Heart recipient has horse in Kentucky Derby

Horse racing and soccer are two sports I don't usually follow. It's not because I don't like them or have something against them. They've just never really been on my "radar." I'm more into auto racing and football. However, Saturday's running of The 137th Kentucky Derby has the potential to be something special. It's one horse race I will have to watch.

Kathy Ritvo is the trainer of one of the horses that will compete in The Derby on Saturday. The horse's name is Mucho Macho Man (sounds like a good name for a pro wrestler or rap artist). Ritvo is fortunate to be alive to see her horse compete in The Derby. She underwent a heart transplant back in November 2008 after battling cardiomyopathy for years. She made it known before her transplant that she couldn't wait to get back to the track. Now, she has her chance.

Kathy will be the first to tell you that this Derby is more than just a horse race. She is hoping that all the media coverage surrounding her and her story will shed a positive light on organ donation. Her hope is that people will be encouraged to register as organ donors and that people presently waiting on transplants will be uplifted and encouraged.

Kathy has invited her cardiologist to attend The Derby. In addition to him, there will be millions of others watching and pulling for Mucho Macho Man. The race is scheduled to start at 6:24 PM EDT and will be broadcast live on NBC. The question is - will Mucho Macho Man be "The Man ?" We will find out Saturday.

Source : Courier-Journal.com article titled Eric Crawford - Mucho Macho Man Trainer Champions the Need for Organ Donation

Related articles

• 2011 Kentucky Derby: 8 Reasons Why This Is America's Favorite Horse Race (bleacherreport.com)
• 2011 Kentucky Derby Post Position Draw: When Is It, And Why Does It Matter? (sbnation.com)
• Kentucky Derby 2011 Contenders: Pants On Fire, Whose Owners Are INSANE (sbnation.com)
• Kentucky Derby 2011: Contender Toby's Corner out for Kentucky Derby (bleacherreport.com)
• Kentucky Derby 2011: Watch Me Go's Trainer Could Make History at the Derby (bleacherreport.com)
• 2011 Kentucky Derby Favorites: Looking at the Two Favorites for the 2011 Derby (bleacherreport.com)
• 2011 Kentucky Derby Odds: Is Uncle Mo No Longer Kentucky Derby Favorite? (bleacherreport.com)

Another Rainy Music Monday

The Sheepdog's May Music Mondays will be a little different. All the music videos will be from the same artist. The artist will be Queensryche, and I'll highlight their 1990 album Empire.

Queensryche released Empire in August of 1990 after recording it in May of that year. That's 21 years ago this spring. It quickly became the band's best selling album to date and several singles from the album received substantial airplay on the radio, VH1, and MTV. The album even earned Queensryche a Grammy nomination.

I'm gonna kick off the month's worth of Queensryche with a double shot of the band's music from Empire. Since, the weather today here in Tennessee is rainy and dreary, I'll start it with "Another Rainy Night." Then, since a day like today often makes a person feel droopy and in need of a nap, I'll follow it up with the only number one song from Empire - "Silent Lucidity" which is a song about dreams.

Some of you may have never heard of Queensryche. So, May will provide an opportunity to familiarize yourself with not only a different band but also a new genre of music as well. Queensryche is often described as "Progressive Metal," and it's music often contains a message. If you listen carefully to the lyrics as we go through the month, the messages in some of the songs will become apparent. Enjoy.





(My e-mail subscribers and others can also view the videos by clicking here.)

Related articles

• Queensrÿche: Dedicated to Chaos (jambase.com)
• QUEENSRŸCHE - New Album Artwork Revealed (bravewords.com)
• QUEENSRŸCHE Reveal New Album Title; New Clips Available For New Psychological Thriller The Burningmoore Incident Staring Singer Geoff Tate (bravewords.com)