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Home : News : State Partnership Program
NEWS | May 5, 2009

Kentucky Guard supports historic Derby run

By Aaron Hiller Kentucky National Guard

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - More than 350 Kentucky National Guardsmen supported the 135th annual "Run for the Roses" here at Churchill Downs on May 2.

The Guardsmen manned traffic control points and provided security and aviation support, including two OH-58 Kiowas and a UH-60 Blackhawk, for the event.

Their main mission was to augment local and state law enforcement personnel at Churchill Downs.

A crowd of over 150,000 racing fans watched as history was made when a 50- 1 long shot named, "Mine that Bird," came from dead last at the half to win the "fastest two minutes in sports" by 6 3/4 lengths in a field of 19 horses.