed 167,000
spectators in 2016, just 3,000 short of the previous year's record.
spectators in 2016, just 3,000 short of the previous year's record.
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1 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The one and a quarter mile race is one of the highlights of the racing calendar, and has been referred to as "the most exciting two minutes in sports."
Hide Caption
2 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
This year sees the 143rd edition of the race, where jockeys will compete for a $2.4 million purse.
Hide Caption
3 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of three thoroughbred races -- the Triple Crown -- and is run ahead of the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. In 2015, American Pharoah became just the12th horse to win that coveted Triple Crown.
Hide Caption
4 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby in 2014 and came close to winning the Triple Crown but fell short at Belmont.
Hide Caption
5 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The 2016 Kentucky Derby was won by pre-race favorite Nyquist (center), ridden by Mario Gutierrez.
Hide Caption
6 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
Nyquist, now retired from racing, gets a very public bath after last year's triumph.
Hide Caption
7 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The Kentucky Derby is known to attract famous faces, such as world champion skier Lindsey Vonn.
Hide Caption
8 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The event, like so many other horse races, has a reputation for attracting weird and wonderful head gear.
Hide Caption
9 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
One of the favorites for the 2017 race, Classic Empire, trains ahead of this year's race.
Hide Caption
10 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
Kentucky Derby entrant Patch, which lost its left eye last year, is bathed during morning workouts ahead of the 143rd Kentucky Derby.
Hide Caption
11 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The Kentucky Derby, held at Churchill Downs, Louisville, welcomed 167,000 spectators in 2016, just 3,000 short of the previous year's record.
Hide Caption
1 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The one and a quarter mile race is one of the highlights of the racing calendar, and has been referred to as "the most exciting two minutes in sports."
Hide Caption
2 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
This year sees the 143rd edition of the race, where jockeys will compete for a $2.4 million purse.
Hide Caption
3 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of three thoroughbred races -- the Triple Crown -- and is run ahead of the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. In 2015, American Pharoah became just the12th horse to win that coveted Triple Crown.
Hide Caption
4 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby in 2014 and came close to winning the Triple Crown but fell short at Belmont.
Hide Caption
5 of 11
Photos: The most exciting two minutes in sports?
The 2016 Kentucky Derby was won by pre-race favorite Nyquist (center), ridden by Mario Gutierrez.
Hide Caption
6 of 11
Rewinding the clock
Breen is eager to stress that every horse is different and although
Adventure De Kannan seamlessly transitioned from two eyes to one,
that might not be the case for other horses.
Adventure De Kannan seamlessly transitioned from two eyes to one,
that might not be the case for other horses.
Both Adventure De Kannan and Patch suffered from eye ulcers, meaning
the gradual decline of sight in one eye made the post-operation transition
more manageable.
the gradual decline of sight in one eye made the post-operation transition
more manageable.
Before Adventure De Kannan lost his eye, Breen says he had been
trying, unsuccessfully, to win the Hickstead Derby -- considered one
of the premier events of the equestrian calendar -- for four years.
trying, unsuccessfully, to win the Hickstead Derby -- considered one
of the premier events of the equestrian calendar -- for four years.
Then he and Adventure De Kannan -- less than a year after having the
eye removed -- claimed the title for the first time.
eye removed -- claimed the title for the first time.
"When we took the eye out it was like I rewound the clock about three
or four years," Breen recalls. "He got cheeky again, he was like a new
person.
or four years," Breen recalls. "He got cheeky again, he was like a new
person.
"He was such a good-natured horse, he'd never let you know he was
depressed. But it must have been affecting him and as soon as we
took it out, he was in super form straight away.
depressed. But it must have been affecting him and as soon as we
took it out, he was in super form straight away.
"He had a cheekiness and a swagger about him. He was definitely
better after the eye went out. You think with yourself, if you have a
pain in one place all the time you'd be nearly going through depression."
better after the eye went out. You think with yourself, if you have a
pain in one place all the time you'd be nearly going through depression."
Upsetting the odds
Though showjumping and flat racing are different disciplines entirely,
parallels can be drawn between the recovery procees of both Adventure
De Kannan and Patch.
parallels can be drawn between the recovery procees of both Adventure
De Kannan and Patch.
And after overcoming considerable
odds to reach America's $2.4
million race, don't bet against
Patch doing it again on Saturday.
odds to reach America's $2.4
million race, don't bet against
Patch doing it again on Saturday.
"It's a credit to him and his
professionalism that he was able
to adapt so seamlessly to it,"
his trainer Pletcher told Reuters.
professionalism that he was able
to adapt so seamlessly to it,"
his trainer Pletcher told Reuters.
"I was concerned that it might
compromise his ability in some
way or the way he carried himself. I guess you don't know for sure but
it certainly doesn't seem like it has."
compromise his ability in some
way or the way he carried himself. I guess you don't know for sure but
it certainly doesn't seem like it has."
"He's a remarkable horse to lose his left eye in the middle of last summer
and recover as quickly as he did. It seems to never faze him."
and recover as quickly as he did. It seems to never faze him."
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