My friends and I packed into my Ford Focus Friday morning to drive to Louisville, KY to partake in our first Kentucky Derby.  After the 7 hours of driving in off again/on again rain showers we crossed the bridge to Louisville enveloped in blue skies and sun. 

Since we had to wait for my boyfriend's cousin to get there from Chicago (he was our connection to the free accommodations and derby party), we decided to hit the Pre-Derby Festival by the river(cross between church festival and Summerfest).  The reason being was the B-52s were playing a free show.  And they were great.  They played a lot of their new songs but also played the songs we love like "Rock Lobster" and of course, "Love Shack". 

Next morning brought a chilly but clear day which was good since the forecast had called for rain all day.  But as a precaution, I wore my galoshes, with the dress and hat I made for the Derby.  Upon arriving to the location where the bus would take us to Churchill Downs, we were bombarded with Jello shots galore and a beer...what time is it 9:30am?  Us Milwaukee-ans, asked, "why didn't we start drinking earlier".  Loaded on the bus, Jello shots were flying as our captain literally threw them out to whoever could catch them, considering there were over a 100, he needed to get rid of them. 

After a short ride our bus dropped us off at Papa Johns Stadium, where A cup girls suddenly turned into double DD's due to the baggies of alcohol that they were stuffing into their bras.  Myself, I was able to put some mini bottles in my galoshes.  Once everyone had their items concealed, we proceeded to walk to Churchill Downs and pay our $40 ticket fee.  Once inside we went to the infield where we set up camp. 

Then I set out to place my bets and grab my first mint julep ever.  Now  I know people say they are nasty but I didn't find it that bad, in fact, I was able to get 5 down that day. 

You may ask what I did at the Derby...my answer is "I don't know."  I guess I indulged in some sins- drinking and gambling all day with the occasional wait in the bathroom lines which surprisingly moved very quickly.  But otherwise, I don't know what I did.  People would come back and say they saw this or that or did you go to the 3rd turn or whatever fun was going on but I couldn't make it.  I was glued to the  large tv screen in the field to watch the next race.  

All in all it was a good day until the final race....perhaps it was the excitement and anticipation for the final derby race...or perhaps it was too many mint juleps but the buzz and joy of the day came to a crash when the race was over and I saw and found out the details of Eight Belles.  How could it be?  I just saw that horse race past us minutes earlier.  And so my Derby experience ended with sobbing and anguish for that poor horse.  And I know why they did what they did and all that...but its still so sad to actual see the drama unfold.

The day was good and I had fun except for the end.  Buzz kill, for sure.

Kentucky Derby 2009?  Perhaps but I think this time I'll sit in the stands.