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2012 Kentucky Derby Post Positions: Dullahan Draws Fifth Gate

Post position is quite important to the Kentucky Derby given the frequent congestion among the 20 horses on the track, and on Wednesday those positions were announced as part of a television special on NBC Sports Network. SB Nation's Brian Floyd explains the low down on the importance of pole positions:

Draw on the rail, and a horse risks being squeezed down the front-stretch, losing position and having to back-off going into the first turn. Draw too far outside, and the race becomes that much longer as everyone breaks for the rail early.

Here's the full drawing for Saturday's race:

1. Daddy Long Legs
2. Optimizer
3. Take Charge Indy
4. Union Rags
5. Dullahan
6. Bodemeister
7. Rousing Sermon
8. Creative Cause
9. Trinniberg
10. Daddy Knows Best
11. Alpha
12. Perspective
13. Went The Day Well
14. Hansen
15. Gemologist
16. El Padrino
17. Done Talking
18. Sabercat
19. I'll Have Another
20. Liaison

Floyd explains that Union Rags, Dullahan and Bodemeister should be given extra focus after drawing the fourth, fifth and sixth spots given their previously high expectations.

For more on the world of horse racing, head to And Down The Stretch They Come. For more on the 2012 Kentucky Derby, keep it locked to this StoryStream.