I’m not even sure where to begin. After the completion (survival) of Leadership Greenville closing retreat, I took to the mountains on my way to Kentucky. I was lucky enough to grab a quick nap before my friend Chad arrived. Then it was only fitting to celebrate my arrival with a Maker’s Mark or two. I should have had a few more. I guess it was the excitement of the next day’s events had me stirring like a kid on Christmas.
On the way into Louisville, we scrambled to memorize the lyrics to “My Old Kentucky Home.” We arrived at Churchill Downs around noon in time to catch 5-6 races before the actual Derby. These pre-races serve as a dress rehearsal for the big show. You watch and yell then it’s time to research, bet, grab food and drinks then get back to your seats for the next round. At a normal sporting event, servers are walking around with beer or hotdogs. At the Derby, it’s Mint Juleps in souvenir glasses for $10. Works for me. (though in all honesty, I prefer my bourbon straight up).
To answer most of your questions: Yes, it was a great time. Yes, I had a mint julep. No, I didn’t win any money in fact I lost some. Yes, there were some extremely drunk people there.
My advice: Don’t bet on horses based on their names, like Pants on Fire and Midnight Interlude. DO NOT take the Express Shuttle to downtown after the race. You may just end up stuck in a parking lot for over an hour. And finally, have a stash spot for your big hat and heavy purse before the after party. It’s definitely worth staying up for the good time and the people watching. Special thanks to my great friend Chad for such a spectacular time!
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