Thursday, March 15, 2007
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Part 7
I love going to the race track. There's something about being there with the old characters, watching the ponies and placing bets. I started going shortly after college and probably did a lot better then before I "knew" what I was doing. When I moved to Cleveland in 1993, Thistledown was a place I would go to every couple weeks. I never lost a lot, never won a lot.
So it was natural to one day do what should be on everyone's "Top 25 list of things to do before they die", the Kentucky Derby. I attended my first Derby when I was probably 27 or so, back when money was no object because I didn't have any. About 6 guys went down, I know BG and Shep were involved and maybe some of BG's Cincinnati friends, and we stayed at some cheap motel where half the guys had to sleep on the floor. We partied in Louisville the night before and "watched" the races from the infield on Derby day. Amazing thing about the infield, you really can't see any of the horses but you can drink and make bets and that was fine with us.
I went to a few other Derbys, always in the infield and always more about the mint juleps than anything else. One year we snuck in small bottles of liquor, that was the year that Shep and I drank BGs bottle when he wasn't looking. He didn't need it at that point.
I had a chance to go back to the Derby a few years ago when our D.C. lobbyist called and said a Congressman had canceled the trip they had planned and would I be interested in using it and oh by the way it was paid for already. That took me about two seconds to blurt out yes and I was on my way to Louisville. An ex-Senator friend of mine had told me it was on his list and he was thrilled to be going and was willing to reimburse for expenses (Ohio has tough ethics laws) so off we went, his wife along for the ride.
We had rooms at the Seelbach Hilton, the only 4 diamond hotel in Louisville, and it is very nice. Fortunately, my friend's shower had been used after the cleaning lady had cleaned the room so we got comped at the old Seelbach Bar, at that time noted for being a top 100 bar in the country. We drank bourbon, something I don't particularly like but when in Kentucky...
After checking in, our driver picked us up for the short ride out to the track for the Kentucky Oaks, a race the day before the Derby. I've never had a driver before but I highly recommend it. He was at our beck and call all weekend and it was fantastic. We had a private box for the Oaks and that was nice although we only got to catch the Oaks and two other races. We hit a nice buffet that cost something like $50 a person that night and headed back to the hotel so the Senator could put his wife to bed. It was only 9:00 p.m. so we had our driver pick us up and take us to a riverboat casino in Indiana. Did I mention how great it is to have a driver?
The next day, we ate breakfast at the Seelbach and headed out to the Derby fairly early. Our driver bought us souvenir hats and shirts and parked very close to the track. The first race starts at noon or so and we wanted to get out and start it up. It was a beautiful spring day, we wore jackets and ties but they didn't last long. When you are in the infield, you drink a lot of beer and only a few mint juleps. We reversed that in our reserved seats for the Derby, I don't particularly like mint juleps but when at Churchill Downs...
The race was fantastic. There is so much more excitement in the air among people in the grandstands than there is in the infield. Everyone is on their feet and screaming for the greatest two minutes in sports. I loved it.
After the races, we found a great casual joint that I wish I could remember the name to. They had the best fried pickles. We went out on the town again that night but the bourbon and the excitement had worn us out. We ended up back at the bar drinking the official bourbon of the Derby and the bartender gave us a bunch of souvenir glasses.
It was a great trip and I enjoyed going first class. The infield is great but I suppose at a certain age you outgrow it.
I love the Kentucky Derby and now Sarah and I host an annual party at our house. There are still things left to do on my list of 25 and I'm just waiting for the Bengals to get to the Super Bowl again and the Reds to make the World Series.
I love going to the race track. There's something about being there with the old characters, watching the ponies and placing bets. I started going shortly after college and probably did a lot better then before I "knew" what I was doing. When I moved to Cleveland in 1993, Thistledown was a place I would go to every couple weeks. I never lost a lot, never won a lot.
So it was natural to one day do what should be on everyone's "Top 25 list of things to do before they die", the Kentucky Derby. I attended my first Derby when I was probably 27 or so, back when money was no object because I didn't have any. About 6 guys went down, I know BG and Shep were involved and maybe some of BG's Cincinnati friends, and we stayed at some cheap motel where half the guys had to sleep on the floor. We partied in Louisville the night before and "watched" the races from the infield on Derby day. Amazing thing about the infield, you really can't see any of the horses but you can drink and make bets and that was fine with us.
I went to a few other Derbys, always in the infield and always more about the mint juleps than anything else. One year we snuck in small bottles of liquor, that was the year that Shep and I drank BGs bottle when he wasn't looking. He didn't need it at that point.
I had a chance to go back to the Derby a few years ago when our D.C. lobbyist called and said a Congressman had canceled the trip they had planned and would I be interested in using it and oh by the way it was paid for already. That took me about two seconds to blurt out yes and I was on my way to Louisville. An ex-Senator friend of mine had told me it was on his list and he was thrilled to be going and was willing to reimburse for expenses (Ohio has tough ethics laws) so off we went, his wife along for the ride.
We had rooms at the Seelbach Hilton, the only 4 diamond hotel in Louisville, and it is very nice. Fortunately, my friend's shower had been used after the cleaning lady had cleaned the room so we got comped at the old Seelbach Bar, at that time noted for being a top 100 bar in the country. We drank bourbon, something I don't particularly like but when in Kentucky...
After checking in, our driver picked us up for the short ride out to the track for the Kentucky Oaks, a race the day before the Derby. I've never had a driver before but I highly recommend it. He was at our beck and call all weekend and it was fantastic. We had a private box for the Oaks and that was nice although we only got to catch the Oaks and two other races. We hit a nice buffet that cost something like $50 a person that night and headed back to the hotel so the Senator could put his wife to bed. It was only 9:00 p.m. so we had our driver pick us up and take us to a riverboat casino in Indiana. Did I mention how great it is to have a driver?
The next day, we ate breakfast at the Seelbach and headed out to the Derby fairly early. Our driver bought us souvenir hats and shirts and parked very close to the track. The first race starts at noon or so and we wanted to get out and start it up. It was a beautiful spring day, we wore jackets and ties but they didn't last long. When you are in the infield, you drink a lot of beer and only a few mint juleps. We reversed that in our reserved seats for the Derby, I don't particularly like mint juleps but when at Churchill Downs...
The race was fantastic. There is so much more excitement in the air among people in the grandstands than there is in the infield. Everyone is on their feet and screaming for the greatest two minutes in sports. I loved it.
After the races, we found a great casual joint that I wish I could remember the name to. They had the best fried pickles. We went out on the town again that night but the bourbon and the excitement had worn us out. We ended up back at the bar drinking the official bourbon of the Derby and the bartender gave us a bunch of souvenir glasses.
It was a great trip and I enjoyed going first class. The infield is great but I suppose at a certain age you outgrow it.
I love the Kentucky Derby and now Sarah and I host an annual party at our house. There are still things left to do on my list of 25 and I'm just waiting for the Bengals to get to the Super Bowl again and the Reds to make the World Series.
