I have to weigh in with my stupidest decision I ever made story. I do it every Derby. Some people think I'm dumb. Some laugh at me. I deserve it. Approaching Derby time I was equal partners with someone with lots of money. That by the way was the only time I failed at something. I never did a partnership again. If you don't have the cajones to risk it all yourself, don't do it.
Anyhow my partner comes to me and says they have the fantastic horse and they're going to race him in the Derby. My immediate thought was that's not very smart, but if you've got the money to throw away on that kind of long shot go for it. The next week he invites me and mrs '46 to the race, owners box and all. I'm not rolling in money. I was still under 30 and by the time Mrs '46 finishes shopping for that trip, I'll have to sell the house. Besides that, we're going to drive up together. That's going to be a really depressing drive back. So I decline the invitation.
The name of their "long shot"? Affirmed. He won the Derby and went on to win the Triple. We could have been in the owners boxes for those races. We were not invited to the Preakness or Belmont.
Additional background: It would be another 37 years before another horse won the triple. For a long time I wanted to see Affirmed's name as the last to do it. After about 30 years I caved. Ricky my partner finally said it would be good for racing if another horse did it. We remained friends until his death.