Wunderry Plus subscribers can listen to USA Today's The Excerpt, ad free right now.

Join Wunderry Plus in the Wundery app.

Hello and

this is a special episode of the excerpt.

And this is a special episode of the excerpt.

In two short days we are officially off to the races. The gates at the iconic Kentucky Derby will officially open May 4th marking its 150th anniversary.

The storied American tradition features horses with braided tales, jockeys and silk shirts,

festive ladies hats, and the signature mint julp at the historic Churchill Downs Racetrack.

The annual run for the Rose's race is the longest continually held sporting event in North America.

Last year the race was mired in controversy after several

horses died in the preceding weeks. Will this year's race be less contentious,

more exciting? What will we all be talking about come Saturday?

Courier-Journal Sports reporter Jason Frakes and Lifestyle reporter Kirby Adams

now join us to dig into all of it.

Thanks for joining me, Jason and Kirby.

Thanks for having us.

Thank you, happy Derby.

Okay, let's get right to it, Jason.

You've been covering the Derby now for 18 years.

Last year's race had a huge cloud hanging over it with 12 horse

fatalities in the days and weeks leading up to the race. That kicked off an

investigation as to whether something about the track at Churchill Downs was to blame.

...