Walking to the entrance you could see rows and rows of limos.
The entrance
Shane and Jess at the entrance to Churchill Downs.
Gary and Betsy arriving at Churchill Downs.
Jess and Shane in the stands.
Gary and Betsy in the stands
This lady had one too many mint juleps.
The crowd.
The racetrack.
Gary, Shane and Jess
The hats.
Jess wearing her hat
Another view of Jess's hat.
More hats.
Betsy, Jess and Shane before the races begin.
Betsy drinking a mint julep. This seemed to be the drink at the races.
Gary with a winning ticket.
This is what happens when you have a winning ticket and the IRS wants some of the winnings. Gary had to go here. They told him he was "in the system now." Well...that's just great!
For half the day there was a slight drizzle. It definitely didn't damper our spirits. We would put on the rain ponchos or walk around in the shops.
The Derby Race
Betsy in line for the shuttle to the fairgrounds.
Inside the bus going back to the Fairgrounds. From the time I was standing in line at Churchill Downs to the time we reached the Fairgrounds....THREE HOURS!
We made memories that will last a lifetime. Shane, Jess and I enjoyed watching Gary count his money while we felt our purses and billfold feel lighter and lighter. There were 13 races and the Derby was the 11th race of the day.
Weather did not stop anyone from having a great time. You could never tell that there was a drizzle going on most of the day by the looks of how people dressed. I saw many men in suits and hats and of course most of the women were in tight, short dresses with three-inch heels. And the hats, you just wouldn't believe some of the hats I saw. If we go again next year I am going to have a better hat!
AFTERTHOUGHT, Here's what I learned:
1. The first race begins at 10:30 a.m. Don't arrive until the 6th race. You can only drink so many mint juleps and after the 2nd one, all horses look like winners.
2. Weather will not stop any young lady from wearing her Sunday best, hat and 3-inch heels.
3. The food is overrated!
4. Don't make fun of Gary the night before. Gary studied the horses the week or two leading up to the Derby. The night before the Derby he was sitting at the breakfast table with racing forms spread out. He was working on a table and making lists. All of us made fun at him. NONE of us even looked at a racing form. Well, here's the point of that story. "Effort and hard work DO PAY!!!" Gary won a lot of money. The rest of us, ZERO!
5. The wilder the hat, the better.
6. Go to the restroom before you stand in line for the shuttle back to your car.
7. Don't listen to friends and family when they tell you who to bet on. Listen to Gary.
8. Lookin for Lucky was not lucky.
9. The same t-shirt that cost $25 at Churchill Downs was only $4 at Kroger the day after.
10. The closer the seats are to the track does not mean they are better seats. Buy second level Grandstand, not first level.
DERBY RACE
Calvin Borel, right, rides Super Saver to victory. (AP Photo/May 1, 2010)
1 comment:
Betsy,
I THINK the only other person I know who went to the Kentucky Derby was Laurie when she was stationed at Fort Knox. How awesome the pictures are - the hats are ALL awesome, yours and Jess's included. LOL about making fun of Gary the night before, and his counting his winnings after he won. By all accounts - and the proof is in the pictures - you had a great time.
Awesome.
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