Kentucky-born humorist Irvin S. Cobb said this about the Kentucky Derby: “Until you go to Kentucky and with your own eyes behold a Derby, you ain’t been nowhere and you ain’t seen nothing.”
All I can say, after attending about 25 derbies in the last 30 years, is — he’s right.
We just got back Monday night from “My Old Kentucky Home,” where we had a great time enjoying the sights and sounds of Derby Weekend and Derby Day at historic Churchill Downs.
On Derby morning, I managed to cobble together five first-floor clubhouse tickets by positioning myself outside a major track entrance and holding up a sign that said: “Need one or two…For me (Jim) and my wife (Patty).”
Usually I do need only one or two, but this year our 23-year-old daughter Brooks and 21-year-old son Charlie went with us, as did a buddy of Charlie’s from Tulsa University. So, naturally, I kept my sign aloft and continued buying after I got the first two. With a record-setting crowd of 165,000 people descending on the track, extra tickets were relatively scarce, and the prices were unusually high. To give you an idea, I paid $1,370 for the five tickets — about $400 over total face value.
It was a memorable day — as Derby Day always is — made more special because Brooks and Patty bet on the winner, Animal Kingdom, who went off at 20-1. Patty netted about $40 on the race, while Brooks made about $60. Both were thrilled, as they were entitled to be: Picking the winner out of 20 horses (19 this year because of a scratch) is a daunting challenge.
Here, then, are some of the images from Derby 137.
For this guy, Derby Day got off to a lousy start.
Outside the track, where I was stationed to buy tickets, I ran into my cousin, Colleen Salazar (right), her husband John and a couple they were with.
On Derby Day, people even look good in purple.
Melissa, of Seattle, made her hat. (She was sitting a couple of boxes from us.)
Should a gentleman offer a tiparillo to a lady? Absolutely!
Shrewd bettors, Brooks and Patty
Gay blades
Fearless blogger
The lady who took my picture in the concession line -- Carolyn, I believe
Jeff and his wife Terri, of Fort Myers, Fla. He sold me the only two tickets I was able to get that were together. They graciously hosted us in their box.
My Derby horse, Archarcharch, during the "walkover" from the barn area. "Arch" came in 15th.
The third-floor clubhouse (lower balcony) and the fourth, fifth and sixth floors -- "millionaires' row." At far right, you can see one of the famous Twin Spires.
First-floor clubhouse (to the left and right of the walkway), where we sat
My son Charlie (center), flanked by his friend Patrick Schell (left) and Ascot Man. (I have no idea who he was, but he definitely belongs in the picture.)
At the end of the day, our group was still smiling. Back row, from left: Judy of Fort Myers, me, Charlie, Patrick, Patty and Jeff. Front row: Terri and Brooks.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
I’ve only attended the event twice, however I was able to cobble together “springish” outfits: one year it was a blue chalk line, white seersucker; the other it was – god help me – camel corduroy…
What was up with your funeral attire?
Damn you, Nick! That was my new sportcoat (never worn before Saturday), my new light purple shirt and my best tie.
I’ll leave the “springish” outfits to you and the Gay Blades. (Nothing implied, you understand.)
Great to see you and Patty at Churchill Downs with Brooks and Charlie. We didn’t make it this year. By cellphone, I was able to contact Drew Elmore, my nephew, who was holding his bachelor party in the infield. I asked if he could spot me ten bucks and place it on Animal Kingdom to win. Since I am his godfather, he had no choice. He’s getting married in two weeks. I was happy to call him back after the race and give him the winning ticket ($200) as a wedding present. It was actually a gift from your pal, Joe Drape, who had picked Animal Kingdom in the NY Times on Friday. Weep no more my lady….
The shirt was nice. And I’m sure the sportcoat would have been fine at the Plaza III. But damn it, man – this was the Derby! If nothing else, a jacket to match the tam would have been acceptable…
Great story, Leigh. What a generous uncle you are. I’ll bet your nephew was absolutely thrilled…Yes, Joe Drape, a Kansas City native, who still has lots of family here did, indeed, pick Animal Kingdom. That was Patty’s basis for betting the horse, and Brooks followed suit. I sent Joe a congratulatory e-mail yesterday. He’s a great guy, as well as the best turf writer in the country.
Nick — Alright, alright! Maybe it was a little on the dull side. I might try to do better next year (unless our son’s college graduation interferes), except that with the cost of tickets, I feel compelled to get a couple years’ wear out of the new jacket. Can’t splurge on everything, you know.
as usual it looks like a good time was had by all especially the winners!! is charlie standing on a milk crate?! just saw a story about a sports writer for the star who blasted one of the royals players for not taking one for the team with the bases loaded..then took one himself in the batters cage at 81mph..another sports writer who never played sports. the guys name is lee judge, i have a feeling that his stock in the club house has gone way down even with the stint in the batters cage
Gus — The Lee Judge situation is unusual. He’s not a sports writer; he’s The Star’s editorial cartoonist, believe it or not. For the last two seasons, he has gone to every home game and written a column, of sorts, about his impressions and observations. I think he does know a lot about baseball. I didn’t see the piece about the player “not taking one for the team.”
Whatever he “took for the team” didn’t improve his editorial cartooning skills. He’s not fit to do cartoons for a middle school, let alone a big city (well at least for now) newspaper!
What he needs to take are some classes at the Art Institute, starting with the introductory ones. Then he should follow that up with some political classes at UMKC, again the introduction classes for freshmen.
I lost money on Midnight Interlude.
Pics look cool.
:)