Monday, May 09, 2011

Kentucky Derby

This past Saturday was the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby.  The penultimate time I was there was in 1973, when Secretariat won and went on to win the Triple Crown.  It's a little hard to top that, even though I was watching from the infield on a blanket, trying to stay away from the totally inadequate restrooms,  and not wearing a hat or gloves.

My dear photographer friend, Dave, went back and worked the Derby this year.  I don't have any of those photos, but I do have some of his from a Derby in the late '70's.  His parents lived in Louisville near Churchill Downs and there were always large numbers of folks making their way to the run for the roses on the sidewalk in front of Harry and Irma's house.  Which was an  irresistible pull for Dave and his camera. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have over the years.





3 comments:

odp said...

You were at the 1973 Kentucky Derby?! Waaaah! I'd been waiting for a Triple Crown winner since two years before I was born, and in 1973 I was 10,000 miles from any TV that would broadcast the Derby (and the Preakness, and the Belmont). I've only ever seen Secretariat's runs on black-and-white reruns.

Olive, jealous

P.S. I think the guy in the bottom picture had a few too many mint juleps...

Anonymous said...

Moe also attended the 1977 Kentucky Derby, the first leg of Seattle Slew's triple crown. But when you're down on the infield with the hoi polloi, you don't actually see much of the race...

Dan Matyola said...

I love the image of the guy barfing out the car window! Thanks for sharing these photos.

Dan