Randy Moss Explains Why Horses Do Not Enjoy a Loud Crowd While Racing on the Track

On today's Pardon My Take... Randy Moss! No, not the football Randy Moss. Today, we are talking all things Kentucky Derby with NBC's Randy Moss. This longtime recurring guest joined Mr. Cat and Mr. Commenter to discuss the field at Churchill Downs tomorrow, some of his horses to watch out for, and much more. And for the first time in two years, the Kentucky Derby returns to the first Saturday in May. That means more fans in the crowd, which means what exactly for the horses? Well, they probably aren't happy about it, according to Moss. The expert explains:

Mr. Commenter: Do the horses run differently when there's a big crowd screaming at them? 

Randy Moss: Yeah, they don't like it. I had this question last year, when there was the spectator-less Kentucky Derby, and a media person that I will not name asked me on a radio interview, "Won't the horses not run as well without the crowd to spur them on?" Because golfers talk about that, right? And I'm like, "No, look. Horses like tranquility, horses like peace and quiet. They hate loud noises." So, horses run in the Kentucky Derby and run well, in spite of the big crowd and the raucous atmosphere, they'd rather have it really quiet. 

Mr. Cat: What about the best horses, though? Because I feel like I was lucky enough to see American Pharoah at the Breeders Cup, and it felt like that type of horse, and maybe because he was such an incredible horse, but it felt like that type of horse fed off the crowd and was almost like, "Yeah, everyone's rooting for me. I'm going to make this even bigger of a win. I'm going to kick everyone's ass."

Randy Moss: He's a different case, probably. You're right, because American Pharoah was the most chill, laid back surfer dude kind of horse that you're ever going to see at a race. All you have to remember is after he swept the Triple Crown, and had him on the Today Show, and let him out, and there's Bob Baffert in a lawn chair, and there's the owner, Zayat, and maybe Victor Espinosa. They're all in lawn chairs sitting there, and the horse is just standing there right behind them, just kind of nice and quiet, hanging his head, all is well. Horses, just, that's very rare for a typically high strung thoroughbred racehorse to bee that chill. But he was. 

American Pharoah... BUILT. DIFFERENT. It is great to see everything get closer and closer to normalcy with the Kentucky Derby returning to its home spot. NBC has the coverage all weekend.