An Epic Kentucky Derby

Wow. Every year I show up back home in Louisville, thinking Derby will be good, but there’s no way it can top last year. Every year I’ve been wrong. This year was simply fantastic. My good friend Dan Winn made it into town and I got to meet his brother Matt Winn, who I’d only known electronically until now. Instant friends. There were so many good times this week, it’s hard to run through them all, but here are the highlights: 5 hour happy hour with Joe Wheeler, Amy Wheeler, Rob May and Todd Earwood. What a great group… hope to see more of them whenever I’m in town. Thursday at the Turf club in Churchill Downs with Larry Shapin and Ladonna Nicolas and their friends Sherry, Chris, Patty and Earnest. Great seats, good company, and learning about how to handicap the races… Crazy Thursday night, starting with dinner at Jacob’s house, then out with Matt and Dan on Bardstown. Much drinking and debauchery, ending in deep fried Oreos at 5am. Rainy Friday running… skipped the Oaks and went to the Barnstable Brown Party with Larry and Ladonna, who generously offered me a ticket. Drinking Grey Goose, dancing and hobnobbing with celebrities like Hugh Hefner and his girls, Edward Norton, Run DMC, Eddie Money and his daughter, the Lachey brothers, and many others… Another 5am night followed at 4th street, where I waltzed into every bar and VIP section, cover-free, due to my fancy schmancy tuxedo attire, and a little ‘playing the part.’ A beautiful Derby day, dressed up for the infield/paddock with Matt and Dan. More running into friends, drinking mint-juleps, and general craziness. Wild and crazy Derby night, starting at the Pendennis Club after another dinner with Jacob and friends. Then to Bardstown road. Chalk up night #3 that lasted well past 5am. A fantastic brunch with Jacob’s grandparents. What a Derby. I had an absolute fabulous time with Jacob, Matt and Dan, and was really glad that Dan made it into town all the way from Seattle. I’ve got another day here before heading back myself, but I am consistently impressed with my hometown of Louisville… The city is always improving, the people are beautifully warm and I love running into old friends. Love it.