The 150K people don't show up for one two-minute race. The Derby is an all-day affair.

 

All weekend affair. The Anita Madden party is a nationally known party that has been attended by plenty of A-list celebrities and prominent figures. Saturday night of Derby weekend is always fun and the cookouts are on Sundays.

Edited May 8, 201313 yr by PurplePride92

I really enjoy going to the track and having just a little riding on most of the races.

 

That being said, I have less than zero desire to attend a Derby in person. I'm at an age where several hours of aggravation isn't high on my bucket list.

That statement right there shows you aren't from Kentucky. Until NASCAR gets a race the equivalent of the Daytona 500 in Kentucky then it will always be Horse Racing-1 NASCAR-0 in Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby is the Daytona 500 of horse racing and it has also been ran longer than the Daytona 500. When 30 million dollars gets bet on the Daytona 500 or when Kentucky gets to even host one of the final 10 races in the Chase for the Cup......holla at ya boy. NASCAR will NEVER be as prominent as horse racing in our great state.

 

Thank goodness for that.

All weekend affair. The Anita Madden party is a nationally known party that has been attended by plenty of A-list celebrities and prominent figures. Saturday night of Derby weekend is always fun and the cookouts are on Sundays.

 

It's honestly a two week party... Thunder kicks off the Derby Festival, and there's something to do related to the KDF every day until Derby. Always a fun time of year in Louisville.

Plus, I'm not impressed by something I'm pretty sure I can do. The allure of watching pro sports is I can't dunk a basketball and I can't hit a 92mph slider. I can drive really, really well. I'm more impressed by the drivers at the dirt tracks, who finance their own racing and do the mechanical work themselves. Not Tony Stewart, who's just a goober on silly commercials.

 

Cue the "NASCAR drivers are athletes" wackos. :lol2:

Am I the only one who misses not having Urkel...excuse me, Kendall Hansen, involved with the run to the triple crown this year?

 

No dyed tails, steward challenges, toy ponies throw to the crowd in the paddock, blue tail horses, sky writers, kissing the ground after the Breeders Cup Juvenile win.

 

He is a clown, but entertaining.

 

Reminds me of:

 

I said where I come from

It's horse racing and bourbon

Where I come from a lot of back yard basketball

 

Kentucky: the land of great bourbon, fast horses and beautiful women; that is until there has been enough bourbon consumed and it then becomes: beautiful horses and fast women.

I just submitted my name for Masters tickets for next year. Not a fan of watching golf, but it is the event which intrigues me. I'm a 25++ handicap but have played Pebble Beach.

I was at the Oaks the past few years in box seats and took a stroll into the infield. Great event. I hit Keeneland once or twice a year. I don't study the horses but I make a few bets for fun based on horses names or lucky numbers.

I went to the night race at Bristol, had pit passes, suite seats and still think it is the dumbest thing that people watch. (Nope I just can't call it a sport). However, It was entertaining watching those fans.

Not a fan of the NBA, but have been to several NBA Finals including a couple of years ago when LA beat the Celtics in game 7.

Been to Final 4's, NBA all star games, KHSAA state Championship, World Series, Opening days, ATP, and I have seen almost every major band from the 70's and 80's in concert.

I've witnessed about any major sporting event there has been except the Masters and the Superbowl (which I will go when the Bengals go--so that will never happen). I do play in a fantasy football league to keep me interested in the rest of the league. I used to split Bengals seats and currently split a Reds Friday night package.

Point being, I have an appreciation for the "event". I don't have to be a huge fan, but I love the competition, I love the Passion of fans and I love people watching. Nothing more fun than getting caught up in the hype that surrounds these marketing masterpieces!

I just submitted my name for Masters tickets for next year. Not a fan of watching golf, but it is the event which intrigues me. I'm a 25++ handicap but have played Pebble Beach.

I was at the Oaks the past few years in box seats and took a stroll into the infield. Great event. I hit Keeneland once or twice a year. I don't study the horses but I make a few bets for fun based on horses names or lucky numbers.

I went to the night race at Bristol, had pit passes, suite seats and still think it is the dumbest thing that people watch. (Nope I just can't call it a sport). However, It was entertaining watching those fans.

Not a fan of the NBA, but have been to several NBA Finals including a couple of years ago when LA beat the Celtics in game 7.

Been to Final 4's, NBA all star games, KHSAA state Championship, World Series, Opening days, ATP, and I have seen almost every major band from the 70's and 80's in concert.

I've witnessed about any major sporting event there has been except the Masters and the Superbowl (which I will go when the Bengals go--so that will never happen). I do play in a fantasy football league to keep me interested in the rest of the league. I used to split Bengals seats and currently split a Reds Friday night package.

Point being, I have an appreciation for the "event". I don't have to be a huge fan, but I love the competition, I love the Passion of fans and I love people watching. Nothing more fun than getting caught up in the hype that surrounds these marketing masterpieces!

 

Hey, TAC......do you need another son? 38 going on 39. He works, cleans up after himself and sometimes even listens to authority. Great kid. He's yours if you want him. I'll send him right to you in time for the next event you want to hit up. Just let me know. Get at me.:thumb:

Hey, TAC......do you need another son? 38 going on 39. He works, cleans up after himself and sometimes even listens to authority. Great kid. He's yours if you want him. I'll send him right to you in time for the next event you want to hit up. Just let me know. Get at me.:thumb:

 

Funny, I read this after I typed it and realized how blessed I am. Work has put me on a scholarship for some events, but others come out of the wallet. Can't take it with me and I'm sure not leaving it for my kids.

I'll see you at the AAU state tourney next weekend?

Funny, I read this after I typed it and realized how blessed I am. Work has put me on a scholarship for some events, but others come out of the wallet. Can't take it with me and I'm sure not leaving it for my kids.

I'll see you at the AAU state tourney next weekend?

 

I plan on being there on Saturday or Sunday or both. I'll have my adoption papers.

I plan on being there on Saturday or Sunday or both. I'll have my adoption papers.

 

It would be just your luck that TAC will be converted into the world's greatest Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan as soon as those papers go through.

I just got back from the Horse Players World Series and I was searching to see if anyone else played in it and came across this thread. Lots of interesting thoughts and opinions about horse racing. Horse racing is my absolute favorite sport. I love the mental part of handicapping and I wonder if one of the bigger reasons those who don't like the sport are simply intimidated by it. Reading the racing form or track program is like reading a foreign language to those who haven't been taught to do so. I can understand completely why this could be a turn off to the sport. But if you are good with numbers, understand statistics and like to think, you may be surprised at how much this sport will suite you.

I love horse racing. I think the horses are amazing and the entire sport is a rush.

 

Actually some of my favorite times was being a secret shopper for RSkinner years back at Turfway when he worked there. He'd set us up with the races and horses to bet and give us the money to bet etc. and we would grade the employees etc. Had a blast, placedour own bets along the way etc and made for a great Friday night at the track.

Been to both NASCAR and horse track. Had much more fun at the horse track. Will never go back Sparta. Was bored out of my mind...