Here’s a few random “Thoughts of the Day,” and the newest addition to the “Muck Pit:”

How About A New College Power Conference:

Dating all the way back to when I was a kid — and that was some time ago for this 70 year old brain and body — I have thought that the Southeastern Conference has never truly appreciated the value of what the University of Kentucky has brought the group.

The history of the Kentucky basketball team dates back to the beginning of the sport and the banners that drape the ceiling of Rupp Arena tell the story of those dynamic credentials. Before Bear Bryant brought prominence to football in the South and to Alabama, in particular, he was strolling the sidelines of old Stoll Field in Lexington. Adolph Rupp, one of the most renowned basketball coaches in the history of the sport, roamed the court in Lexington, too.

To be honest, it was Kentucky that first brought honor and honors to the fledgling and, sometimes, struggling conference. And, to be honest, it has been Kentucky that has carried that flag for much of its’ history.

But today the SEC — in all of its’ glory and hierarchy that is bestowed on the oft-arrogant Greg Sankey — this conference seems to take every chance it can get to almost spit in the face of the one University that once saved this league.

How else do you explain that the conference continues to ignore serious concerns of objectivity and to assign one of college basketball’s most deficient, self-promoting, and obnoxious referees, Doug Shows, to ever important Kentucky basketball game in the past decade?

How else do you explain that the University of Kentucky — which is still trying to recover from the exit of Coach Bryant from the football program decades ago — continues to be assigned one of the most difficult and trying schedules in the entire conference? Granted there are no easy teams or games in the SEC these days. But the schedule the league office gives Kentucky? Truly unfair. Truly.

How else do you explain how the SEC league office completely ignores the United State’s Constitution’s protection and guarantee for freedom of speech and fines Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope for rightfully calling out the officials inadequacies in the Kentucky loss to Auburn, but does zero when the University of Florida coach, Todd Golden, attempts to incite anger, animosity and potential altercations with his actions on and off the court?

How else do you explain how Sankey sits idly when the University of Alabama goes out at midseason and recruits a player from the National Basketball Association and the league Commissioner knows that the school gains an advantage over other league schools with a player who is likely to be declared ineligible in a college game? Does the league require the University of Alabama to forfeit the games that player actually played this year and made a difference?

How else do you explain how Sankey sits idly, again, while Alabama basketball coach, Nate Oats, attempts to lobby for a player just arrested this weekend for allegedly conducting an illegal drug activity?

There is an answer to these questions if the University of Kentucky would take some initiative to resolve. Maybe.

In an era when basketball and football coaches switch schools inside the same league for the sake of an additional 50 pieces of silver, and players transfer every 6 months (or is it 6 days?) for whatever reason du jour, why doesn’t the University of Kentucky look to create a Conference that is better suited to treat it more fairly and appropriately.

How about a new super power Conference that could — potentially — include the likes to these 10 regional universities:

  1. Kentucky
  2. Louisville
  3. Ohio State
  4. Cincinnati
  5. Tennessee
  6. Vanderbilt
  7. Indiana
  8. Purdue
  9. West Virginia

And, how about a little drum roll please…

10. Notre Dame

Now, before you take off on me as being a possible customer of Alabama’s basketball player Aden Holloway or a lot delusional, just think about it for a second.

Greg Sankey seemingly spends every waking second of his very life thinking about the next power school he would like to steal. Oklahoma and Texas are now old news. Texas A&M and Missouri are no longer big tickets. Sankey needs a fix. (I can give you the name of a Alabama basketball all player, if you wish?)

The Atlantic Coast Conference now has schools that are actually located on the Pacific Coast.

The Big 10 Conference countered Sankey with stealing USC, USC, Oregon and Washington.

The story of how Notre Dame was screwed over this year in the college football playoffs is legendary.

Why not create a new Conference here? Headquartered in the Midwest. With super buying powers on both national TV and radio, but also about to raise the kind of money that it takes in this new era of NIL and Transfer Portal. A conference that is focused on creating the best for its’ individual members with a pledge that it will never try to expand and ruin another league by simply pilfering its’ members.

The University of Kentucky is now looking for a new Athletic Director. Why not look for one that has a vision of a new future; of a new conference; of a new tomorrow.

Maybe, just maybe, then Greg Sankey will remember that the University of Kentucky deserves better than what it is currently getting.

Maybe.

Speaking of Major Changes … Is Bob Baffert Moving The Majority of His Barn Operation to Kentucky?

I must admit that I don’t know any facts, at this time, but I feel the air moving and the sounds of distant drums that are getting louder by the day.

Let’s put it this way…

I’ll put this in the form of a prediction. And, one that I must admit makes me fight back a gag reflex.

But…here we go…

I don’t think it is out of the question — like it used to be on the heals of Medina Spirit’s disqualification from winning the Kentucky Derby due to a bad test result and Baffert’s subsequent ban from the grounds of the legendary Churchill Downs — that the once and recently beleaguered Hall of Fame trainer may be considering a major move of the vast majority of his strong stable to Kentucky.

And, by Kentucky, I mean Churchill Downs.

How do you like that Belinda Stronach, the lady who has nearly single-handily ruined Thoroughbred racing in Florida, California and Maryland?

If Baffert does, in fact, vacate Santa Anita and heads East, it will certainly put a serious strain on the West Coast’s racing fortunes.

Stay tuned.

News could be coming soon.

Jeff Ruby Steaks Coming to Turfway Park; Louisiana Derby At the Fair Grounds This Saturday…

I have not gotten to by Saturday handicapping yet, but I will tease you just a little bit with my early favs for each of these significant preps for this year’s Kentucky Derby:

Take note that Irad Ortiz, Jr. is coming to Northern Kentucky this Saturday to gain the mount on Fulleffort, a 3YO trained by Brad Cox. This horse may have been the best in the John Battaglia Stakes about a month ago, but didn’t get the easiest or best of trips. Ortiz will give this horse a big chance.

Take note that Golden Tempo returns to the Fair Grounds this Saturday and may get overlooked in the betting pools. He ran a well-beaten third in the G2 Risen Star in his previous start. But? But he had absolutely no chance in that event. This horse is a true “closer,” and he needs a bit of forward pace to soften up the speed variety. He didn’t get that scenario in the Risen Star. He could get that plan unfolded this Saturday. If he does? Watch out.

Just my early thoughts.

Of the Day.