May 2019
145th Kentucky Derby
Eight months ago, our dear friends moved to Louisville. I immediately called and asked if we could come out and visit them for the Derby! They graciously said yes and several months later, here we are!
Walking down to the paddocks and checking out all the beautiful horses.
144.... soon to be 145!
We studied up on how to place our bet (name of track, plus race number, plus dollar amount, plus what you want your bet to be (Win, Place, Show, Exacta or Trifecta), and then horse number.
And then we waited for the races to begin!
Sitting in the grandstands with the famed spires in the background.
Looking at pictures is one thing, but let me describe the experience..... Everyone all around you is decked out from head to toe in their best duds - their fancy hats and bowties. Everyone is jolly and sipping on a mint julep. You make your way through the crowds and study the beautiful horses and see the jockeys up close. You peruse the program and review the history of each thoroughbred. Then you go to the window and place your bet, and smile as the woman at the counter calls you darlin'. Then you take your seat and the race begins. As the horses make their way around the track and enter the final turn, you can feel the vibrations of their hooves and speed as turn the corner and then you see them racing full speed ahead. All at once, the crowd rises and cheers for their horse. It's such a multi-sensory experience. The sound, the smells, the visuals.... and all of that mixed with an event steeped in history and tradition. But you don't get that just watching it. You have to be there to experience it.
Verdict: The four of us that went together discussed this after the fact and we all decided the answer to this is Yes. And the reason being is my description above. It's unique. There's nothing else quite like it.
Tip: Consider going on Thurby (Thursday) or Fair Oaks (Friday) instead of Derby (Saturday). You get the same experience with fewer crowds and cheaper tickets. Also, if you're a novice horse racer like me, it's good to know that there are ~11 races/day. They start ~1:00pm and run about every 30 minutes until 6 or 6:30 at night.
