As I was having to practically walk sideways all day at last Saturday’s Bluegrass Stakes, I texted Natalie and said, “This has to be the biggest crowd that I’ve ever seen at Keeneland. Turns out it was! 40,617 people set a new attendance record. I think at least 40,599 of them were there to see the horse Hansen, The Great White Hope, along with his entourage that included the Hansen Girls. Hansen left me thinking… is this a horse or ZZ Top with all the girls and hoopla?

Hansen created drama at the track long before the race, when his caregivers dipped half of his tail in blue dye, representing the team colors. Keeneland officials put a snaffoo on that, and the Hansen group scrambled to uncolor his tail.

In the end, Dullahan came from behind and beat Hansen in the last furlong, with an equally large group of owners.

The Kentucky Derby runs  in a couple of  weeks. I hope that Hansen and Dullahan provide us with another close finish.

Dr. Kendall Hansen, owner of Hansen, the Bluegrass Stakes favorite, looks at his horse in Keeneland’s paddock before the race.

The Hansen Girls, left to right, Laurie Weber, Jill Lockwood, and Brittany Crank, worked the crowd in the paddock, for Hansen, the favorite going into the Bluegrass Stakes.

Hansen warms up in Keeneland’s paddock before the Bluegrass Stakes, while his owner Dr. Kendall Hansen and the Hansen Girls pose for photos.

At the end of the day, it was Dullhallan and Kent Desormeaux, that stole the show by catching Hansen in the last furlong.

Dullahan warms up in Keeneland’s paddock before winning the Bluegrass Stakes.

Members of the Donegal Racing group celebrate in the winners circle after Dullahan beats Hansen to win the Bluegrass Stakes race at Keeneland.

Members of the Donegal Racing group celebrate in the winners circle after Dullahan beats Hansen to win the Bluegrass Stakes race at Keeneland.

Winning jockey Kent Desormeaux walks the media through a replay of the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland after Dullahan beats favorite Hansen.