mrwunrfl

I've traveled to see horse racing all over the USA. Have see races, major and minor, in Hong Kong, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, U.K., France, and Germany. I've been to the English Derby and am going to the Irish Derby in July, but have never been to the Kentucky Derby.

This year, I will go to all three legs of the Triple Crown of American racing: 1) the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky, tomorrow May 6, 2) the Preakness Stakes, in Baltimore, Maryland, May 20, and 3) the Belmont Stakes in New York on Long Island, June 10.

My plan started late, Feb 27, I decided to go to the Belmont Stakes. Ticket applications had to be in by the 28th! In mid-April, I saw a charge on my credit card for a couple of clubhouse seats for that race. That is when I started thinking about going to see all three races.

I made United frequent flyer award reservations for this weekend when I knew I had tickets to Belmont. Since I have 1K status, I knew I could cancel the reservations with no penalty. So, I made the flight reservations, just in case I decided to go.

Over the last couple of weeks I checked several ticket brokers to see what was available. Plenty available but at very high prices (5 times face value). Last Saturday, it occurred to me to look on ebay. When a horse named Willow O' Wisp stomped the field in the feature race at Santa Anita that day, to my financial advantage, I decided to splurge on a Kentucky Derby ticket.

My flight is to Louisville and returning from Indianapolis because all the flights from SDF on Sunday were booked. I made hotel reservations at the Indy airport, car reservations, and then went to ebay. Found a nice ticket in section 222 and won the bid on Sunday afternoon for 3.5 times face value. Got the ticket by express mail on Tuesday (could not sleep that night, so excited).

On Monday, I made air, hotel, car reservations in Northern Virginia. Got a ticket to the Preakness at ticketmaster.com. I've been to the Preakness a couple of times and knew that I could show up there that day and still get to see the race, if ticketmaster had been sold out.

A few days ago the closest hotel I could find to Louisville was in Scottsburg, Indiana, 25 miles or so north. I thought that after the redeye flight, and the whole day at the track, a 120 mile drive to Indy airport was probably not a good idea. So, I made a res in Scottsburg.

Late this afternoon, I searched again (at hilton.com) and found that I could get the Hampton Inn- Louisville East for Hilton Honors points! Checked to see what the price was but it was 'not available' for money! An hour or so later, I checked again and got a decent $ rate. Will decide tomorrow whether to spend the $ or points. This place is only 12 miles from the track.

Was stressing some this week because only National/Alamo had cars available. Everbody else was sold out, so I called and National confirmed that I would get a car. I finally realized that cars are available from the other major rental car companies but only if you returned the car to the airport. Only National would rent my one-way.

Have to head to LAX now to get my flight but have to repack. I packed a throwaway bag in the event that I didn't get a car when I arrived. Old jeans, shirt, etc. that I could throw away, as backpacks and luggage are not allowed at the track. Now that I am confident that I will get a car, or failing that take a taxi to my hotel, I will pack a regular bag.

I am going to bet that Brother Derek will win the Kentucky Derby. I think he has a good shot at winning the Preakness. And hopefully go to Belmont with a shot at winning the Triple Crown.

Only 11 horses have ever won the Triple Crown, the last being Affirmed in 1978. I want to see it this year.

Got an 11PM flight then a connection to get to Louisville around 9:30 AM. Gotta go.

carolyn

Hi, mrwunrfl. Your plan to see the Triple Crown races is exciting. Welcome to Louisville, and good luck with Brother Derek. The weather seems to be about perfect.

prue

You are missing some seriously great horse racing since you have not got Australia on your list!!

mrwunrfl

prue, maybe this year. When is the MC this year?

carolyn, the people of Louisville certainly are good hosts. This is the place to go if you are a racing fan.

I guess this is more of an online journal than a report.

Though I didn't pick the winner, I am happy with the winner that we got because he has enough speed to win the Preakness.

Friday night, I started my car in "old town" Seal at 9PM and made it to a parking spot in Lot C at LAX at 9:30PM. Got off the bus at terminal 1 and walked across the parking garages to terminal 7. Was through security and into the United RCC by 9:50. Managed to change my flight to leave from Lexington and got the hotel and car reservations set while at LAX.

Bumpy flight from LAX but ok. Avoid exit row seats in the middle of the plane on UA 757s because there is cold air from the exit door and the armrest is 1/3 normal length. Connecting flight from ORD to SDF was a bit early.

Louisville airport was quiet yesterday morning at 9:30. NO line at any car rental place. Took the rental car across the interstate to park in the fair grounds.

greenfieldhunter

Really sorry about yesterday- american racing cannot seem to catch a break (no pun intended)

This Preakness might go down as badly for racing as the Ruffian tragedy.

Belmont is still worth a visit as it is one of the nicest tracks in the world and the only time it is full is on Belmont Day (or BC)

If you have time go up and check out Woodbine- without a doubt the nicest turf in North America- where else can you see a 1 1/4 turf run with one turn? Otto Mile day is fun

I was up there for a race one year (actually on Bemont Day '99- Lemon Drop Kid) and a crusty bootlegger aproached me- He said "Your boss and me have something in common" (I was an assistant for a NY trainer with a known turf specialty)

The guy was seriously rough looking around the edges so I wondered what he possibly could have in common with my boss.

He responded to my bewildered look saying "Yea- me and your boss have something in common- we both like a little grass first thing in the morning"

nytraveler

What many people don;t seem to realize is that it's not just bad luck that there hasn;t been a triple crown winner in so long. It's actually surprising that there have been so many.

First, the horses that are racing are the human equivalent of middle school kids - certainly not adults, or even high school students - so many good horses have not fully developed yet. Also 3 races in such a short period of time is a huge demand on the stamina of such young horses.

Second, American horses are not breed for mile and half raaces like the Belmont - which is why there have been so many winners of the first 2 races that fail at the third. Unlike europe US breeders really breed for mile or 1 1/4 mile races - so few horses can really succeed at the Belmont - even if they weren't already exhauseted by the first two races.

So it takes not only a truly exceptional horse - but also a very precocious one to win all 3 races - regardless of the competition.

mrwunrfl

I hope his surgery goes ok today.

LLindaC

Did you post a trip report on your Derby visit? Did I miss it. My heart sank when I saw that poor horse holding his leg up yesterday. Still haven't heard anything, but they have better procedures for helping leg breaks nowadays, including thalassotherapy.

ChristieP

Sea salt soaking is not going to help here. Barbaro broke his leg in two places, and totally shattered his ankle bone. The injury is considered life-threatening. He is undergoing surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. www.bloodhorse.com will have updates as they are available.

breathe

I was so excited to watch the Preakness after seeing Barbaro win the Derby. He is such a magnificent animal and I feel so bad for him and everyone connected to him. I hope he survives this so he can breed. Keep us posted on any news please. I am in Vegas right now and I probably won't catch the news. Thanks

LLindaC

Christie, of course I know that such injuries are life threatening. I trained rode my Saddlebred horse to two World Championships. I has heard that he had a slight fracture. It was only later today that I realized the full extent of the injury. He underwent a six hour surgery today. I've not heard the prognosis, but I do know that they've come a long way from "shoot them when they're down" of yesteryear. Let's keep our fingers crossed. It sure was a sad ending to a great story.

LLindaC

I had heard, sorry

mrwunrfl

Good news:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horse...-surgery_x.htm
http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=33671

Scarlett

Hello there, mrwunrfl!
What a great idea, the Triple Crown with a report!
7 hours of surgery and he "practically pranced back to his stall" !! I hope he remains as strong and lives a long life breeding wonderful racing children !

mrwunrfl

Hi Scarlett

I hope to post a report about the "Run For The " and the Preakness soon, before the Belmont Stakes, I hope.

prue

mrwunrfl,
The Melbourne Cup is always on the first Tuesday in November - making it the 7th this year. Actually the best day of racing during that Carnival is the Saturday beforehand (4th) which includes the Derby and about 3 other Group 1 races.

mrwunrfl

Oh that clarifies it. My memory was that there was a derby race the weekend before the MC. But was confused and thought that was in NZ. I think I understand now that the race to see in NZ is the NZ Cup and it is after the MC, the 12th last year, so probably 11/11 this year. Too bad the Cox Plate is so early, Oct 28.

What Derby on the 4th? I just read something that implied the AJC Aussie Derby was in April. OTOH November down there is like May here, so it would be the right time in the breeding cycle for a derby.

cindyeo

mrwunrfl, are you still out there? I just bought tickets for the Kentucky Derby in section 222 for 2007 and wanted to know how the view is from there and do people dress up in that section, or just in the boxes?

mrwunrfl

Section 222 is where I sat, in row J. What is important is: what row are you in? If you have row A then you have fabulous seats.

Section 222 is at the 1/8th pole, a great location because you are midway between the starting gate for the Derby and the finish line.

The seats are bleacher seats. Some (maybe many) of the people were dressed up in that section. If you want to dress up, then that would be ok, you just wouldn't give the full effect since the hobnobbing wouldn't be as good as in the sections above you, but you could parade about behind the grandstand and around the walking ring.

If you want to dress casually then you will be fine, you will not be underdressed. This is not the Royal Enclosure at Ascot.

Unfortunately the slope (rake?) of the seats is not good so if you are not in the first few rows then there is a good chance that the people in front of you will block your view of the races.

I would not have wanted to be in row K or L (or M if there was one, but I think L was the last row). Rows K and up were under an overhang that was a bit too low-hanging. I paid about $400 for my ticket in row J and, after seeing the difference in the view, would have happily paid $150 more for row A.

mrwunrfl

Another point is that there was a good amount of shade in my row, and I think in the entire section. Would have had some protection from rain in the back rows, depending on which way the rain came down.