– Delicious Dee's 2008 Derby Text Updates –
Delicous Dee (right) is a Kentucky native and Derby veteran.
THURSDAY – The real partying in Louisville doesn't begin until Friday. On Thursday, the scene is in Lexington, where all the horse farms are located. On Friday, everyone makes the short drive to Louisville and, well, let the partying begin!
FRIDAY – The Pegasus paraide kicks off the weekend festivities. Today I'm checking out the action at the Oaks race and touring a bourbon distillary. The Brownsdale gala is the grandaddy of them all tonight; I'll be attending one of these elusive parties. Tonight looks like Hollyood as celebrities and sports icons like Tom Brady and Randy Moss, reality stars Heidi Mongag and Spencer Pratt walk the red carpet.
The scene at 4th Street Live.
FRIDAY UPDATE – Rain and thunderstorms may be blowing in; however, that doesn't stop anyone from drinking and partying on Oaks day. Hats are still being worn and the bourbon is still flowing.
FRIDAY NITE PARTY REPORT – Well the rain and the late hours didn't keep many away from Felt Nightclub (adjacent to Lucky Strike) in Lousiville's downtown 4th Street scene. It was 11 p.m., and the shannigans of the day had taken a toll with many people getting tossed by Lousiville's finest.
Delicious Dee made her way to the front of a huge line to inquire about the VIP entrance, where a very nice gentleman named Jake, a multiple club owner from Ottawa, Canada, asked if we would like to be escorted to the entrance. Delicious Dee took the Southern route and delightfully said "please" and "thank you."
Greeted by Alli (Alexandria the PR rep in charge of the party), the sponsored event by In Touch Weekly, Budweiser Select, Pama Pomogranate, and Proflowers was just about to get started. With ice sculptures, an open bar (for select people) and non other than DJ AM spinning from midnight to 3 am, you knew this was the place you wanted to be tonite.
Despite the rain pouring down for most of the evening, it wasn't enough to keep the celebrities away from the party. Coming in slowly, as the many Galas around town were ending, were Bob Guinney from the Bachelor and his wife from All My Children, Heros Star Greg Grunberg, Michael Strahan of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants and Larry Birkhead, just to name a few. And many, many more continued to walk through the door.
The In Touch after-hours party continued on into the wee hours of the morning and DJ AM had everyone moving and shaking. I had a wonderful time meeting and greeting and realized it was Hollywood only with Kentucky accents...it obvious though that these Kentuckians know how to party! As the night moved onto morning, Delicious Dee realized she had better move on, as another big day was ahead of her – covering the party of "fastest two minutes in sports" for PubClub.com.
– SATURDAY: KENTUCKY DERBY DAY –
Today is the big day...mint julep anyone??? It's 75 degrees with clear, blue skies – perfect Derby weather. The twin spires provide the backdrop to the infield and even at 11 a.m., it's evident the party has already started. And the drinks are also flowing on the other side of the track in the reserved seats and boxes.
Delicious Dee is in reserved seats (but knows the infield from past experiences, and more on that later!); most people here party in the paddock until it's time to make bets, then go to their seats.
INFIELD REPORT – A mud-wrestling contest broke out, only to be broken up by the Louisville police. This prompted people to start throwing mud around as if it were frisbees. Ahh, the Kentucky Derby infield.
MORE FROM DELICOUS DEE – So the 10th race (the actual Derby) runs at 6 and last call is 5:15 What's a girl to do!? Oh, I know – make it a double!
POST-RACE POST – The Fastest 2 minutes were just that fast! Delicous Dee was four spots back from the rail and all I saw was a blur of horses run by and none of mt horses out in front...they blurred by again and Big Brown pulled out an incredible win with the only philly coming in second sad note on that...it seems as if she broke both legs crossing the finish line and ended up having to be put to death on the track one of the tragedies of the horse racing business...however on the positive note it seems that alcohol didn't stop flowing so we were still able to sip our bourbon through the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home."
After that it seemed the only place to head was back home for change for a night out...(the dogs were barking and this girl has had a long weekend). However, as Delicious Dee headed to the cabby line she wasn't prepared for what she was about to face...
Needless to say this ain't New York or LA folks, and taxis don't run smoothly. Lesson of the day? Hire a limo or car for the weekend and save your self a headache better yet if you need transportation in Louisville go for EBC Transport Service and ask for Melvin...he will take care you...Melvin...thanks for all your help, it's more than appreciated!!
So after a TWO? 2 1/2? hour taxi cab wait at Churchill Downs, Delicious Dee in her strapless dress, 3 -nch wedge heels and hat...and it wasn't warm...talk about fashion for comfort folks!!! So as we head back out for the evening, we are going to change it up a bit and grab some local flavor at Bambi's!!
Come back for photographic evidence of this great American experience.
PubClub Correspondent Delicious Dee is providing PubClub with text updates from her cellphone all weekend. If she doesn't have tooo many mint juleps, then she will be posting photos, as well. |