Your First Derby

[BigBlue]

Grew up in Cincinnati in 70's and 80's. My parents always went to Derby parties and my brothers and I stayed home and watched on TV.

In 2008 we decided to see it live. Standing there with Dad watching Big Brown seemingly explode to the front at the top of the stretch was unforgettable.

It's now an annual pilgramage. My two brothers, Dad and I meet in Louisville every year. Spend the weekend. Dress up like idiots. Drink too many $10 Mint Juleps. Lose all of our money (except for Dad, he wins every year). And have an amazing time.

Can't wait for this year.

[hondo]

First Derby I was at was 1980 Genuine Risk and continued to go for 12 years straight ....the stories I could tell. The first was memorable..we were doing pretty good all day and I had talked my friend off of Genuine Risk and onto Rockhill Native...where he proceeded to lose everything....he was not very a happy.

Funny thing was that when I went I was 1 for 12 when I went there and since then had 8 winners since.......maybe it was to many beers and Mint Juleps. My only winner there was Swale in 1984 ..... I remember when the race went off I was drinking in the infield all day with some guys who just got out of the Navy. I had a 250 win ticket on Swale and 74 dollars in my pocket.. just before the race I went up to the window and put another 70 on Swale and had enough for a Mint Julep. When the race went off I had a $320 win ticket, a quarter and a Mint Julep to my name. Only other good day at CD was the Easy Goer/Sunday Silence Derby...In 1989, I loved Easy Goer and had a good win bet on him...my only consolation was the $ 100 exact box i had on Sunday Silence and Easy Goer.