KY Derby, Again

[cmucker]

In May, I posted an OT about the KY Derby since I was curious about the current students participation at the Derby. In the 60s, the Derby was a right of passage. The OT post got relegated to miscellaneous, where it remains. Is the Derby still a major, must attend social event for the students? In the good old days, it was the bane of Pat Ratterman's existence. Neutral admits there are few true basketball posts, this summer, so maybe this time the post will not go direct to miscellaneous and replys will be forthcoming. There has to be Derby stories out there.

Sloth

[Mr. Neutral]

I've been to about 10 Derbys, and never had less than a great time. Got rained on a few years, slept outside more than once, missed the race at least once due to way too many pre-race mint juleps, but I always recommend that people go at least once.

Unlike the 500, they wouldn't let you bring in liquor, so one year my buddy went inside and then I tossed about 40 cans of beer over the fence, and then went through security with just a cooler filled with ice.

[muskieman]

I've been to about 10 Derbys, and never had less than a great time. Got rained on a few years, slept outside more than once, missed the race at least once due to way too many pre-race mint juleps, but I always recommend that people go at least once.

Unlike the 500, they wouldn't let you bring in liquor, so one year my buddy went inside and then I tossed about 40 cans of beer over the fence, and then went through security with just a cooler filled with ice.

I hope that was before law school.

[Mr. Neutral]

It was, but I don't see it as a law-license deal breaker. Heck, I'd do it today!

[Shadow]

I've been to about 10 Derbys, and never had less than a great time. Got rained on a few years, slept outside more than once, missed the race at least once due to way too many pre-race mint juleps, but I always recommend that people go at least once.

Unlike the 500, they wouldn't let you bring in liquor, so one year my buddy went inside and then I tossed about 40 cans of beer over the fence, and then went through security with just a cooler filled with ice.

I hope that was before law school.

Those were his undergrad years. It took him a while.
He has repeatably said he didn't study that hard.

[Mr. Neutral]

Nope, it was post-X, pre-law school.

And, yes, I studied as little as possible. Had a great time, met great friends, have some great stories, and graduated the same day as the 4.0 guys. I'm OK with it.

[paulxu]

Yes I've been to Derbies in the 60's.
No, I didn't necessarily "see" any horses racing.
Yes they were great times.
There was a cartoon in the student paper of "Sloth."
Same guy?

[cmucker]

My dorm nickname and the cartoon were called Hostile Sloth. My roommate drew the strip for the X news.

In the 60s, there was no problem getting booze into the infield. We would just buy a trash can, ice and whatever we wanted to drink and carry the crude cooler into the infield. If you didn't have booze, you were a suspect. The 3rd turn was the student Sodom & Gomorrah section. As a freshman, I was not prepared for the lewd behavior, heavy drinking and nudity that came with the Derby. After the 4th race in '64, I realized this was the Derby experience. It wasn't until my 4th Derby that I actually saw a horse.

The modern Derby seems to be expensive with the $40 price to get into the infield and $8 beers. I think we paid a buck or two to get into the infield and a 6-pack only cost about $1.25 back then. My 4 Derbys were great fun, still providing memories.

[ChitownSteve]

All I can say is our daughter, a 2010 X Grad, went to the Derby with several X friends. The fact that the 5 of them have a photo with Kenny Frease (towering over them) during this Derby visit might indicate it still interests some students.