Talk Derby To Me

I'm back from Louisville and had an amazing trip! I left Thursday morning and stopped in Nashville for lunch with Chi O sorority sister Rachel. She gave me a quick tour of downtown and we got to catch up on everything in life the past few years. I met up with Michael and we drove up to Louisville. We arrived just in time for the Kentucky Colonels cocktail party. Everyone in my family is a Kentucky Colonels. They are a non-profit that supports various organizations in Kentucky through their Good Works program. My aunt is a trustee for the group and that is who we go to the Derby with each year.
On Friday we went to Loretto, KY to visit the Maker's Mark Distillery. Maker's Mark is my mom's favorite bourbon. It was very neat to learn the process of making bourbon, see the bottles and labels on the assembly line and then finally get to dip my own bottle in the signature red wax.

Saturday was Derby Day! We got to Churchill Downs during race #3 and stayed through #11 the Derby race. Here is a pic of my new Derby outfit by Rebecca Taylor and of course it is topped with a wide brim hat.

This is me, Michael, mom & Aunt Jan trackside for one of the turf races.

It didn't rain on Saturday but the track was very sloppy. The rain for the day before made it very cool and the horses got MUDDY when they ran. I'm glad there were no injuries this year.

The first race I bet on was a turf race. There was a horse named "Jazz in the Park." I put $5 to win because my cat's name is Jasmine and I call her Jazz for short. Jazz in the Park ended up winning and was a long shot. On my 1st race I took home $88. Great way to start the day off. I bought this bridle bit bracelet with my winnings.

Michael, me & mom toasting the Derby race about to begin. I picked #16 "Pioneer of the Nile." Michael had #7 "Papa Clem" and mom had #11 "Chocolate Candy."

After the bugle sounding, singing My Old Kentucky Home and seeing the horses loaded into the gate...they're off.

In the end it was long shot #8 "Mine that Bird" that took home the roses. Read more about it here. Once again it was a fabulous weekend and I am honored that I get to be a part of it. If you want to see more pics from the whole weekend, check out my facebook album.