My original intention for a 10 day trip down the Mississippi River Road was to do at least one…read morereview in each of the 10 states the borders it. I ended up dropping MN early on, and decided to take the time savings to drive straight to Ohio from the Mississippi/Louisiana border (which would have been a really long driving day), adding two more states (OH and IN) to the route. But since I will be in NOLA next year for a cruise, decided to skip LA and take a more leisurely route to Cincinnati, stopping for one night in Louisville. Why am I mentioning this?...Cause it allowed an overnight in Louisville, and my wife and I were able to visit both Churchill Downs (the site of the Kentucky Derby) and the Louisville Slugger factory, both in Louisville. Looking back, I'm super glad it turned out this way. The Google map directions to Churchill Downs is correct, but I wasn't sure until we made the final turn and saw the huge complex in front of us. Unlike modern stadium complexes where the areas around the parking have been turned into commercial businesses to attract, it's very residential in the adjoining neighborhoods here, with the small houses built from the late 19'th to early 20th century, and they look it. We came on a September Wednesday which meant live racing was occurring in the afternoon. The parking lot is gigantic and as we came in from the East, had to drive quite a way before finding cars parked. It definitely was good to follow the leader as the multitude of gates were all closed as we passed. The parking lot closer to the track were reserved, but easy free parking was plentiful across the road that wound around. Pretty important to remember where you parked your car. I had purchased general admission tickets through Ticketmaster the week before and it cost $10 per person. These tickets were needed to get past the gate...on this day there were no metal detectors or backpack check, so we probably could have brought them in. We were given souvenir books which had all the necessary info for the day, including race start times and participants. The first stop was to the Churchill Downs Store at the track (they have another one in the museum). It's large and modern. The must thing to do for the ladies is to take a picture in front of a background 'Talk Derby to Me' with a Kentucky Derby Hat or a Fascinator, even if you are not going to buy. All the employees were super nice, knowing who the non-regulars were, and making them feel welcome. We did end up buying a Churchill Downs tea towel for our kitchen. We then found the outdoor information area, and conversed with another super nice lady who explained how we could wager. She recommended that we pick a horse and place a 'across the board' bet, meaning we were picking the horse to finish in the top three. In actuality, it is 3 separate bets on the horse (one to finish first, one to finish first or second, one to finish first, second, or third) and thus costs a minimum of $6 (since the minimum bet is $2). All bets are in cash, with plenty of ATMs all around. My wife and I each placed one bet on different horses, just picking a favorite number or color. The store sells small racetrack tags, and we would have bought one with the winning horse's number if either horse made us any money. We had no need to go back to the store. We had time to explore the spectator seating around the finish line, and because there were so few people, it didn't seem like the reserved seating entry was being enforced. There are also two big indoor areas (one downstairs, one up) where they sell various food and drinks and have plenty of restrooms. There is an OTB area as well, with big TVS showing races around the country as well. We explored around for a while (noticing how many members only areas there were), then headed to the museum which was on the other side. Learnt that it was $24 per person for admission, so skipped that. Some of the Kentucky Derby winning horses are buried here, which we noticed as we slowly headed back towards our car. We spent about 2 hours here, which would definitely be too short if you are really interested in racing or horses, but was just right for visitors who appreciate the history and grandeur of Churchill Downs, but not really the racing itself.

Back for the Fall Meet!…read more I spent a weekday on Millionaires Row - one of the hottest days of the year. The heat definitely affected the space due to people coming in and out of the viewing area. Several times someone at our table would remark they were hot. As always the people that work at Churchill were friendly and helpful. You don't realize how many touch points they have - ticket entry, handing out programs, providing directions, riding the elevators, food and drink windows, offering to take our pictures. Today's menu was one of the best I've had there. Salad, veggies, pork BBQ, chicken, and desserts. The buffet did need an elevation - we often don't enjoy it that much. On Millionaires Row the staff treat you like visiting family, coming to tables for drink orders and presenting plates of desserts when the buffet got slim. They will spoil you. Parking at the entrance does create quite a walk. Sometimes you can catch a golf cart but the last couple of times I had to walk a bit to get to the front, plus walking to my seat. Ladies, be aware!

Thurby is becoming quite popular and is now a tourist attraction itself. Typically by Thursday,…read moremost of the vendors are set up to welcome visitors and create photo opportunities. The track opens at 10a and the races start at 12:45pm. I encourage an early arrival to have the easiest experience with parking, shuttles, roaming the track, snapping pictures and checking out the program for your first bet. We use the Twinspires app, but they have several wager windows open. Races run every 30 minutes and it's a quick day. Our visit was in the Skye Terrace, which connects to Millionaires Row. Outside balconies allow outside viewing while still being covered for bad weather. Our ticket also included food and drinks. Based on cocktail prices, I love the set pricing. Food is average. I love Derby Week! Don't hesitate coming to Thurby or any day during this time.

Once upon a time, this truly was the day for the locals…read more Once upon a time, before it was branded with a very silly name and rolled in to the Derby week hubbub, it was fun but kinda chill and manageable. But that was once upon a time....and now we are here and it is called Thurby, and it is almost as big a deal as Oaks (give it a couple more years....and locals will be priced out of it soon enough). This year, I was invited as a plus one to a catered, open-bar, indoor-outdoor area group event. I don't know what it cost, as that was covered by the group she was going with. So I primarily attended because I could go for free AND have my food and drink for the day be included. The most affordable Derby-week activity! Parking was more obnoxious than we had hoped and expected, but after weighing all options...we discovered that parking at the Expo Center and a shuttle to and from the Downs from there was included with our tickets so we opted to do it that way. There was still PLENTY (too much) walking to be done, but less than if we parked at the on-the-day pay lot/rideshare pick up and drop off area. So that was a win. I was grateful to discover that regular, not-see-through-able purses are still allowed in here because I didn't want to have to try to get one on crazy short notice....and while I would have preferred to travel light...I wanted to have a change of shoes to inevitably become more comfortable and switch my heels to flats. It was a good choice, btw. Or...I might could have just done flats for the whole day. But I also won't pass up a chance to get fancied up! The food was fine. Better than expected and better than it looked. The drinks were pretty decent, and at least one bartender was fabulous! (the other, we discovered halfway through the day, had a hidden earpiece and was communicating with someone else where...we thiiiiink about stock needs. This explained a lot about his unfriendliness and apparent nonsensical words anytime he did speak). The lines for betting were totally manageable in our area, and the employees working were patient and helpful. I had a great day! It was a fantastic time, primarily thanks to the company I kept...

November of this year 2011 a year of financial turmoil in some fields of human endeavour but on…read morethe Horse-Racing fields of Kentucky, there was no such sign of any such turmoil. This November had me stretching my wing span from Melbourne, Victoria Australia, to Louisville, Kentucky USA all in a matter of a few days to ensure track-side viewing of two of the world's greatest and most exciting race meetings. The first being the Melbourne Cup, the world's richest Handicap thoroughbred horse race and the second meeting, for two grand days and fifteen glorious races of sheer joy and racing bliss at Churchill Downs for the tremendous Breeders Cup. Entitled, as usual, by Americans when it comes to many sporting events as the World Horse-Racing Championship. (See photo below) There is nothing quite more satisfying than to sniff newly mown hay and Blue Grass Turf and to hear the soothing sound of a fit thoroughbred horse's neigh, which says quite simply, 'Let's get on with it' while standing restless in their protective stalls before being mounted by their skillful jockey to head towards the parade ring. Then, as they reach the starting gates, along with the uplifting roar of the huge crowds, the distinctive sound of these majestic creature's hoofs leaving their starting stalls and gathering speed, pounding through the first furlong embracing the course like there is no tomorrow and no end in sight. This 2011 Breeders Cup for me marked 7 years of Breeders Cup attendance and while there are question marks as to whether this particular feisty filly, myself, can still strut her stuff with the best of those who follow the yearly Breeders Cup pilgrimage, methinks she can still hold her head up high and sigh, 'well, I certainly 'aint an old grey mare to be put out to pasture just yet!' (See photo below) Traditionally the Breeders Cup is held at a different USA venue every year and while it once was known as the richest one day race meeting in the world now stretched to two days it has since been surpassed by the The Dubai World Cup which has a give-away collection of monies worth over $US21 million $US10 million on the main race card attraction alone. Pure pocket change, of course, to those wealthy oil magnates who live in Dubai and the Emirates and who have an oil well or two in their backyards, no less. Each Breeders cup race is a momentous one which covers various distances and track surfaces, but they all lead up to the highlight event, the very last race on the race card, the Breeders Cup Classic worth a cool $5million to the winner and run on a dirt track. There have been some simply spectacular wins over the years, along with a few bitter disappointments, as everyone no matter what their flight of fancy loves a champion to stay a champion, come hell or high water and to always get home first. The joy of seeing the great Kentucky mare Zenyatta coming from mother-less last on her own home turf and then on the turn and into the straight, weaving her way through the great wall of horses in front of her in her traditional style, and with her trademark of a late finishing sprint to the line to actually put her nose in front where it belongs was a sight unparalleled in any sport ever seen anywhere. Watch this 2009 event below to see the horse finish of the century. Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud_XPH6Eix4 After a steely career of 19 consecutive wins under her belt, which included two Breeders Cup wins and going for her 20th, her last year being 2010 in none other than the almighty Breeders Cup Classic, the 'Great Dame' of racing left her barrier stall very late and was once again, 'stone mother-less last,' except this time, it was if she was taunting her backers, and leaving her run to the finishing line even too late for her. She finished an agonising second with only a nostril in it and to the eventual winner, 'Blame.' An aptly named winner, I suppose, under the circumstances, much to the shock and dismay of the huge crowd. Who were more than happy to 'Blame' the unlikely jockey rather than the horse or the circumstances. Such is the bewildering logic of followers of thoroughbred horse racing. Optimists to the end in any race. (See photo below) However, as a racing fan myself, it's hard not to lay some 'Blame' for this heart-wrenching defeat squarely on the shoulders of the jockey, Mike Smith, a famous American hoop (Jockey) who I am sure will never forgive himself for his lack of timing and judgement in this famous racing event. And, while here, I can not forget the great Irish mare Goldikova who won the Breeders Cup mile three times in a row and was going for her fourth this year. Sadly, her defeat was inevitable as she was squashed in on the rail and to her adoring fans she had to settle for a disappointing third spot in a race that will be remembered for being a pretty scrappy event. (See photo below) During Breeders Cup week us 'foreign infidels' march into town in our droves from

The Homestretch Club at Churchill Downs is open daily for every meet not just during Derby week…read more The Homestretch Club is a membership that includes seating along with food and beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. It is a beautiful venue with its own bathrooms, expansive bars and well appointed buffet. There are refrigerators with water, beer and colas. The Homestretch Club has many seating options both inside and outside. Horseshoe booths line the rail. The first floor features standing height tables along with couches and access to outdoor stadium seating. The upstairs features two levels of covered tables and swanky private suites. It is a very nice, climate-controlled area that adds a new level of fun at Churchill Downs.

Had the best time last night year can't wait till I go back again this year in a couple of weeks…read more Food and the drinks were the best!!!!

So this is now called the "Winners circle", transitioning to a full service betting parlour as I…read morewould call it. Formerly, this was the off track betting spot to go to bet the horses. Now you can also bet on major sports and you'd best believe this is a popular spot. There's some growing pains, yes....the lines to bet have been long and the decor is very cheesy and old. But, I'm told more tellers are being hired and that various upgrades are planned. I'm excited!

The staff is helpful. There is a major problem in that the smoking section is also the only place…read moreyou can bet on horse racing. I was told you couldn't even cash your ticket on the non smoking side. People with acid reflux and esophagus problems (I have had one all my life with my chain smoker dad purposely blowing all his smoke straight into my mouth area any time he could do so), have to deal with heavy smoke, and that is just flat out stupid management.

A great horse racing venue with beautiful grounds. Appreciate you can watch morning horse training…read morefor free with easy parking The staff at betting windows is not interested in helping show you the app and many areas of the venue are closed though unless a major event. A bit more personable care and interaction would make it 5 stars

We have been to Keeneland numerous times but today was different. We purchased tickets for 4 to…read moreenjoy a day at the 1936 Room. It was fantastic and I wish we would have gotten here at 11am instead of 1pm. Admission price includes a ticket, heavy appetizers and selected drinks from 11am-4pm. It was well worth it. You also have access to the outdoor area at one end of the Paddock and there is an outside bar and betting machines steps away. We didn't have to wait on drinks at the bar and the apps were well stocked and servers were walking around with apps that were not on the stocked area. The atmosphere and service were outstanding. As a plus to the experience you get to see the jockeys walk into and out of the Paddock after each race within a few steps of you. My suggestion is to grab a high top where the jockeys walk by. It was a great day.

Anytime I have an opportunity to visit Ashford, I'm there. The farm continues to enthrall. But for…read moreall it's beauty, it is Triple Crown winner American Pharoah that brings me back over and over. 54

The tour we had was awesome! Our tour guide was very informative and answered many of our questions…read morewith enthusiasm. As a uninformed tourist, I learned a lot about the studs and their lineage, the breeding process, and about the Coolmore farms. They showed us the barns and told us interesting facts about the horses that stayed there. They also showed American Pharaoh and Epicenter out of their stalls, which was a great photo opportunity.