Kentucky Derby 2017 - Welcome Back, Dr. Hansen

Get ready, one of the most colorful and passionate personalities in horse racing is headed back to the Kentucky Derby - Dr. Kendall Hansen.

As Hansen's grey colt, Fast and Accurate, thundered past the wire at Turfway in the 2017 Spiral Stakes, a joyous commotion broke out in the winners' circle.

"I'm going to the Kentucky Derby!" Dr. Hansen declared, throwing his hands up in the air and hugging everyone who congratulated him.

The Cincinnati-based physician was last seen in the spotlight in 2012, when his beloved namesake, 2011 BC Juvenile champion, Hansen, made a run for the roses that was both unconventional and controversial.

Who could forget the original Hansen Show, with an entourage of blue-tailed ladies, squishy horse giveaways, and "The Great White Hope" emblazoned on t-shirts and bracelets.

Hansen the horse outran his modest pedigree at two to become the second Eclipse winner for his sire, Tapit, and really put the stallion on the map at the highest level. At three, his talent shone in a powerhouse Gotham performance that solidified his Derby chances.

Kendall Hansen was unfairly criticized for many of the decisions he made for his homebred colt, most notably, the "blue tail" promotion he pitched as a new mode of fan engagement. Most of that heat read as petty snobbery by racing elitists. None of his plans were inhumane or detrimental to his horse's welfare, they simply went beyond the established norms of race horse ownership. In a sport dying for more owners, the "publicity stunts" can be forgiven for the much-needed financial investment in the industry. And Dr. Hansen has delivered - Fast and Accurate is another of his homebreds, sired by his own champion.

At Turfway, a stampede of supporters and friends of Hansen swarmed the winners' circle, pushing the garland and trophy photo op out into the middle of the track. The Doc hugged and kissed his horse on the nose, gave jockey Tyler Gafflione a high five.

Overcome with emotion, Hansen dropped to his knees and kissed the ground in the winners' circle. 

When asked if he plans to pay the $200,000 to supplement Fast and Accurate for the Derby, his answer was an emphatic "Eff Yeah!"

Five years after his first Derby appearance, Dr. Hansen is back in the Derby picture. Some may consider him a photobomber, but he's in the shot.

-- By: Candice C. Curtis (@skipaway2000)