DURHAM -- The first Saturday in May has always belonged to Churchill Downs, just as it did on May 5, 1956 when a bay colt named Needles emerged from deep in the pack and stormed down the home stretch to win the 82nd running of the Kentucky Derby in astonishing fashion.
On this particular Saturday, though, astonishing speed ruled from coast to coast in America, as the greatest two minutes in sports was bracketed neatly by a pair of fleet human feats that required twice, and half, the stop-watch time posted by the thoroughbred champion.