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Horsing Around at the Races 肯塔基赛马：五花八门，万马奔腾

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

On the first Saturday of May each year, fans look forward to the thunderous sound of galloping hooves and the excitement of another photo finish at the biggest horse race in America, the Kentucky Derby. The race is the culmination of the two-week Kentucky Derby Festival, and draws 150,000 people to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It attracts everyone from celebrities to everyday folks who just want to have a good time, and perhaps place a bet on the races. The atmosphere of anticipation leading up to the firing of the starting gun is unrivaled in the world of sports.

每年5月的第一个星期六，赛马迷们满心期盼着美国最大的肯塔基赛马盛事，期盼听见飞奔马蹄轰然雷动的巨响，以及经历另一次以照片定夺胜负的刺激体验。这场比赛是为期两周的肯塔基节庆之高潮，吸引了15万人到肯塔基州路易维尔的丘吉尔赛马场。赛事人人喜爱，不仅吸引名流，也吸引想玩得愉快的一般大众，而他们或许还会在比赛中赌上一把。起跑枪响前凝聚的那种期盼气氛，是世界上所有运动所无可比拟的。

 

The Kentucky Derby sees the best three-year-old horses tear down the two-kilometer track, with their jockeys spurring them on. When the dust settles at the conclusion of “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” the winner will take home two million U.S. dollars and a place in equestrian racing history.

在肯塔基赛马中可以观看到最优秀的三岁马匹，匹匹在骑师鞭促下狂奔于两公里长的跑道上。当「运动竞赛中最刺激的两分钟」终了，飞扬的尘土也渐渐落定时，获胜者可以带走两百万美元以及在赛马史上留名。

 

The history of the Kentucky Derby traces its roots back to a man named M. Lewis Clark Jr., who founded the Louisville Jockey Club and financed the building of Churchill Downs, the track where the race is run. The first derby took place in 1875, and it has been an irreplaceable slice of American culture ever since.

肯塔基赛马的历史可以追溯至一位名为M．刘易斯．克拉克二世的人。他建立了路易维尔骑士俱乐部，并出资建造丘吉尔赛马场，而这栋建筑就是后来赛马跑道的所在地。第一场的赛马于1875年举办，而自此便成为美国文化中不可取代的一部分。

 

Churchill Downs still looks much as it did for over one hundred years, with the landmark twin spires still sitting atop the famed grandstands. Now, however, in addition to about 50,000 seats, the track has been modernized to include luxury suites for the rich and famous.

一百年来，丘吉尔赛马场看起来一如既往，地标双尖塔仍然座落在知名的正面看台之上。然而，现在除了大约5万个座位之外，跑道场地也变得现代化，为富豪名流豪华包厢。

 

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

thunderous [ˋθʌndərəs] adj. 像打雷的；轰隆轰隆响的

culmination [͵kʌlməˋneʃən] n. 顶点；高潮的到达

draw [drɔ] v. 吸引；招来

celebrity [sɪˋlɛbrətɪ] n. 名人，名流

place a bet on 下赌注

anticipation [æn͵tɪsəˋpeʃən] n. 预期，期望

track [træk] n.【体】跑道

settle [ˋsɛt!] v. 停息；下沉；沉淀

finance [faɪˋnæns] v. 供资金给

irreplaceable [͵ɪrɪˋplesəb!] adj. 不可代替的

slice [slaɪs] n. 部分，份

spire [spaɪr] n. 尖塔；尖顶

modernize [ˋmɑdɚn͵aɪz] v. 现代化

 

 

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单词发音

 

horse around【俚】哄闹，胡闹 to be active in a silly way; to play around roughly with someone or something, possibly abusing someone or something

gallop [ˋgæləp] v.（马等）疾驰，飞跑

hoof [huf] n. 蹄

photo finish 难分胜负的竞赛; 【体】(赛马中)照相判定

derby [ˋdɝbɪ] n. 大赛马 a formal race usually having an open field of contestants; any of various annual horseraces, especially for three-year-olds

lead up to 作为...的准备(或先导);  (向上)一路通到 to aim at or route movement to something

unrivaled [ʌnˋraɪv!d] adj. 无敌的；无可比拟的

tear down 向······猛扑  to race down something very fast

jockey [ˋdʒɑkɪ] n. 赛马的骑师，骑士

spur someone on 鞭策, 激励 to urge someone onward; to egg someone on

equestrian [ɪˋkwɛstrɪən] adj. 骑术的

ever since 从...以来 continuously since a specified time or event

grandstand [ˋgrænd͵stænd] n. 正面看台

suite [swit] n. 套房

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

One of the big attractions for spectators at the Kentucky Derby is that they can make it interesting by betting on which horse will win. Before each race, the odds are posted – a horse without much hope of winning might have 50-1 odds, meaning that for every one dollar a person bets, they win 50 dollars if the horse manages to pull off an upset victory. The jockeys and horses wear unique silks to identify themselves, so the rowdy fans know which horse to cheer on as they come down the final stretch. A solid gold trophy, the only such award in American sports, awaits the victor.

对于肯塔基赛马的观众而言，最吸引人的就是赌哪匹马会赢，藉此让观看过程更有趣。投注赔率会在每场比赛之前公布：一匹不太有希望跑赢的马赔率比可能是50比1。意思就是，若这匹马能爆冷门赢得比赛，某人所下赌的每一元都可以赢得50元。骑士和马匹穿着特殊的丝缎以便识别，所以疯狂吵闹的赛马迷们可以在马儿跑到最后直道冲刺时，知道应该为哪只马加油。一座美国运动赛事唯一的纯金奖杯，等待着最后胜利者。

 

The derby is full of traditions, many of which go back several decades or more. First off is the hat parade, in which women wear elaborate, weird, and beautiful hats made up to look like flowers, famous landmarks, and even animals. It’s a high-class affair where members of high society show off their wild hats and outfits to one another and the media.

此赛马拥有许多传统，许多可以回溯至好几十年前或更久。首先是帽子游行，女士们会戴着制作繁复、奇特或美丽的帽子，这些帽子被造型成像花、知名地标或甚至是动物的样子。这是一场高格调的盛宴，上流社会在此拿他们疯狂的帽子和装扮向彼此和媒体们炫耀。

 

Meanwhile, on the infield of the track, the less affluent members of the crowd gather for a huge party. Some of them might even enjoy a mint julep or two, the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby since 1938. In 2006, the drink was served in gold cups with silver straws, costing 1,000 U.S. dollars each. People on Millionaire’s Row, where the horse owners have their private suites, surely didn’t miss the opportunity to enjoy such a rare luxury. With a lot of class, a storied history, a party that’s not to be missed, and unbeatable suspense and action, the Kentucky Derby has all the ingredients for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

在此同时，没那么富裕的人在跑道的内场齐聚一堂，一起来场大型派对。有些人也许会享用一两杯薄荷酒，这是肯塔基赛马自从1938年以来的官方鸡尾酒。在2006年，此薄荷酒是装在金杯与银吸管中，每杯要价1,000美元。在马匹主人们拥有私人包厢的「富豪座」，人们绝对不会错过享受这个稀有奢侈品的机会。肯塔基赛马充满格调且历史悠久，不容错过的派对以及无可比拟的紧张气氛和比赛过程，它拥有所有的要素，足以组成一生一次不容错过的体验。

 

−by Joe Henley

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

spectator [spɛkˋtetɚ] n.（比赛等的）观众

manage [ˋmænɪdʒ] v. 设法做到；勉力完成[+to-v]

unique [juˋnik] adj. 独一无二的；独特的

stretch [strɛtʃ] n.（竞赛跑道的）直线跑道，最后阶段

await [əˋwet] v. 等候；等待

parade [pəˋred] n. 游行

elaborate [ɪˋlæbə͵ret] adj. 精心制作的；精巧的

weird [wɪrd] adj. 【非正式】古怪的; 奇异的

affair [əˋfɛr] n. 喜庆（或社交）活动

outfit [ˋaʊt͵fɪt] n.（尤指在特殊场合穿的）全套服装

unbeatable [ʌnˋbitəb!] adj. 无以伦比的，无比的

suspense [səˋspɛns] n. 悬念；悬疑; 悬而不决，未定

ingredient [ɪnˋgridɪənt] n.（构成）要素，因素

once-in-a-lifetime  千载难逢的; 一生仅有一次的      

 

 

More Information

单词发音

 

odds [ɑds] n. 机会，可能性；成功的可能性

pull off 成功完成 to perform in spite of difficulties or obstacles; bring off

upset [ʌpˋsɛt] n.〔比赛﹑竞选等中〕意外的击败

rowdy [ˋraʊdɪ] adj. 喧闹的

trophy [ˋtrofɪ] n.〔比赛等赢得的〕奖杯﹐奖牌

first off【口】首先 before anything else

make up 编造 to constitute; form

show off 卖弄, 炫耀 display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously

affluent [ˋæflʊənt] adj. 富裕的

julep [ˋdʒulɪp] n. 冰镇薄荷酒

straw [strɔ] n. 吸管

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1. Which of the following is NOT true of the Kentucky Derby?

A. It always takes place on a Saturday.

B. It features horses that are 30 years old.

C. The winner instantly becomes a millionaire.

D. The first Kentucky Derby took place over a century ago.

 

2. How has Churchill Downs changed over the years?

A. The track has been improved.

B. Its spires have been replaced.

C. The track has been made longer.

D. The grandstands have been made smaller.

 

3. If you bet 10 dollars on horse with 20-1 odds, how much would you get if the horse wins?

A. $1.

B. $10.

C. $20.

D. $200.

 

4. What is implied about going to the Kentucky Derby?

A. It is only for horse lovers.

B. It is only for the rich and famous.

C. It is an experience unlike any other.

D. Contrary to its reputation, it is actually quite dull.

 

2012 Kentucky Derby

 

 

Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon 2012

 

Kentucky Derby Festival '08 Pegasus Parade

 

 

Surviving The Kentucky Derby 2011

 

 

Kentucky Derby 2009 ~ It's All About the Hats

 

 

 

Answer

1. ( B )

2. ( A )

3. ( D )

4. ( C )