Home > Still Traveling > Archives > 2008 > April > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRun 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.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Southeast travel
Comments
By King HORSE
April 30, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
Watching Majestic Animals is more fun than seeing cars go around in circles. the Derby is one of 3 races- Nascar is what-8 months of circles? A Derby party is a reason to get with friends and see who can pick the winner. Best of all-it is only a 2 month season-and if there is a horse that wins all 3 races, they get the $1M prize. Nascar is like baseball and the naacp-too long a season and they don’t matter.
By King HORSE
April 30, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Watching Majestic Animals is more fun than seeing cars go around in circles. the Derby is one of 3 races- Nascar is what-8 months of circles? A Derby party is a reason to get with friends and see who can pick the winner. Best of all-it is only a 2 month season-and if there is a horse that wins all 3 races, they get the $1M prize. Nascar is like baseball and the naacp-too long a season and they don’t matter.
By Tay
April 30, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
I can’t wait. I’ve got good friends in Louisville and am going with two other friends! I’ve got the hat and the Southern Proper “beau” tie w/ the mint juleps!!
By mayretter local
April 30, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Go to the track on Friday for the races. It’s the locals day, and they party hardy.
By lex native
April 30, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
i agree with mayretta local. derby day is a madhouse, (been twice) didn’t get to see either race and froze my butt off in the infield with the unwashed masses. next time i’ll go on friday and watch the oaks. the racing is just as good and you can actually watch the races.
By Tamika
April 30, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
I ran in the Kentucky Derby once— But I was too drunk to drive my horse. I fell off half way around the track — them my horse started to kick and spit on me. No more Kentucky Derby for me!!
By Robert Wood
April 30, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Wow another derby rolling around. I am a Kentucky boy but have lived in Atlanta since 1990. I and friends have been attending the derby since 1992 this will be my 16th in a row we brave the infield every year and have a blast. There should be 10 or 12 of us there this year. My favorite two horses that have won the derby and I had money on was Thunder Gulch and Real Quiet. Nothing is better for a 40yr old man than temp(degrees) 72 standing in the middle of a racetrack (gambling) smelling the clean fresh air of spring ,enjoying it with freinds,sipping on a cold mint julip and last but not least seeing one of the many beautiful phillies flip up her shirt and show you an incredible pair of playthings!!!!
By faye
April 30, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
My husband and I are going to our 9th Derby this year - my sister and her husband fly down from New Hampshire and join us. We started going when my brother was stationed at Ft. Knox - we stayed with him in Radcliff the first couple years.
Now we stay in Lexington, go to Keeneland Friday for the Oaks simulcast, and leave for Louisville around 7:00 AM Saturday. We get there well before the first race, set up our “living room” in the infield, buy our DRF and Derby program, sip our first julep, and proceed to make our wagers for the day - we stay the entire day, too - Races 1 to 12. It’s a blast like no other.
Sundays - we have gone to the Patton Museum at Ft. Knox, Mammoth Cave, Maker’s Mark Brewery, and the Kentucky Horse Park, among other places. Monday we drive home, sad that it’s over, and counting the days until next year :-)
By Mary
April 30, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
Cute reference to Rick Springfield! He is still around and making new cds I was pleased to see.
And back on topic… can’t wait for the Derby!
By Atlanta Pearl Girl
April 30, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
Derby!!! :::turning flips:::::
It’s a culture and a much anticipated party! Love the hats, the smell of the stables…. those beautiful horses running and the people watching! The food! The fun! :::::dreamy sigh::::::
By moyer Angela myers
May 6, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
Angela moyer fl http://angela-moyer.barerube.cn >moyer Angela myers
By moyer Angela myers
May 6, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
Angela moyer fl http://angela-moyer.barerube.cn >moyer Angela myers
By faye
May 6, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
Derby update - sad that not many commented on this blog - maybe we need more horseracing in this state!
Went to Keeneland Friday for the Oaks simulcast - cold and rainy - we didn’t stay long. We went and partied in downtown Lexington.
Derby day, we arrived at Churchill only to find an unusually long line to get into the track - in 9 years, I’ve never seen a line like this, not even before the Derby itself! We missed the first two races - not happy about that. The day was going well - got our “living room” set up near the jumbo-tron by the third turn - surrounded by cool folks. We did have a guy pee on himself while waiting in line to bet on the 9th race - I guess that’s what lex native meant by the “unwashed masses.”
The Derby race itself was wonderful - I didn’t bet on Big Brown (I didn’t think he’d win from that outside post) - his race was so good, we immediately thought Triple Crown. We were celebrating and talking about the race when a woman near us got the call about Eight Belles. The news moved through the infield and was utterly devastating. Then we got home later and heard about Chelokee from the day before (we had missed the news from Friday while we were out).
I really like horseracing, but I hate seeing this kind of thing happen. I really feel that the breeding is to blame. I hope the re-evaluate some of the things they are doing, and work to prevent this in the future.
By Brill
May 9, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
I went to the Breeder’s Cup at Churchill Downs in November 2006. It was awesome, but they lost a horse, Pine Island, in one of those races, too. He was put down right on the track. And don’t forget Barbaro. I love horse racing, but time to re-evaluate what can be done better.