Fore the record, the crowds on both Derby and Oaks days were records.  The joint was packed.  Sunday brunch at the Bristol with Judy was as delicious as ever.  The drive back to Indy was uneventful.  The flight home on Southwest was chock-a-block full but on-time.  Dinner was from Wendy’s.  Here are a few pictures that Dee texted to us Sunday morning – (click to enlarge):

Derby Day at Churchill Downs was glorious.  The weather was perfect.  We had winners.  We had a great time with friends.  My Derby horse ran great, but just not great enough.  Firing Line looked like a winner at the 16th pole but American Pharaoh was too good.  I had an $18 winner in the second race and a $49 winner in the fourth.  Plus a couple more winners who paid $7 or so.  Therefore, my long Derby/Oaks day losing streak has officially ended.  We made back all we had lost the previous three days and then some.

Tom Brady and Gronk and a bunch of Patriots were at the game but didn’t stop by our box to say hello.  The nerve!

After the Derby dinner was take out from McDonald’s as we were both exhausted.  We ate it in the room and then zonked out.  This morning we have early brunch (10:00 am) with our friend Judy at the Bristol Bar and Grill and then head to Indianapolis for our return flight to PHX.

Pictures tell the story (click them to enlarge):

Weather has been great!  Gambling has been awful.  Oaks Day yesterday was a gambling disaster.  I am getting used to it and I am at peace with it.  Another try today.  I am due.

Dinner Wednesday night at Brasserie Provence with Eddie and Dee and Brooke was memorable.  Great food!  Elaine didn’t feel well Thursday night so she skipped sinner at Ruth’s Chris with Karen, John, and Lee.  She missed a good meal.  Fortunately she was back at the top of her game for Oaks Day.  We had delicious barbecued tenderloin of beef sandwiches at the track compliments of Dee.  Today she is bringing shrimp and avocado wraps.

A few pics (click to enlarge):

Aside from having to get up at 4:30 am for our 7:30 flight, Tuesday was a good travel day:

Flight: Southwest 1880 non-stop to Louisville – on time, empty middle seat

Car: Easy no-counter pickup from Alamo – Buick Enclave SUV – almost new and very big!

Drive:  I-65 to Louisville – 130 minutes – some traffic due to construction

We checked in at our usual Louisville hotel, the Marriott Springhill Suites at 4:30.  At about 6:00 we headed for Shenanigan’s Irish Grille for dinner.  Our friend, Eddie, the owner was there to greet us.  We enjoyed hamburgers and fries while sitting outside. I opted for pints of Guinness.  Elaine had Pinot Noir.  Eddie ate with us, and we recounted old times and new Louisville news.

The best news is the weather forecast in oft rainy Louisville:  slight chance of showers today and tomorrow, but gloriously rain-free on Oaks and Derby Days.  We will be off to the track today and then have our dinner tonight with Eddie, Dee, and Brooke.

Until tomorrow!

Travel season has arrived once again.

It’s DERBY TIME!

On Tuesday, April 28th, we will be up at dawn for a 7:30 flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor to Indianapolis International Airport on Southwest.  “Why Indianapolis”, you ask?  Louisville Airport is a zoo during Derby week, especially on Sunday after the Derby when we will be flying home again.  So we normally fly somewhere reasonably close and then drive on in.  We used to go to Nashville.  But Indianapolis is actually a little closer to Louisville. It’s about a two hour drive.  And most importantly, Southwest has non-stops to and from Indianapolis.  Changing planes en-route is not on my “like-to-do” list.  Indianapolis Airport is a pleasant little place (as airports go), and the car rental pickup is right at the terminal — no buses to and from off-site rental centers.

As usual, I rented our car through Costco and booked it way back in October.  But, as always, I keep checking the Costco site for better deals.  Costco offers rates on Avis, Budget, Alamo, and Enterprise.  In checking this week I found there was a much better deal on Alamo.  I upgraded my original reservation from an economy SUV to an intermediate SUV and added in a GPS.  The new rate from Costco/Alamo was $100 cheaper than the old Costco/Avis rate.  I used to avoid Alamo (for no special reason except liking to deal with Hertz and Avis).  But we had a very good experience with Alamo last year in Florida, so they are now on my “OK” list.

From Indy, we will drive to Louisville and should be at the hotel by about 3:45 pm.  We will have a nice dinner somewhere and go to bed early (jet lag and all)!

Wednesday and Thursday are most likely track days, but if the weather sucks we will find other things to do.  Friday is Oaks Day at the track and Saturday is Derby Day.  Those are rain or shine days.

Wednesday night we will have dinner as usual with our friends Edward and Dee and Brooke.  Another friend, Judy, will not join us this year as she is having dinner with other friends (the nerve!) that night on the Belle of Louisville for the Great Steamboat Race, a signature Derby Festival event.  Fun!  We just saw Edward and Dee this past February when we were in Louisville for their much anticipated and long overdue wedding.  It was a GREAT wedding!

Thursday night we will have dinner with our dear friends Lee and John Lutes and their daughter Karen.  Lee and John used to sit with us in our box at the Derby.

Friday and Saturday nights will be quiet and alone.  We will both be exhausted after long days at the track – the first race on Oaks and Derby Days  is at 10:30 am and we will be at Churchill Downs by about 9:15 am. Hopefully this year we will cash some tickets.  Over the years I have done exceptionally well at Churchill, but I have not cashed a ticket on Oaks or Derby day since 2012.  That’s a long drought for a gambler.

Stay tuned to this station for updates as I have time to do them.