Kentucky Derby 148

We arrived at the Louisville South KOA and got set up with enough time for Katrina to make steak fajitas for dinner. She made enough so that our children would be able to enjoy them the following evening. Children? Yep, they were coming to watch the races and spend some time with us. Our son Keenan flew from his home in Houston to Chicago so that he could drive down for the derby with his sister, Ariana and her husband Matt.

All three of them arrived around 10:45pm which gave us time for a drink and to catch up on life. We have been trying to see the Kentucky Derby since 2020 but COVID kept changing our plans. We were finally able to get together this year. The kids had purchased four tickets in hopes that Keenan would be able to bring a plus one. He has a girlfriend now, Sarah, but unfortunately her best friend was getting married the same day. (Not unfortunate that she was getting married, unfortunate it was the same day).

The following day we headed to Churchill Downs to attend ”Thurby” which occurs on the Thursday before the Kentucky Derby and has traditionally been for the locals. Getting dressed up for the festivities has also been a tradition and the Thurby was no exception:

The five of us had a wonderful time and it was great being there to explore the area when it wasn’t so crowded. Don’t we look good all dressed up? We had to try the Old Forester Mint Juleps as that is the drink of the Derby. Not bad in my mind, however I liked the Woodford Reserve Spire better, which is the drink of the Oaks. The official drink of Thurby is the Finlandia Oaks Lily – vodka based.

We even went onto the infield:

It was fun getting onto the field as we assumed that the infield would be packed over the next two days.

We had time that evening to get a campfire going and make some s’mores. Yummy!

Katrina and I had planned on attending the Kentucky Derby after meeting a couple from Ohio, Scott and Anne Moore whom we met at Mardi Gras in 2019. The Moore’s went to the Indy 500 with us in 2019 as well. Scott had a guy who was a Derby horse shoer and could get us excellent Derby tickets at a reduced price, so the four of us decided to go together on 2020. Since our kids really wanted to try the experience and had a place to crash, they got tickets of their own.

The night of the Thurby we were invited to have dinner by our ”host” who had secured the tickets for us. We met the Moore’s, their friends, and the hosts at Brasserie Provence and had a delicious meal. Throughout the dinner we learned that the hosts were actually a vendor of Scott’s and that this was an sales pitch to his company. We definitely felt like we were overstepping the boundaries. Additionally, it appeared to us that they had planned different activities and didn’t include us. On the drive home, Anne apologized to both Katrina and I at least thirty times. Weird!

Friday, the day before the Kentucky Derby, is known as the Kentucky Oaks. The theme of the day was “women” so the clothes of choice related to the color pink. Good thing the Busses have pink in their wardrobe! I think that Keenan really enjoyed this a Vineyard Vines is a major sponsor and he really likes their clothes.

The kids and us drove over to the Kentucky Exposition Center to catch a bus to Churchill Downs. Their tickets included parking which was a huge bonus for us. Katrina and I found our way to the Starting Gates Suites Rooftop Garden on the seventh floor as the second race was starting. What a great overall view of the track:

We were almost directly above the kids seats:

The tickets were great! Katrina and I found our assigned table (B4) and got drinks and ate lunch from the buffet as both were included with the seats.

After a few races the Moores and the others arrived and all sat at their table, B3 leaving just Katrina and I alone at B4. Talk about feeling like outsiders!

Through Facebook I had reconnected with some friends, John and Maria Kurnick, of ours from the 90’s and a few days prior we found out that they lived in Louisville and that they always attend the Oaks and the Derby. We met up with them for a quick life update and picture:

Katrina and I decided to meet up with the kids so we headed down. The family enjoyed some drinks and food as it was all complimentary there too. I think the kids really scored on their tickets. In 2020 the tickets that they got did not included food and beverage, but after COVID the track decided to open those seats up. The price was a little higher, but They thought that it was worth it.

When we returned to the seventh floor we scooted a couple of chairs over to the other table and squeezed in. We watched all the races through the Oaks. Katrina and I were watching the Oaks and while she was to collecting her winnings the rest of our group left for the day without telling us. Weird!

We collected the kids and headed out to meet up with Jeff and Molli Wills at a nearby restaurant. Mother Nature had a different plan as it started to pour rain as we waited for the shuttle bus. We were soaked and had to head back to the bus in order to get some dry clothes. Bear was sure appreciative of our return! After changing we went to meet the Wills at a closer brewery to us in Germantown called Monnik Beer Company.

What a great find with some good food!

Derby day! You have to have the correct outfit! Each of us primmed before getting into the truck and heading over to the races. I have to say that everyone looked fantastic! Check out these clothes:

Thank you Ron Sherman for letting me borrow your jacket and derby hat! Katrina’s dress matched my yellow jacket perfectly.

Here are some fun pictures:

Katrina and I headed up to the seventh floor again and once again arrived before the others. We had a quick lunch and a drink and because it was so cold and windy we decided to check out the sixth floor which was enclosed and included with our tickets. We stayed there for a few races before heading back upstairs. Once there we said hello to the group and then hid behind the bar to cut the wind. Thinking we couldn’t stay there all day, we headed down to meet up with our children and found some seats right next to them and the next few races. The people around them were so much fun! The couple (Jenny and Gary) right behind them was from Lake Forest, IL and lived about five miles from our old house and they both worked at Abbott Laboratories where I used to work. Katrina and I felt that the kids really scored with their tickets as they made friends with all the people around them. If we ever do this again we would purchase those types of tickets.

We thought that we should watch the actually Derby race from the seats that we paid for so Katrina and I headed back to the Rooftop Garden. Upon arriving there the table was empty so we found some room on the rail overlooking the track and stayed there until after the race. Katrina bet on the race on a few horses all with low odds believing that she could win. When walking back to me she ran into Anne who told Katrina to have safe travels if she never saw us again. Weird!

Here are some pictures of the actual Kentucky Derby Race number 12:

Who in their right mind would think that the longest odds horse, Rich Strike, would win the Derby. We didn’t! I personally ended the three days of racing even, not because I’m good at picking horses but because I didn’t place one bet!

Knowing that a lot of people leave after the Derby race we stayed for the next two races and rejoined our kids. I think that all three of them got their moneys worth drink-wise. Check out the fun they were having between the races:

Katrina and I herded them to the bus and then into the truck for the ride home. Ariana needed/wanted food so we ordered Domino’s and picked up the pizza before arriving at the KOA. After a bite all the kids crashed.

While I was walking Bear I ran into Scott and we exchanged a few words. Weird!

All in all we had a great time at the Derby and thought that it was a great experience to add to our travels. The part that made it special was being able to experience it for the first time with our family. Definitely the way to go! Hindsight is 20-20. The kids liked it so much that they talked about buying a horse. Who knows, maybe we will be in an owners box in a few years.

We had a very slow morning as the kids arose and packed up to head back to Chicago. Katrina and I cleaned up, packed up and headed about 50 miles north to our next destination where we were meeting up with the Wills again.