Song of the Day 5/2: Dan Fogelberg, “Run for the Roses”
For decades, the first weekend in May has been circled on the calendars of Delaware’s horse racing fans. The Kentucky Derby is always run on the first Saturday of the month (pandemic years excepted), with Winterthur’s Point-to-Point races held the next day. Alas, Winterthur has put its steeplechase races on hiatus, perhaps permanently, but Churchill Downs is still going strong. The 152nd edition of the race will start at about 6:57 p.m.
I knew soft-rock stalwart Don Fogelberg wrote “Run for the Roses” about the Kentucky Derby, but I didn’t realize it was commissioned by ABC to air during its coverage of the 1980 race. Fogelberg said it was one of the quickest songs he ever completed – he wrote it in two days and recorded in two more.
It was included on Fogelberg’s album “The Innocent Age” the next year. Released as a single in 1982, it reached No. 18 on the Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Nice song, but it’s always bugged me that this horse was supposedly born in “Western Kentucky.” As a Kentuckian and horse racing fan I have to point out that horses are born in the bluegrass country of *central” Kentucky. It would have been so easy to say that. The Derby is in Louisville, 70 miles west but still very far from western Kentucky. I’m not sure what they do out there, but it’s not horses. Maybe grow tobacco. Speaking of the Derby, don’t sleep on Chief Wallabee.
This is a lovely song, about beautiful thoroughbred/Standardbed, all horses for all different journeys! I have owned and bread my lovely master, Jesse’s dark secret. She was a third generation foal from ‘big red.’
I had BRED her to a Dutch warm blood stallion, Sebastian’s. My foal was named Inspekteur General . He was 18’1 hh, taller than his great grandfather. But he had the heart, the will, personality, athletic ability, size that you knew came from my Mare, Jessie. He was murdered at nine years old because of the competition. It breaks my heart to this day. I see him running in the field in my dreams throughout the nights.
Whether this song is about Secretariat or a wonderful backyard horse for your child, it is a loving song, giving beautiful tribute to all of the horses around the world. RIP ‘Big Red’!
🏇🥀🌹💥🍎♥️
Nathan, you are either an idiot or a super idiot to see the artistic lyrics of this most beautiful, touching, heart wrenching song. It’s not just about one horse, it is about All horses! Either you or so stupid or so COLD! God has a place for you and it’s not heaven.
I am so upset about the stupidity of this person that my spelling was off as well as dictation. I use dictation for all of my texts. But this response from Nathan just blew my mind! I have been in horses since I have been seven years old and to this day at 68 years old, I still own a horse! Nathan, you will never, NEVER GET IT!! I feel sorry for you and your life
I’ll go with “super idiot.”
But I think you’re overreacting. All I said is that they breed horses in central Kentucky and not western Kentucky. I also said it’s a nice song. I’m moved by it, but the geographical flaw still bothers me. It’s not a sacred text.
I admire your love of horses. I love horses too, but I guess not with the same intensity and I’m not around them much. But I have visited Hall of Famers Seattle Slew and John Henry at their stalls and the great Kelso in his field after he retired. John Henry’s trainer told me to be alert around him because he likes to bite. He spared me.
I’m sorry my comment made you feel bad.