Each year in May, 20 horses are thrust into the public eye, all competitors in racing's premier event, the Kentucky Derby.

Some years it may be the betting favorite who is victorious, while in others, an obscure long shot may grab the brass ring for 15 minutes of fame. For a select few it may even be the first step to racing immortality. Either way, the event is a spectacle and it is a privilege just to participate.

For fans of horse racing, the Kentucky Derby is one of the high points of the three-year old season, one which begins in July of the previous year, picks up steam until the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Races in early November, then picks up anew at the New Year.

February, March and April are full of preparatory races and the prognosticators are out in full force with top 25 countdowns, future odds pools and fantasy leagues. Certainly the fun continues through the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

These three Triple Crown races are all held within five grueling weeks and in many ways signify the culmination of the three-year old season.

What gets lost in the shuffle, however, is the heavy physical toll the Derby Trail and the Triple Crown has on its participants. Of the 20 starters in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, five (Barbaro, Bluegrass Cat, Point Determined, A.P. Warrior and Sharp Humor), have either passed on or retired.

At least another 13, a staggering number, (including Steppenwolfer, Jazil, Sweetnorthernsaint, Deputy Glitters, Seaside Retreat, Storm Treasure, Lawyer Ron, Cause to Believe, Flashy Bull, Private Vow, Sinister Minister, Bob and John and Keyed Entry), raced only twice at the most, if at all, after June's Belmont Stakes.

Only two horses, Brother Derek and Showing Up, have had what would be considered to be a successful year. Aside from these two, there are only four other horses that have any chance at all this year of salvaging their careers; Jazil, Lawyer Ron, Storm Treasure and Keyed Entry.

For those who would think this is an aberration, guess again. The 2005 Kentucky Derby participants faced an even worse fate. Of these 20 horses only Giacomo, Buzzards Bay, Wilko, Sun King and Spanish Chestnut had what would be thought to be a decent year as a four-year old, and only Sun King ran with any regularity and any significant achievement. Flower Alley was a huge disappointment, but at least deserves an honorable mention in this respect.

The bottom line is that if you run in the Derby, you run a 20 percent chance of never running after the Belmont Stakes. If you make it through the Belmont, you run a greater than 50 percent chance of not running a significant race for the rest of the year. And, if you're one of the lucky ones, you may at least run again, relegated to a meaningless allowance race where you realize that due to your poor performance, your career is all over anyway.

The allure of the fame and money, and the tradition associated with the Triple Crown makes all this hard to understand. Additionally, it stands to reason that the Derby preparatory races and Triple Crown schedule are such a grind, that most horses need months off to recuperate.

Many horses do indeed still rebound in time for the Haskell and Travers Stakes, while other horses revert to their true callings, such as running sprints or turf races. Horse racing is littered with casualties on a weekly basis, an inevitable possibility based on just the sheer numbers of horses running nation-wide alone.

It all signifies that running in the Triple Crown is very difficult, and that these horses, especially the ones who run with great success, are nothing short of heroic.