Visit Churchill Downs for the first time, through my rambling thoughts and lens. This "first time" is not one that I will soon forget.

So we’ve come to the end of the line in the infrequent series of Kentucky Derby Zen. We’ve practiced deep breathing, talked about the power of what we don’t know and how our beliefs can get us to see anything we truly want, like say a Kentucky Derby win by Trinniberg. We all dismissed Mine That Bird –who cared nothing for our opinions.

Today’s Kentucky Derby Zen centers on what we think we know. Much of what we think we know comes from our beliefs, which are created through a complex flotsam and jetsam of experience and ignorance. Experience is what we’ve seen, touched, tasted or felt –whether it is fact or fiction (more on this later). Ignorance in simply what we don’t know…but think we do.

Derby Wars hosted its biggest contest in their brief history this weekend with the $30,000 April Shootout taking place. There were 195 entries at $175 apiece and the event consisted of 15 races from Aqueduct, Oaklawn on Arkansas Derby Day and Keeneland on Blue Grass Stakes Day.

It’s interesting where we spend our time, effort and energy. What we do and how we do it, not only defines our endeavors, but essential define ourselves. In the horse-playing world there are two exclusive, interconnected worlds where we spend most of our time: Handicapping – seeking out and considering the most important data to determine a winner or narrowing down contenders to just a select few to bet Gambling – making wagering decisions based upon handicapping…or not

If you’re like me and are shaking off the hangover that was Dubai Racing Festival, huge Florida Derby card at Gulfstream and NCAA Final Four, there’s no better time than to have a little of the dog that bit you and play any number of big games at Derby Wars today. The Fair Grounds ends their racing season with three grade II affairs, including the wide open Louisiana Derby. So let’s get after it by starting in the Big Easy…

The art of Zen allows one to tap into an inner calm while crisis ensues all around. Of course, it is almost impossible to recreate chaos, so Zen must be practiced in more peaceful times. For our Kentucky Derby purposes this means measuring one’s self in small, weekly increments known as “the Derby prep season.” The broadcasts for these events are common, the fields average to large (unlike the double-barreled Churchill Downs Derby gate) and provide many handicapping lessons. Lessons that should be taken in varying degrees, not rushes to judgment.

There’s only some much time in a day, so you find me handicapping on the fly – quick, down and dirty. Sometimes I believe we should all give speed handicapping a try. Think about it, there’s a train of thought that says the more time you work on something the better you’ll do. Except this isn’t always the case. Take your time shoveling the snow and you freeze your buff off. Swim too slowly, and you’ll sink. Get up extra early for work and you might find yourself rushing at the last minute because your mind began to wonder along and all of a sudden you’re late….

If you’re practicing the art of Zen along with me for the next few weeks until May 5, you need to know that such matters don’t always unfold peacefully. Sure, you can cross yourself up into the lotus position along a babbling brook and gather the energy of the universe through each cleansing breath. For the rest of us, such quiet moments of reflection come somewhere between the second cup of coffee and the third time through the past performances.

The Kentucky Derby is a unique betting experience, even in the world of Thoroughbred racing. This single race - a slice of Americana itself - receives approximately $80 million in bets. This multimillion dollar pool dwarfs just about every other race in the world in terms of money bet, and the handle for some entire meets.