More Dory's Stories

Two Derby Jackpots

When the odds are high, and you think you can’t win, Be careful that you don’t let fear set in.

D.J. DeSai

It wasn’t just an ordinary day in Louisville, Kentucky. It was Derby Day, and I could feel the excitement soaring in the air. Everyone seemed to be in a great mood as people crowded into the city in cars, trucks, buses, and planes. I could also see folks walking on almost every street.

As much as I hated going to work that day, I had to. I needed the money and the business I worked for needed me. Needless to say, I would not be going to the Derby, but I would be sure to watch the big race on television that afternoon when I arrived home.

That day at work, my boss, Alex, cut out some small pieces of paper from the daily newspaper. Then he carefully folded them all up, and dropped them into a small plastic glass. This would become his Derby jackpot. Usually, there would be around twenty horses’ names in the pot. The jackpot was a tradition every year at the business, and I was so glad because this was something I looked forward to. Since I couldn’t go to the Derby, drawing a horse to pull for was the next best thing.

After a few of the customers and employees had drawn a horse, Alex brought the glass over for me to draw one. I paid my dollar to him, and then slowly pulled one piece of paper out. I unfolded the paper and looked at my horses’ name and wondered how I should pronounce it. This is an unusual name, I thought to myself. The first words that came out of my mouth were, “Oh no! I’ve never heard of this horse before.” Anyone could have seen the excitement in my face suddenly fade away. I was so disappointed in my draw. I glanced at my co-workers and said, “Gee! I must have drawn a very bad horse.” Everyone started laughing at my comment. It may have been funny to them, but not to me. I wished I could draw another one, but I didn’t want to be a horse hog. There were still other people who would probably want to draw before the day was over. I was quick to tell Alex that if there were any left over, I wanted to buy another one. Alex grinned and said, “Yes, Dory, I will keep that in mind.”

A few minutes later, Jack, one of my regular customers came in. While I was talking to him, he saw one of the other co-workers draw a ticket from the jackpot. Jack asked me if he could draw one out, too. I told him yes. I walked over and asked Alex if there were any tickets left. He told me he had one more left in the glass. I took the glass to my client, put his dollar bill in the envelope and let him draw out the last ticket. I watched as Jack opened up his paper. “Wow! I drew the favorite horse pick of the race!” Jack yelled. I half-way grinned at my client and said, “Good for you.” I was happy for Jack, but sad for myself. I hated the horse I had drawn out of the jackpot, but there was nothing I could do about it. There were no more tickets left.

As I stood there chatting with Jack about the horse he had drawn, I jokingly asked him if he’d like to trade with me. He laughed out loud and said, “Yeah, right!” I courteously laughed back, still wishing I could have drawn one of the better choices of horses in the big Derby race. Anxiously, I yelled out to all my other co-workers, asking if anyone else wanted to trade with me. No one volunteered. They all started laughing at me again, making big fun of the horse I had drawn. I decided I’d be better off to just keep quiet the rest of the day. I didn’t want to be teased anymore.

Finally, the work day was over, and I headed for home. I walked through the door about an hour before the Derby race was to be televised. After I changed my clothes and was getting ready to turn on the television, I heard my phone ring. When I answered it, I heard Beth, my mother-inlaw on the other end. Beth said hello to me and asked me how my day was going. I told her it was just okay, and that I was getting ready to watch the big horse race. She told me she was doing the same thing. She went on to say that she had made a Derby jackpot earlier, and asked me if I would like for her to draw a ticket out for me. Beth told me she only had one left. She also told me if I wanted one, she would put my dollar in the pot and I could pay her for it later.

Suddenly, I became so excited! “Yes!” I screamed. “I’d love one!” Beth laughed out loud and said, “Okay, Dory. Let me open this up and see which horse is yours.” I sat there silently waiting for what I was hoping to be one of the favorite horse picks in the race. Just maybe I will get lucky this time, I thought. Beth said, “Alright, Dory. Your horse is named Ferdinand.” “Oh my,” I sighed, feeling so much disappointment. “That’s the same horse I drew out of the jackpot at work,” I told her. Beth just laughed at my comment, as everyone else had that day. She wished me good luck as we hung up the phones.

As more displeasure fell all over me, I would have bet a million dollars that my two jackpot draws were not worth a dime. The horse was a long shot and no one at the shop, including myself, had ever heard of him. Oh well! Maybe next year I’ll pick a better horse, I assured myself.

A little while later, I watched one of the best horse races I have ever seen in my entire life. “Oh my God! Thank you Jesus!” I shouted to the Lord. What a wonderful blessing! I thought. I watched in awe as one of the leading jockeys of all time led the horse “Ferdinand” around the race track straight to the winner’s circle. Yes, the jockey had taken the horse for a ride of a lifetime. I couldn’t believe it! The jockey led the winning horse through an unbelievable traffic. The jockey was a champ! The horse was a champ! I felt like a champ too, because, very unexpectedly, I was the proud winner of “two Derby jackpots.”