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Dorothy Copus Brush Toast your juleps! It's almost Derby Day! In Louisville, KY, folks are proud of their
granddaddy of horse races. Since 1875, the first Saturday in
May has been special. That was the year of the first Kentucky
Derby, but it didn't take long for word of this race to spread
far and wide. Soon the Run for the Roses became an international
event. Once television became part of the coverage, the twin
spires of Churchill Downs became a familiar scene to audiences
worldwide. They held the promise of the most exciting and famous
two minutes in sports. Watching those few short minutes has been
a tradition for me in all the years the Derby has been televised.
Many traditions have built up around Derby Day. The fabulous
hats celebrities wear for the occasion, the mint juleps and the
river race between the historic Belle of Louisville and the majestic
Delta Queen. Many special happenings fill the 10-day period
before the race. The celebration for the Kentucky Derby Festival
begins with opening ceremonies and climaxes that evening with
Thunder Over Louisville, proclaimed as the largest fireworks
display in the nation. The following days are filled with over
80 events, a volleyball classic, a hole-in-one competition for
golfers, a balloon race, bed races in the street, and a competition
for local waiters and waitresses called Run for the Rose (wine
that is), which tests their serving skills. And of course, there
are lunches, dinners, dances and many special cultural events. Finally it is Derby Day. For me it would be
misery to be at Churchill Downs that day. Over 140,000 spectators
milling and jostling is not something I want to be part of. I
am glad I have been there at less crowded times. The first visit
was to the interesting Kentucky Derby Museum, and then last summer
the group I was with had lunch in the fourth-floor clubhouse
where we could watch the races below. There were thousands of
visitors there both times, but it was not the mob scene during
the Derby. The National Society of Newspaper Columnists
held its conference in Louisville last summer, and a trip to
Churchill Downs was included in the program. After a tempting
buffet lunch in the clubhouse we could step outside on the terrace
to watch races or stay inside and view them on television monitors.
If you were tempted to part with money, the official program
explained exactly what you should say to purchase your ticket
at one of the windows which lined the back wall of the dining
room. There were 10 races that day, and our host,
a long-time columnist for the Louisville newspaper, had arranged
for the sixth race to be called The Columnists' Cup Classic.
Eleven 3-year-olds ran the six and one-half furlongs, and our
group crowded the fourth-floor railing cheering them on. The
winner had the unlikely name Flattened, and her trainer called
her a sweetheart as he gave her peppermints and carrots which
she loves. We presented the winning jockey with a silver tray. Yes, Saturday afternoon I will be in my favorite
chair surrounded by quiet in my living room. Although I never
lived in Kentucky, I will choke up a bit when they play "My
Old Kentucky Home." When the horses are all in the starting
gate ready for their mad dash and the announcer shouts, "They're
off!" I'll be on my feet shouting for my favorite. Best of all, unlike golf or any of the team
sports, I don't have to wait and watch for hours of ups and downs
to know the winner. In just a few minutes the race is over, and
the 126th Kentucky Derby is history. |