Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum

Friday, June 29 

Friday morning we realized we should have arranged our touring days, but managed that over coffee, and set out for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum.  I was unprepared for my reaction when we got there, which was sheer elation!  I guess it all seemed so foreign and distant, and here we really were! So cool!  And so excited to experience it.  

The complex is huge, which I don’t think either of us were anticipating, and we had to figure out where to go, once we parked.  We bought terribly expensive senior passes for the races.....$1 each!!......then made our way to the Museum.  The museum houses trophies, silks, stories, and memorabilia about some of the more famous Derby winners, as well as a new 360 degree High Def 4D theatre where you watch a great video of some of the horses, trainers,  and jockeys....very well done, and very enjoyable.  And speaking of enjoyable, while we waited for the film to begin, we were entertained by none other than the head of security.  The man missed his calling!  He had fabulous stories to tell about people betting and winning, which were told with such skill , that he had the audience rapt and laughing!  A natural showman!  During the Derby he is too busy, but enjoys playing this part when he has time.  One story:    The  day an NFL celebrity played and won, and left the track smiling and signing autographs for everyone......on $100 dollar bills!  Yes...he got one!  And yes, he cashed it!  



(more photos to download when there is a  better connection) Using our hotspot, as wifi is so weak, and finding 3 photos is the magic number to not have to wait forever!  More to follow, so if anyone is following, check back!  :-)

The Hot Brown, created at the Louisville Brown Hotel, is an open face turkey sandwich, topped with a cheesy sauce, bacon, chopped tomato and parmesan cheese.  It was definitely very tasty, though I don't think I could eat an entire sandwich!  Clem had NO problem, and was scooping up every last bit of sauce from his dish! 

We had  lunch at the Derby Cafe, where Clem had the famous Hot Brown, which was delicious, and we shared a mint julep, the official drink of the Derby, which was equally delicious!!  We had planned on one each of the Derby Pie and Bourbon Bread pudding, but were kind of full, and service was very slow, so we passed and saved the calories for another time!  

 In addition to the tour and history, I had a bit of fun on the exhibits pretending I was riding this years' winner, Justify! 

Grandson of Meriweather Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition created Churchill Downs. 

After the museum there was of course the requisite visit to the large  gift shop, complete with fascinators and fanciful hats,  then headed to the race track, where it was so hot, we could barely stand being in the sun during the short race!  In the paddock, watching the horses and jockeys prepare for the race, I  had picked out a feisty horse, tossing his head, pushing his groom, and snorting....he has to be a winner, I figured.   Well, he  bolted out of the gates, lead the pack for much of the race, and then finished about fifth.   So much for picking a book by its cover!  I was glad I didn’t have any money on him! It was fun to see all the betting areas, though they reminded me very much of ball stadiums, cement floors, hot dogs, beer.....although mint juleps were decidedly unique!......I guess I would have expected a more elegant area.  But then, I thought skiing was a romantic until I got to clomp across muddy floors! 

Everyone bets the same way.....commoner or king.....walk up to the window and lay down your cash! 

Another gift shop near the track beckoned, not only for the different merchandise, but the allure of the air conditioning!  Here I found some of those amazing Derby duds, created by Vineyards and Vines.  Stylized prints on men’s pants, jackets and ties, and ladies dresses and scarves to match.  You can really get so caught up in it all, but I resisted the temptation!  

One of the statements in the museum by a fashion designer said basically that people arrive in $25 hats they have decorated themselves, and those their wearers have spent hundreds of dollars on, but it is all just wonderful, regardless! 

We left and were barely able to put one foot in front of the other in the heat of the parking lot, but it was just that.....an absolutely wonderful experience!

Revived by the car’s air conditioning, we did make a stop near the campground at the Jim Beam Distillery, but missed the last tour of the day, so looked around, then did a self guided walking tour past the rickhouses, or multi storied storage buildings where the bourbon is aged, and displays of cooperage.  There was a smokehouse where they were providing free BBQ pork, but we were again so hot we decided to head back, and call it a day.  We even passed on dinner out, and opted for leftovers “at home”, and a movie from the nearby Redbox!