Queen of Sports

Jockey Found Dead In Louisville

Michael Baze, who came from a family with deep roots in thoroughbred racing, was found dead in his car on Tuesday afternoon in a parking lot at Churchill Downs where the Kentucky Derby was held last weekend in Louisville. The 24-year-old once rode the horse that took 2nd place in the Kentucky Derby. Baze had 918 wins in his career and purse earnings of $32.4 million. While foul play is not suspected in his death, stories of the jockey’s troubled past seem to point to a possible overdose. An autopsy has been planned.

According to reports, Baze had been out drinking the night before and had an appointment with his agent at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning. Baze was meeting with his agent and trainers to find a new mount. He had recently lost a mount after showing up drunk and registering with a blood-alcohol level of 1.8. He was also scheduled to appear in court on a cocaine charge later in the week.

Actress Teams Up With Grey Goose To Wear Hat Benefitting Diabetes Research To Kentucky Derby

Actress Paula Patton, who was recently named as one of People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful People 2011,” and can be seen in “Jumping the Broom” which out in theaters this weekend, has joined forces with Grey Goose Vodka to wear a specially-designed hat to the Kentucky Derby. The one-of-a-kind hat, which will be designed by milliner Louise Green and worn by Patton at the derby, will later be autographed by the actress and milliner and auctioned off through charitybuzz.com. All of the proceeds from the auction will benefit The Barnstable-Brown Foundation in support of diabetes research. Bidding begins today and ends May 17.

In honor of the Kentucky Derby, Grey Goose also created the L’Orange Thoroughbred cocktail which would be a great addition to a Kentucky Derby celebration:

Grey Goose® L’Orange Thoroughbred Cocktail
(Makes two drinks)

Ingredients

• 3 parts Grey Goose® L’Orange flavored vodka
• 2 parts peach brandy
• 2 parts southern sweet iced tea
• 2 parts fresh lime juice
• 2 rose petals for garnish
• CHAMBORD liqueur for floating

Add first ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.  Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat.  Strain into two rocks glasses filled with crushed ice; pour CHAMBORD so that it floats on top of the drink.  Garnish with rose petals.

Photos: via Charitybuzz.com and PR Newswire

Sports Date Of The Week: Kentucky Derby

Get out your big hats, the Kentucky Derby is almost here! Saturday, the biggest stakes event will take place in what has come to be known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” The oldest, continuous sporting event in the United States, the Kentucky Derby has long been all about prestige and wager-making. Following that tradition, why not have a derby party with your friends, inspired by the South, or watch it somewhere while sipping on mint juleps and making friendly wagers?

Here’s some tips to get you prepared:

Firstly, like a guest at the Royal Wedding, you must have a big hat. The bigger the better! Check out our outfit inspiration below:

Next, Mint juleps are a must for the full Kentucky Derby experience. Use this recipe, a la Alton Brown:

Kentucky Derby Mint Julep

Ingredients for one cocktail

• 10 mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnishing
• 1 1/2 teaspoons superfine sugar
• Seltzer water
• Crushed ice
• 2 1/2 ounces Kentucky bourbon whiskey

Directions
Place the mint leaves in the bottom of an old-fashioned glass and top with the sugar. Muddle these together until the leaves begin to break down. Add a splash of seltzer water, fill the glass 3/4 full with crushed ice, and add the bourbon. Top with another splash of seltzer, stir, and garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

Visit the Kentucky Derby website to check out the horses racing so you can decide which horse to place a wager on! Catch the race on NBC at 2 pm PST. Enjoy!

Old Spice Guy Does SportsCenter Spot

Check out Isaiah Mustafa in a new This Is SportsCenter spot. The funny Old Spice guy stopped by the ESPN offices in Bristol, Connecticut where they filmed this impromptu commercial centered around the Kentucky Derby.

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt

Seriously, we love this guy.

*via Terez Owens

Forbes Names The Best-Dressed Athletes

Forbes has compiled its list of the best-dressed athletes. On the list: Sean Avery, David Beckham, Tom Brady, Charlotte Casiraghi, Baron Davis, Luke Donald, Chris Eubank, Roger Federer, LeBron James, Dhani Jones (pictured above), Henrrik Lundqvist, Maria Sharapova, Dwyane Wade, Venus and Serena Williams, and Kim Yuna. Some of the selections are pretty obvious: we all know Tom Brady, who is now the face of Ugg, cares a lot about how he dresses and David Beckham gets a lot of guidance from his posh wife. But who are some of the others on the list and why are they on it? We will inform you.

Sean Avery plays for the New York Rangers. Avery once interned at Vogue, writes a Style Q & A for AskMen.com, and lists his most prized fashion possession as a pair of patent leather YSL high tops. Charlotte Casraghi is the daughter of Caroline of Monaco and a competitive equestrian. She sits front-row at couture shows and has friends like Karl Lagerfeld. She was also sponsored by Gucci this year. Chris Eubank is a retired boxer whose iconic style landed him in ad campaigns for Vivienne Westwood and Versace. Henrrik Lundqvist is a goalie for the New York Rangers (he’s also Swedish if you couldn’t tell from his name). Forbes says he’s “easily the NHL’s most elegant dresser.” He never wears t-shirts and is a fan of tight pants and skinny ties. Lastly, Kim Yuna is an Olympic gold medal winning figure skater and one of the highest-earning female athletes in the world. A superstar in Korea, she supports young Korean designers and is known for her fashion-foward skating ensembles.

Derby-Winner Calvin Borel Discusses Bulimic Past

Jockey Calvin Borel who rode Super Saver to the finish line at the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago opened up to Sports Illustrated about his struggles with bulimia to keep his weight down over a 15-year period.

“I hated it so much,” Borel said. “Once I started, I couldn’t get away from it. It’s worse than taking drugs. You can’t stop. It was taking away all my energy. I hated it. Sometimes I’d be out at night with people and all I could think about was, ‘Where am I going to heave after I eat this?’ I always had it in my head.”

The jockey almost quit in 2006 from the stress of the eating disorder. After a terrible crash that left him in the hospital, Calvin was able to kick the disease and get on a healthy nutritional plan.

Calvin now starts his day with an egg and toast and has meat or fish at night along with steamed vegetables.

Calvin will ride Super Saver at the Preakness Stakes this Saturday.

Terrell Owens Visits Three Chimney Farms

NFL free agent Terrell Owens took a tour of the stallion complex Three Chimney Farms on Monday afternoon in Midway, Kentucky.

TO saw superstar horses Smarty Jones and Big Brown during his visit.

Dennis Rodman DJing at Derby Party in Louisville Tonight!

Former NBAer Dennis Rodman will be testing out his DJ skills at the Derby Pretty party tonight in Louisville at the Frazier International History Museum.

Other athletes confirmed for tonight include Green Bay packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers, New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Chris Redman and MLS’s FC Dallas goalkeeper Ray Burse Jr.

For more info, click here.

TO and Robert Horry Hosting Kentucky Derby Party

NFL free agent Terrell Owens and NBA champion Robert Horry will be hosting Fashion Lives! A Derby Vogue Affair, this Friday April 30th at the Showroom of Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in Elizabeth, Indiana.

The evening will include a fashion show and auction that highlights the stylish Derby couture. The event will be raising funds for two non-profit organizations that work to improve the day-to-day lives of children in need; Juli’s Kids Motivated to Succeed and Home of Innocents.

For more information and tickets, click here.

PETA Takes On Kentucky Derby

Animal rights organization PETA created an ad targeting the Kentucky Derby.

Unfortunately for the organization, no billboard company in Louisville accepted their ad that referred to the number of race horses who have died since Eight Belles was euthanized on the track after the 2008 Kentucky Derby.