NOT EXACTLY THE KENTUCKY DERBY BUT -

I'd say it's even better! Better than the derby, you say? Oh yes.

That is if you ignore the sounds of gunshots a few blocks away in Inglewood, the bird-poop covered seats and the beer-bellied regulars yelling profanities.

The weekly horse races at Hollywood Park (don't let the name fool you, this is definitely not Hollywood) is quite the scene. While the crowd of grungy gamblers dressed in old jeans, ketchup-stained shirts and leather jackets from 1992 are certainly not the upscale Kentucky Derby crowd of billionaire caramel-colored suit wearers next to trophy wives in Jupiter-sized hats, who said people need to dress like they're going to an Elton John party to bet on some horse races?

(Photo editors note: Cristina gets credit for wearing a long Kentucky Derby-style dress.)

And who can argue with $1 hot dogs, $1 beers (don't let the $2 beer cup fool you, the cup size is less than double of the $1 version), $2 bets and suites for $3 (however, don't let the term "suites" fool you. Those are the bird-poop covered seats I referred to earlier. Keep expectations low, and you'll never be disappointed!)?

Yes, the Hollywood Park races are an underrated spectacle of L.A. I was lucky enough to partake in the fun. I didn't do so bad either on the betting side of things. I won $12 (though I spent $20) and finally got the hang of horse betting. Always bet to win.

That's my motto - go big, or go home!

I-MISSED-THE-DERBY-SOLO-FUN-DAY

The only thing I wanted to do today was go to the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica and watch the Kentucky Derby at a sports bar. Sadly, I couldn't find ONE person who wanted to go with me. Sure I got plenty of rain checks, invites to pool parties and lunch invitations instead, but I graciously turned all offers down and finally decided I would go by myself ...

Unfortunately, by the time I got in my car it was pretty late and just as I was exiting the freeway the Kentucky Derby started - and was over 90 seconds later. So after calling people all morning I end up missing the Derby and listening to it on ESPN 710 radio instead. Such a disappointment. I've decided next year I'm going to Kentucky to make up for it.

Um, I'm just going to say it. I had NO idea how short that race was! All of the training, build-up, money, events, discussions, bets, parties, practice and preparation for 90 freaking seconds!?! What the heck! So lame. And why in the world do they need to have a 2 hour broadcast for a race that lasts a minute and a half? I just don't get it. The highlights on Sports Center will be just as long as the race. I was rooting for Colonel John (I did an article on his owner, Mr. Casner) but I am happy for Big Brown because before I left my apartment I watched a very moving piece on jockey Kent Desormeaux's son. My deepest sorrows go out to Eight Belles who was euthanized on the track after breaking both front ankles. So, so sad. She placed 2nd in the race and was the only female horse. Hillary Clinton had been rooting for her all week, which is a bit creepy now. Well ...

I went down to the pier anyways and had a fabulous day watching street performers, break dancers and the cutest kid band ever (I bought their CD for $5 and just found them on myspace music).

I capped off my solo day by sitting in Barnes & Noble for two and a half hours reading some books and magazines. I bought an awesome book on the Super Bowl - originally $35 but discounted to $7.98! What a deal!

I spent an hour of my bookstore time reading Wired magazine and I'm officially a huge fan. It's surprisingly very eclectic and best of all I learned something new! I had no idea what it took to be a race car driver, soon we can get wireless on airplanes (for an extra $13), and did you know the US military experimented on its own soldiers with drugs? Also, I really need to start re-learning a lot of shit I forgot from school ... Wired editors came up with a list to Feed Your Mind With Impressive Information and some of the things in their Easy Quadrant I definitely don't remember.

Here's a video from today's entertainment on the Promenade for your enjoyment:

HORSE BREEDING IS INTERESTING

One thing I've always known about myself is that I am interested in a lot of different things. Too many sometimes it's hard to keep up. Recently, I was assigned an article on horse breeding where I interviewed billionaire William Casner, co-owner of WinStar Farms. Besides being a horse racing and horse breeding tycoon, he founded Excel with his biz partner Kenny Troutt. Bill and I are like this (crossing my fingers as I type) now. He's a gentlemen to the max, took time out of his incredibly busy life to call up my cell multiple times for the interview and pose for a photo shoot for ESPN mag. Not sure if you're into horse breeding, but I've always said I want to learn about anything and everything and horse breeding was certainly something I learned a heck of a lot about (I mean, honestly, who wants to sound like an idiot when interviewing someone on the Forbes richest people list?!)

Click here for your horse breeding lesson from Mr. Casner.

It's also in ESPN Magazine on news stands now!!!