Scholars, spectators describe the thrill of the Kentucky Derby through the eyes of a thoroughbred

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- This is not exactly coming from the horse's mouth. They can't speak, with the exception of "Mr. Ed."

However, spectators, specialists and scholars who study the animals have a pretty good idea about what thoroughbreds are thinking as they round the first turn headed for glory.

"I think it would just be thinking about winning," said Tyler Harwell, a horse racing fan.

Many equine scientists agree the will to win is there, from the horse's time on the farm until they're running for the roses.

That's regardless of the hurdles along the way.

"Some horses really like to run in certain conditions," said Jessica Whitehead, curator of collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum

Race horses can encounter anything.

"In 1989, it was flurrying a little bit in the morning of the Kentucky Derby," Whitehead said.

Rain, and plenty of mud is also a possibility.

"So you have some horses, like the first Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton," Whitehead said. "He was really good at running in the mud."

Staying out of it can also be a driving force for a horse. Those who know American Pharoah best say he hated getting dirt on his face. When the Preakness was muddy, back in 2015, American Pharoah was the only thoroughbred who didn't have a dirty face. He smoked the competition, and that wasn't just a coincidence.

The last turn can be the worst.

"The sound that they make, the roar of the crowd is so loud that it creates something that they call the wall," Whitehead said.

It doesn't matter how many races they've been in. There's no sound larger than that of the last seconds of the Kentucky Derby.

"Sometimes, they can react very viscerally," Whitehead added.

Then it's one last push, one big finish. If the winner's circle isn't in the cards, it's back to the barn.

"They might want to take a nice bath, spa day," said Artem Guz, a tourist at Churchill Downs.

Back to being a horse during a day that was far from just hay and carrots.

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