It’s Derby week here and I finaly made it to Dawn at the downs. Churchill downs opens the track in the morning to let the public watch the horses exercise. It’s pretty cool. We didn’t get tickets before the club house sold out so we had to do the grand stand thing. Not to bad though, you get to be down with the horses.
The Paddocks
Backside of the famous twin Spires.
Media area overlooking the paddocks.
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What's the weather forecast for Saturday? Looks like rains a coming in a few of those pics.
Just finishing up on my handicapping for the race, but I didn't figure for a sloppy track.
Did you see that gray haired devil Baffert on the back stretch? He's been absent for a couple years and he might of brought a secret weapon.
My semi longshot pick is "Hold Me Back" ridden by a La. jockey (Desormeaux) just in case we got some cheating going on, someone from Louisiana is gonna be in on it. ;-)
It was raining off and on. As of now the forecasr for Saturday is for rain. Actually rain Friday too. If it's like the rest of the week has been then it will rain in the morning and clear up in the afternoon. Of course I never count on the weather forecast being correct until the next day. It changes fast around here.
I didn't see Baffert. The big trainers usualy get their horses on and off the track early. We got there a little late.
Not now chief! I'm in the Zone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related
"
My semi longshot pick is "Hold Me Back" ridden by a La. jockey (Desormeaux) just in case we got some cheating going on, someone from Louisiana is gonna be in on it. ;-)"
Thats Arkansas derby officals long shot pick . Get a combination ticket with the odds . The horse ran fast on our track. That was their report . I wasnt really interrested but I heard it anyway.
Tim
My #1 horse is the Louisiana Derby winner 'Friesan Fire'.
Pairing that up with 'Hold me Back' and Baffert's horse 'Nile something or other'
That's as close as I can get to a sure thing since my Prom date .;-)
My number one horses dont make any money though.
Did you see this morning scratches??
Favorite "I want revenge" scratched (New Orleans Jockey) Let the conspiracy begin....<g>
Well that sucked.
I should have boxed all the Louisiana jockeys. I left Borel out and missed out on the $42,000 trifecta.
Yo Fren'
Ray
Broke on the bayou
ps... I saw where LSU split a doubleheader with Arkansas in BB
Nobody saw that comming at 50 to 1.
Nobody saw that comming at 50 to 1.
Nobody saw Calvin coming up the rail either. http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
The replay from directly overhead was amazing. It was like everybody was standing still when #8 hit the nitrox.
I wonder if they got the results from the blood test back yet<g>
My horse "Hold me Back" finished so far out of the running that I think the jockey mistook the horses name for his race instructions.
The replay from directly overhead was amazing. It was like everybody was standing still when #8 hit the nitrox.
The 1st time they replayed it, I thought it was being played in fast motion. I didn't see him coming in the live broadcast 'til he hit the stretch and by then he was by almost everyone. The way "Borail" hugs that rail, that horse probably ran about the distance he won by less than anybody else except maybe the horse that lead most of the way and burnt out.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
I saw some incredible replays of college kids running across the top of the porta johns last night. Some of the falls reminded me of the old Agony of Defeat clip from ABC sports.
Everyone staying here that went said it was a good time. The weather was great for sitting in the infield. If I can get any of them to download their footage of the porta can racing I'll post it here. Some "Golden" moments for sure.
"If you always put limits on yourself and what you can do, physical or otherwise, you might as well be dead. There are no limits, only plateaux. You must not stay there, you must go beyond them." -Bruce Lee
See now, you just made me laugh and blow stuff across my screen.I want to say that the Preakness has taken some measures to get away from that scene, perhaps on account of some injuries among the porta-racing set.Do hope that wasn't you trying to get your 5k time down :)'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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They run a gauntlet of trash gettng thrown at them. There was one poor kid that slipped and got stuck between the two. He was there for an eternity it seemed like. They were even they were even throwing chairs at him. Poor bastad.
"If you always put limits on yourself and what you can do, physical or otherwise, you might as well be dead. There are no limits, only plateaux. You must not stay there, you must go beyond them." -Bruce Lee
Went back to the track this morning. One of my wifes nieces is in town visiting this week. She's a big horse nut, and my boss lent me his owners pass to get into the backside of the track. Very cool to get to mix in and be amongst the whole goings on behind the scene. We got there at daybreak and watched them exercise for about an hour and a half. Alexis was in heaven. I have to say that I don't have much interest in horse racing but to be in the barns and right down amongst the real people at the track was pretty cool. I didn't want to take too many pictures because I was supposed to be acting like I belonged there. But I did squeeze off a few.
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Gangstas don't dance. We boogie.
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Gangstas don't dance. We boogie.
I'm going to leave these three big but not paste them to the message. They are of the view of the grand stands from the back side of the track. I couldn't get it all into one so I had to take three.
Gangstas don't dance. We boogie.
I saw the interview of the owner before and after . In fact I played it back.
He wasnt very friendly but answered questions . He seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder over somthing .
Anyway, wonderful story for a 9500 dollar horse.
Tim
He seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder over somthing .
The trainer (on crutches) got annoyed at being asked about driving the horse up here by himself and about the $9500 sale price over and over. He wanted to talk about the horse and the jockey and probably about his training prowess, not his truck driving ability. The horse sold for $9500 as a yearling. It sold for a lot more to the current owner so that $9500 price tag was bogus to some degree.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
That covered that Id say.
You think that horse can do that again or they clog the lanes and make him bump around the next race ? He didnt run at the arkansas derby I dont think. Somthin happen to big brown big time .
Churchill Downs is one of the coolest places in KY, IMHO. I like Keeneland, but it and the Downs are night and day different.
I'd like to get a box once for Derby Day. I've been several times, but always in the infield. It sucks there if it rains.
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I was out in the infield Monday setting ATMs. They have a new deal set up. It's a special tented area with their own bathrooms, bar and entertainment. It's a hundred smackers to hang out there but your not in the mud. It kind of ruins it because it pretty much cuts the whole middle of the infield out for the common man buying the cheap tickets. I think it's going to crowd the drunk out of control crowd together even tighter then normal.
I'm not going. My wifes brother and his buddy got in from Syracuse last night, and her best friend is flying in tomorrow morning. They are all going to go. I've gone the last two years and could stand to skip one or two. It wears me out.
Not now chief! I'm in the Zone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related
The last time I went, we got to Louisville about 8PM. We closed the bars at 6AM, loaded a cooler and were on the bus to the Downs by 8AM. Got a spot by the rail by 9:30 or so and took a nap 'til about 11AM. Enjoyed the festivities, got back to the car by 7:30-8PM. Caught a quick nap and a shower at my buddy's house in Hurstbourne and hit a party by 11PM. Not sure who's house the party was at (I think it was up around Prospect), but they had NRBQ playing out by the pool. When they quit playing around 1AM, we went back downtown to some bar with NRBQ (supposedly it belonged to the brother of one of the band members) and they set up and played 'til 6AM. Got some breakfast when they put us out and drove back to Lexington.
The drive to Washington in the Flaming Winnebago seems tame compared to that.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
"The drive to Washington in the Flaming Winnebago seems tame compared to that."
That's exactly what I was thinking as I was reading that. LOL
Not now chief! I'm in the Zone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related
"They have a new deal set up"
uh ohh ...
enjoy it while it lasts!
I remember when they started making nice little improvements to the infield at Indy ... next thing ya know ... all bleachers ... and no more fun.
they ruin everything fun sooner or later.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Yep you got that right. It actually started going down hill after 911. They banned coolers and backpacks. And bottles and cans. Even sunscreen. Then of course they set up a concession stand where you could purchase all these things. At a 200 percent markup from what you pay at the local store.
It can't be a security issue. I've set ATMs in there. They don't check a soul or a package going in or out. It's free unchecked access for deliveries and vendors to the infield. They've got a security guard. He's just somebody to wave at or get directions from if you don't know where your going. They never slow anyone down.
Not now chief! I'm in the Zone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related
OAKS ADMISSION IS $50.00 AND DERBY DAY IS $150.00 FOR THE "SPECIAL" TENT
AREA..... THATS A LOT OF $$$$$$$$ JUST TO SPEND MORE $$$$$$$$$.... BUT, IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR.As long as GOD makes "bad builders" and rich people... I will have a job
I think the 150 is a package for both days. Regardless it's too much to spend to have some slob puke on your shoes.
Not now chief! I'm in the Zone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related
$175.00 = OAKS & DERBYAs long as GOD makes "bad builders" and rich people... I will have a job
Too rich for my blood. Just got everyones chairs and tarps together for tomorrow. So long suckers is all I have to say about that.
Not now chief! I'm in the Zone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related
BTW Have you been there since the big remodel a few years ago? Real nice.
Not now chief! I'm in the Zone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related
BTW Have you been there since the big remodel a few years ago?
Yeah - the Stones Concert, but not for racing. Major major improvement. http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
Yea. Finaly brought it into this century. But they left enough of the old to make you remember where your at. Good blend.
Not now chief! I'm in the Zone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related
Cool.
But I must admit I was waiting for photos of you running on the track in your new shoes!
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Not me. I don't get that drunk. Today is Oaks Day. It's like a warm up for Derby. They call it Kentucky's day at the track. Big drunk fest in the infield. Anyway I was running around downtown and heard on the local traffic report that there was a guy riding his bicycle down the interstate. Let the fun begin. :)
Not now chief! I'm in the Zone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gxsNogQDo&feature=related