As a young boy I can remember my mother watching the Kentucky Derby on TV a couple of times as I walked into our house after playing baseball or bicycling. It didn't seem like any big deal at the time. In 1970 I kind of watched it with her and what struck me most was that big crowd in the infield. In 1971 and '72,  I watched the whole coverage of the race. Little did I know at the time that I would be part of that festive infield crowd the following year.
        My friend, Rick, and myself had driven all night from Detroit. Now approximately 10:00 AM we found ourselves in a crowd of hundreds of people walking through the tunnel which lies under the stretch at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. In a couple of minutes I would be in the bright Kentucky sunlight with the temperature in the upper 70s. So on May 5th, 1973, I was part of the infield crowd of over one hundred thousand people that would witness Secretariat make history that day. "Big Red" set the track record for the mile and a quarter of 1:59 2/5 and captured  his first jewel toward a Triple Crown Victory.
        Like most events that become favorite memories, this trip was a spur of the moment decision. Twelve hours prior to entering the infield, I was at the East Warren bowling alley in Detroit where I bumped into an old friend, Rick. We got to talking about old times, mutual friends, and sports. I asked him if he thought that Secretariat would win the Derby the next day and after discussing the race, he said "why don't we go"?  Next thing you know we're quickly packing a few items, making some sandwiches, and we bought a styrofoam cooler along the way( the cooler didn't make it past the 4th race). We jumped in my Gremlin and were on our way to Louisville.
        Detroit's temperature was in the upper 50s when we left, but in Louisville 79 degrees and  sunny skies  made the atmosphere all the better. Many fans and partygoers were wearing shorts, guys had shed their shirts and girls wore tank tops and halters to catch a few rays (come to think of it - a few girls had shed their shirts too). The crowd on Derby day is like no other event. Not only do you have horse race fans, but also in attendance are: celebrities, picnickers, fraternities, sororities, party animals, and people that just want to show off their new clothes and hats. Many in the crowd never bet on a horse all day. And of course, there are those that come for the "Tradition", to be part of history. I came to see Secretariat and in so doing, I discovered what a Mint Julep is (see link below).
        The gates open at about 8:00 AM and the party continues until about 9:00 PM. They play the National Anthem at 11:00 AM and the first race goes off at about 11:30 AM (10 races total with the Derby being the 8th race) and as the day goes by you meet many interesting people that come from all different parts of the country. Many revelers overindulge and you see them passed out on blankets or just catching a little snooze. There are all types of food and drink to be had, in addition to what you bring in yourself. Its a party atmosphere like no other and music plays from boom boxes, people talk, laugh, eat, drink, play backgammon whatever. When a race is run, everyone crowds the outside fence to get a glimpse of the horses as they pass the far turn where our spot is. You can usually see the horses go by for about two hundred yards and that's it. You can hear the rest of the race if you have a radio. I brought binoculars, but found they were only good for seeing the tote board which is a quarter mile away. Its true you have a better seat in your living room, but still it is great to be part of the tradition.
If you get too hot, you can always go under the grandstand for a while. There are souvenir tables, restaurants, bars, and Mint Julep booths (see photos page). You can watch horses accompanied by their owners and trainers being saddled in the paddock area before the race. Reading the names above the paddock stalls of the great thoroughbred horses that have won "The Run For The Roses" can be an emotional moment. Such legendary names as: Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assault, Citation and others have been in that same paddock so many years ago. It's in this grandstand area where many ladies show off their glamorous hats which is another Derby tradition and there are many beautiful gardens to see near the grandstand. At about 5:00 PM the Derby horses are saddled in the paddock at which time a huge crowd gathers. Most of the celebrities are in this area or in the clubhouse or the grandstand. When the Derby horses enter the track the University of Louisville Marching Band plays "My Old Kentucky Home" and this tradition usually brings more than a few tearful eyes.
        I was ahead on my betting and when the Derby race approached, I put my money on Secretariat. He went off as the 3 to 2 favorite. When the starting gate opens the large crowd always  let's  out a deafening roar that can be overwhelming. Secretariat started far back, but sticking to the outside "Big Red" began to pass horses down the backstretch. Secretariat was 4th on the outside when I caught my glimpse of him. He later gained the lead and never looked back. Sham was 2nd. I collected my winnings and found a 2 foot by 3 foot poster board sign laying on the ground which said "New Jersey for Secretariat". I kept it as a souvenir and I still have it to this day. We stuck around for the final 2 races. As the crowd began to file out of the infield I could see that it had been a fun time for all by the amount of debris that had accumulated during the day. Our styrofoam cooler was not the only one to suffer ill consequences, as it looked like "styrofoam cooler heaven" after the crowd began to thin. Also it is a profitable day for Kentucky Fried Chicken Stockholders, as thousands of empty red and white KFC buckets litter the infield. Well we made the safe drive home and the whole trip had taken about 30 hours.
        Rick and myself went to 9 more Kentucky Derbies after that one. Many friends joined us in the years to follow, sometimes staying in Louisville for 3 or 4 days and going to concerts, festivals, visiting the Derby Museum,  attending Cincinnati Reds baseball games on the way to Louisville, or touring the Cincinnati Zoo. In Louisville, the Kentucky Derby Festival is a three week long celebration. There are: parades, a steamboat race, a 5K run, a hot air balloon race, opening day at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Oaks race, and parties galore, etc. etc. Without planning, friends who had went to prior Derbies with us would on occasion just meet us at our spot on the far turn. Then there was always times when you'd run into an old acquaintance in the infield (small world). We found that other groups picked the same spot every year and many of them became our friends for the day. If you ever get the chance visit Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day and you'll remember it forever. I'll never forget my memories of basking in the hot sun, drinking Mint Juleps, hearing "My Old Kentucky Home", and watching those fast and great horses fly by. All things considered on that First Saturday of May, I'd rather be in Louisville.

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