Improbable Luck's Journey

Improbable Luck has arrived at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. He now resides in the barn of trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

While leaving Rebecca Maker’s farm, the colt was calm and serene (check out video below). But when he arrives to Churchill Downs, he is a little freaked out and he is wearing bandages on his shins and funny boots. You are witnessing a major moment in Improbable Luck’s life, and we want you to get a deeper dive!

To better understand all of this, we spoke to the colt’s majority owner, Ken Myles.

Should people be concerned that Improbable Luck is anxious walking out of the van at Churchill Downs?
No. That’s natural. Picture your son going to his first day of school. He is fine with it when his mom is holding his hand, right up until the point when he gets to school. Suddenly, he presents a very different demeanor when she drops him off. It’s no different with the horse. They are emotional and sensitive, but they’ll quickly get acclimated.

Can you talk about the bandages on his legs?
Those are actually just wraps and not bandages. They protect Improbable Luck from accidentally hurting himself. If he gets riled up in the trailer and accidentally kicks himself, he can hurt his shins. Cuts on the leg of a horse may be very dangerous. They don’t have a lot of blood flow to their lower extremities. Those wraps are just precautions.

And what about those funny little boots?
He’s wearing protective hoofs. It’s so he doesn’t hurt himself or get nicked in transportation.

Any last thoughts?
This is just the start of his journey. I can’t wait to see how he performs the first time he goes into a starting gate or when he learns how to stand next to other horses at the starting gate. Or when we get to see him run in his first race.

They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. These steps on and off the trailer were some of Improbable Luck’s biggest. More big steps to come!