My First Visit to Churchill Downs

My friend Kurt and his mother came to town this past weekend for a visit and Kurt and I decided to head over to Churchill Downs to watch a few horse races. Of course, some betting took place at the track. Kurt managed to pick the last place finisher in his first race. That was AWESOME! HUGE congratulations to Kurt on that one...and believe me, I made just as much fun of him at the track as I just did right here.

Anyhoo...my first bet was a trifecta 4-5-6. The horses finished 5-4-6. Had I bet Trifecta Box (horses finish any order in the top three), I would have won $300 (oops). Had the horses finished 4-5-6, I would have won $700+. Oh well... maybe some other day. I did win $48 on the 2nd race I ever bet on when my horse came in first. Well...my horse actually finished 2nd - but was awarded first when it was determined the winning horse used illegal tactics to cut my horse off down the stretch.

Anyways...all good fun. Kurt and I had a great time, Mint Julips all around. Something tells me this won't be my last visit to the track.

Here are some photos....

Churchill Down and THE Twin Spires from the parking lot
The Main Entrance at Churchill Downs
Bottom Shelf Bourbon + Sugar Water + Spearmint = Mint Julip = Blech!
Pre-race horse parade in the Paddock just inside the main gate
'And Down The Stretch They Come' My first Race at Churchill
The Race Winner 'Grandstanding' just shy of the finish line
Some racing on the grass track inside the dirt
My horse in race 2 was cheated. Here's the proof!!! Ching Ching!!

Thanks to all those who put up with my picture messages during the course of my trip to Churchill... The Z's, Mr. Joe K. and the others I don't remember :)