Tulsans Bet On Kentucky Derby

TULSA, OK -- Fast horses and big money! It's the 135th Run for the Roses and some Tulsans are joining in on the racing fun from Green Country.

A bit of the Bluegrass State was served up Saturday in Tulsa. With the big booklets, tiny pieces of paper and mounds of money, there was one goal in mind:

"Trying to win some money," said Susan Dare, a race fan. "It's as simple as that."

Simply put, it's Derby Day at Fair Meadows, where the horse-shaped ice sculpture was sweating in anticipation of the year's biggest race.

"This is the kind of day where you might want to come out and play your birthday, your street address, something like that and just try to get lucky," said Richard Linihan of Fair Meadows.

Perhaps the best bettering name belonged to Susan Dare - she's not afraid to throw down a few dollars on her family's favorite horse race.

"It's just a very special thing. It's a very special horse race," Dare said.

The Run for the Roses comes down to betting big bucks. Fair Meadows estimates $500,000 is put down on the day of the Kentucky Derby.

"Probably the goal of anyone is you want to collect a big pot of money. If you get a real big one, you get a little bit of cash and a check on top of it," said race fan Jim Trickett.

If you don't cash in, you can always settle for a mint julep straight out of the horse-shaped ice sculpture.

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