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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Run for the Roses in Louisville
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m not a huge fan of watching things race round in circles (sorry NASCAR), and I learned long ago that I’ll never get rich based on my gambling prowess. Even so, I have to admit that I love the annual Run for the Roses at the Kentucky Derby.
Growing up, my family kept horses on our small farm, and I was your typical horse-obsessed girl. Horse posters graced the walls of my room long before Rick Springfield earned the honor, and I imagined Churchill Downs was a majestic castle in some mystical place called Kentucky. Needless to say, I felt the enormity of the occasion when my family took its first trip to Louisville to visit some distant relatives.
Back then, I had no idea that the Kentucky Derby meant anything other than beautiful horses and colorfully-clad jockeys racing for a place in the winner’s circle. It wasn’t until college and then my years in Washington that I understood the Derby was much more than a horse race. It was a major event with a proud, long-standing tradition.
In addition to the horses and the bets, Derby-goers are surrounded by mint juleps in cold Derby glasses; hundreds of elegant and funny hats; good ol’ Southern seersucker suits; all sorts of big wigs and celebrities; as well as many fashion dos and fashion don’ts. In DC, Kentuckians who couldn’t make it home for the race would throw their own Derby Day parties to mark the occasion, complete with potent mint juleps and outrageous attire.
The 134th running of the Derby is this Saturday, and events surrounding the race are going on all week. Unless you procured tickets and lodgings well in advance, you won’t likely be able to stay in Louisville or watch the horses from the grandstand seats. But you can arrive early for general admission, enjoy the races and still soak up every bit of the Derby Day atmosphere.
Tell us about your Kentucky Derby travels. What makes a trip to Louisville or the Derby special? What are the best Derby festival events to attend? Any tips on the best places to stay while you’re in town? How do you make the most of the event? If you’re Derby bound this weekend, feel free to check back next week with your stories from this year’s races.
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