The Fall Meet!

Keeneland's fall meet is quickly approaching and it has me thinking about fall clothes! What will you be wearing to Keeneland this year?

Credentials

Lilly Pulitzer Derby Hat.

A couple of months ago, I got an email from my editor asking if I'd be interested in covering the Derby. Well, y'all can imagine that it took me about ten seconds to jump on that opportunity.  I filled out my application for Churchill Downs media credentials as quickly as possible.  And I waited.

Even though there was still snow on the ground, I started thinking of angles.  What if I only got credentials for the infield?  I've never been there, but I hear it's dicey.  Maybe I could do a fish-out-of-water thing -- a well-coiffed Junior Leaguer in the muck.  Speaking of muck, what kind of shoes should I wear?  The last time I did any walking at Derby, I wound up with huge blisters.  Dare I store a pair of wellies in the press locker I requested? That seems so... Steeplechase.  And do I let my handbag double as a satchel, or should I buy a chic, teeny notebook? I hoped, of course, for credentials that would give me a ritzier view.  I thought of the ways that I could play with the way that Derby portrays Kentucky's social stratum.  I planned the optimal number of mint juleps that would keep me festive and alert.  And, of course, I started to think about hats.  Maybe I'd finally get the opportunity to write the "the year Louisville girls started to make fascinators" piece I'd been envisioning since the Royal Wedding.

And then, I didn't hear back from my application.  I'm not sure what got screwed up.  I must admit, however, that I was suffering from bronchitis and pretty heavily medicated at the time of my application.  I can't overlook the possibility of user error.  I waited and waited, and I followed up a bit, and I made some preliminary plans to go, and then some things happened and then other plans for Derby Day started to materialize.  Before I knew it, the First Saturday was upon us and I wasn't remotely near Louisville.

Ralph Steadman's artwork for Dr. Thompson's masterpiece.

Before I mixed up a batch of mint-infused simple syrup yesterday morning, I sat down with a little required Derby Day reading.  There was Mr. Faulker's Three Days to the Afternoon, of course, and Dr. Thompson's The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved.  I read these both as earnestly as I do every May, and I joked to my beau that I should read them aloud to the dogs in the same manner that normal people read the Christmas Story to their children.  I was quite taken with a sense of satisfaction with myself as a writer, a sports fan, and a Southerner as I reflected on these hallowed words.  And then, those same hallowed words jumped out at me:

Finally, after giving up on Steadman and trying unsuccessfully to reach my man in the press office, I decided my only hope for credentials was to go out to the track and confront the man in person, with no warning — demanding only one pass now, instead of two, and talking very fast with a strange lilt in my voice, like a man trying hard to control some inner frenzy.

Hunter S. Thompson had flown from Texas to Kentucky on a day's notice armed only with fake tags identifying himself as a photographer from Playboy.  He hadn't waited for a confirmation email.  He'd merely insisted that Scanlan's magazine foot the bill.  As late as Oaks Day, he was still hammering out the details:

Clearly, we were going to have to figure out some way to spend more time in the clubhouse tomorrow. But the "walkaround" press passes to F&G were only good for 30 minutes at a time, presumably to allow the newspaper types to rush in and out for photos or quick interviews, but to prevent drifters like Steadman and me from spending all day in the clubhouse, harassing the gentry and rifling an old handbag or two while cruising around the boxes. Or macing the governor. The time limit was no problem on Friday, but on Derby Day the walkaround passes would be in heavy demand.

Something tells me that Dr. Thompson never really gave a thought to wellies.  Or hats.  By his own admission, he didn't "give a hoot in hell what was happening on the track."  I doubt he ever wrote a piece on how to get julep stains out of a Lilly Pulitzer dress.  I suppose that makes me far more "whiskey gentry" than "gonzo", in the rhetoric of his essay.  I certainly know that, unlike Thompson, I never hope for a mob scene in the infield; I'm too busy saying a little prayer that the horses and jockeys stay safe.  I'd never be accused of macing the Governor; I personally find him to be quite a nice fellow. 

Still, I wish I'd had a little bit of gonzo spirit in the days leading up to the race.  If I'd pushed the issue a little harder, I'd be writing a far more interesting piece tonight...

Kentucky Oaks: Ladies First!

via Kentucky Oaks.

Everyone who's spent any time in Louisville knows that Oaks Day is the holiday that locals claim as their own.  The Derby may generate millions in tourist revenue and draw international attention for its high-profile guestlist, but the Oaks is the laid-back race for Louisvillians.

via Kentucky Oaks.

Every year, on the day before the Derby, Churchill Downs holds a Grade I race for thoroughbred fillies. In recent years, this race for female horses has become a celebration of female race-goers.  The race has taken on a "pink-out" theme, serving as a fundraiser for various cancer charities, decorating the track in pink, and encouraging the race-goers to wear pink as well.  Even the cocktails are pink; the signature Oaks Lily cocktail takes a pinkish hue from cranberry juice and sour mix.

via Kentucky Oaks.

This year's Oaks drew a near-record crowd of over 112,000 people.  A portion of attendance revenue ($1/ attendee) was donated to cancer charities, as was a portion of all Oaks Lily sales.  This year, Churchill Downs partnered with Stand Up to Cancer and Horses and Hope, an initiative to promote breast cancer awareness, screening, and treatment among Kentucky's horse industry workers and their families. 

With pink decorations and drinks and a field of fillies racing, the Oaks certainly lives up to its motto "Ladies First."  This year, the 138th running, certainly embodied that motto, as Rosie Napravnik became the first female jockey to win the race.

Pretty cocktails, fundraising and a healthy dose of girl power -- that sounds like a very HerKentucky event indeed!

What's the Big Deal about Derby Festival?

Image via Kentucky Derby Festival.

I'd been living in Louisville for a couple of months when April rolled around. Suddenly, the questions started coming from colleagues and clients:

"What are you doing for Thunder?"

"Have you eaten at the Chow Wagon yet?"

"Have you bought your Pegasus pin?"

Now, before I moved to Louisville, I thought I knew Derby.  I'd been to the race itself, of course.  I even knew that Louisvillians considered Oaks to be THE must-see race rather than its next day Big Brother.  But the Derby Festival events left me perplexed.  I knew I'd seen framed posters for Festivals past; they're inescapable in offices and family rooms in the Louisville Metro area.  Still, I had no idea what the events entailed.  Why would I wear a $3 lapel pin from Kroger? Is a Chow Wagon more appetizing than it sounds? And Thunder is just a bunch of fireworks, right?

After living through that Derby season, I learned that Derby Festival is one of those events that separates true Louisvillians from visitors.  The Pegasus pin is not only a key to admission at the Festival's events; it's symbolic of  a fourteen-day celebration of the Derby City itself.   Before Louisville becomes overrun with celebs and race enthusiasts, it fetes its own natives with steamboat races, parades, concerts, and fireworks.  It's a two-week party that unites Louisvillians from a variety of backgrounds and interests.

Image via Thunder Over Louisville

By the following April, I was far better-versed in Derby Festival events.  When Thunder Over Louisville kicked off the season, I knew that the private parties in downtown office buildings were a more comfortable and enjoyable alternative to mingling with the massive crowds that congregate for the fireworks show.   Since my beau and I aren't much for big, rowdy crowds or fireworks, we learned to time our dinner reservations to avoid the Thunder madness.  We even found that we could watch a good bit of the fireworks display from our Highlands condo.  As we fell into a few Derby Festival routines of our own -- Oaks brunches, the Chow Wagon, cocktails at the Seelbach -- we found that we weren't just celebrating the Greatest of all Horse Races.  We were celebrating the fact that Louisville is a great place to live.

Have y'all attended any Derby Festival events?

In Photos: Stakes Day Wedding Shower

This weekend, my mother, my aunts, and I hosted a bridal shower for my cousin.  What better for Blue Grass Stakes day than a preppy, pink-and-green theme?  It felt like my aunt had dressed her entire house for a trip across town to Keeneland!

Unscientific Horse Betting

April 6th was opening day of the 2012 Keeneland Spring Meet. I ventured out on opening day with some friends to celebrate my birthday. We sat in a box for probably the first and only time as I won it as a silent auction item for a local charity. Keeneland boxes are at the bottom of the grandstand (mezzanine level) and aren't available for purchase. They've each got a plaque on them with the name of the box owner. Lots of horsemen and old blood in Kentucky. Many of them sit empty during the races: if the owner doesn't have a horse running, they might not be in town.

Anyway, it was beautiful.

During my time in Kentucky, I've come to realize that not everyone knows about horses, and not everyone is an expert in making bets at the track. Some of those who study the racing forms judiciously end up leaving with empty pockets, while others with dumb luck (like myself) leave with enough money to pay for valet and the bourbon consumed while betting. That's what I call winning!

Here is my completely unscientific betting strategy.

Rule 1: If the name resonates with you, bet on it.  This name had "mac" one of my favorite foods, combined with "mayo," a condiment that I abhor. Alas, it was a loser.

Rule 2: If you lose your first bet of the day, you need to make 2 bets on the next race to recover your money. I chose these because they weren't favorites, but they weren't longshots. Guessed correctly on both! (Error in the photo, the Don't Tell Sophia bet yielded $9.20 since it was a $4 bet)

Rule 3: Forget the "strategy" you used to win in the previous race and pick a name you like.  This was a long shot, so I picked him to show. He ended up winning. No complaints from me!

Rule 4: Actually remember the name "Noble's Promise" from a bumper sticker you see in your neighborhood every day. It says "I believe in Kentucky-bred Noble's Promise." Remember it was a Derby horse last year. Bet on it. Make money. Next, pick a name you like. This is probably no coincidence that the name I like is related to food. See Rule 1: Mac & Mayo.

Tell me: How do you choose your bets?

Kentucky Places: Keeneland

1949 crowd scene, via Keeneland.

When the HerKentucky team put together our list of Favorite Things earlier this year, it was no surprise that most of us mentioned Keeneland.  It's pretty much a universal thing -- everyone who's spent any time in Lexington loves Keeneland.

One of my very favorite things about going to Keeneland is that the track is always catching my fancy in new and unexpected ways.  Sometimes, I'm overcome by the majesty of the horses and the thrill of the races.  Other times, I'm struck by the beauty of the grounds, completely amazed that I'm standing less than a mile away from the clutter of the airport and the sprawl of Man O' War Boulevard.  Some days, the track is so filled with friends, classmates and acquaintances that I barely have time to place a bet amidst all the catching up.  Most often, however, I find myself getting lost in romantic notions of the track's 75 year history. 

1950 Paddock scene, via Keeneland.

Now, I love hearing about the glory days of horse racing.  I simply can't get enough of those movies like Seabiscuit and Secretariat, or any of those racehorse biographies, or any other stories of the history of the sport.  I love the idea that racing was once  a national phenomenon, and I am fascinated by the idea that thoroughbred racehorses were once celebrated as celebrity athletes.  Every time I walk the paddock at Keeneland, I envision a time long past, when everyone took horses as seriously as we do in Lexington.

via Keeneland.

  What's your favorite part of a trip to the track?

{You can read more thoughts on Keeneland from the HerKentucky team here. My article in the latest issue of Ace Weekly magazine provides an overview of the Keeneland experience for first-timers.}