On Kentucky Derby night, I was scheduled to perform my regular monthly pub gig in Cincinnati, OH at a lovely restaurant there called "The Dubliner".

At one point two young, blind women were led to the stage announcing that they wanted to sing "The Unicorn". Bev and I gave them the intro and they launched into it. When they got to the chorus, I couldn't help to interject (in caps) "and the loveliest of all was ..."SMARTY JONES". The sightless girls got a great kick out of it (we injected ole Smarty into every verse). We did so well that they stood and performed with us for the rest of the night, showing by the huge smiles on their faces that they felt they had reached the top of it all.

On the way home from the pub that night, I started thinking up a proper song for Smarty and I believe I may have come up with one. It occurs to me now that the 130th running of the Derby had to be the first year that two horses with vision-limitations were entered in the race. (Both "Pollard's Vision" and "Imperialism" are said to be blind in one eye.)

As a nod to these young singers, I have reached the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to pledge $1.00 for each (if any) copy of “Runnin' Like a River” that I manage to sell over the internet at www.liamsfancy.com or www.runninlikeariver.com.

Lyrics to "Runnin' Like a River" - By Danny Cummins

Gotten by Elusive Quality
From a solid, speedy Smile mare came he.
Nearly broke it all in at the gate,
But a champion's heart you never should negate
In his maiden he ran early - he ran late.
In the Nursery Stakes he left them in his wake.
When a Philadelphia shipper to New York,
He buttered them like lobster on his fork.

** CHORUS **

Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Runnin' like a river to the Churchill Downs
Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Runnin' to get over to the Triple Crown
Shippin' o'er the Schuykill into Hot Springs Town
He's a good one - Smarty Jones!
To Oaklawn Park they traveled as a team.
Bold John Servis chasing Someday's dream
With steady Stewart Elliott on his back
To test them on that sultry, southern track.
He needed every jump in the "Southwest",
In the Rebel Stakes he clearly was the best,
"The Arkansas" was graded company,
Twas there he showed us how good he could be.

** CHORUS **

Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Runnin' like a river to the Churchill Downs
Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Runnin' to get over to the Triple Crown
An undefeated runner onto Louavul Town
He's the hero - Smarty Jones!
On a Kentucky morn he breezed a :58,
Still the wise men said he never would run late.
Was he fading to Borrego in his last?
Wasn't Tapit's final quarter very fast?
Was The Cliff's Edge final quarter faster still?
Or did the Irish in “The Castle” fit the bill?
Would the Gone West speed in Limehouse match his fire,
And douse him down before he found the wire?

** CHORUS **

(Not) Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Runnin' like a river through the Churchill Downs
Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Now he's gotten over to the Triple Crown
‘Midst the juleps and the hats and the fancy gowns
He's the favorite - Smarty Jones!
Lion Heart went straight out looking bright
And Smarty got stuck early and in tight
Then Elliott showed he'd earned his Derby ride
Pressing forwardly with courage and with pride
On the backstretch Lion Heart relaxed the pace
With Smarty Jones still looming there in place
"The Lion" tried to steal it on the turn
But the Master, Stewart, loosened - and they surged

*** THE FOXHUNTERS ***

And now into the Great Lane they took stride,
Where "The Grey Ghost" and Damascus failed to thrive,
Where Forty Niner missed in his bold chase,
And Point Given really never got his race.
But Smarty quickly showed he had command.
That he's the Best in this or any land.
Drew away like they were painted to the rail.
Like a Champion he decisively prevailed.

** CHORUS **

Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Runnin' like the river that was Churchill Downs
Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Now he's gotten over to the Triple Crown
Like the undefeated Slew of high renown
He's the champion - Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Runnin' like a River over Churchill Downs
Smarty Jones, Smarty Jones
Now he's gotten over to the Triple Crown
Like the undefeated Slew of high renown
He's the champio - Smarty Jones
Gotten by Elusive Quality
From a light-regarded Smile mare came he...