Churchill Downs is the epicenter of Kentucky’s equine heritage and the most storied racetrack in the world. More than a thousand workers come to the backside of Churchill Downs on any given day during a meet. Before sunrise, seven days a week, stable hands, hot walkers, grooms, outriders, jockeys, and more tend to the well-being of the horses and the track. Most will never stand in the winner’s circle, but, every year, like clockwork, a handful of stories are written about these workers in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby. The invaluable support they provide the racing industry is justly highlighted, and for a brief moment, their faces grace the folds of the newspaper, and their voices and stories are heard. Like the Derby itself, though, this focus is fleeting. It’s over as soon as it has begun.

Sometimes, slower is better.