Kentucky Derby -- anything with less bang for the buck?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve never been to any horse race, dog race or even car race, but it’s hard for me to think of any “sporting event” with less payoff for the time invested than the Derby. My son and his friends have seen the Derby any number of times, and they go up as early as Friday morning, party hard all night, watch the race, party some more and eventually stagger back home some time late Sunday night.

All that for maybe 5 minutes of actual horse racing excitement.

To me it would be like paying $50 after waiting in line for most of a day, camping out on a sidewalk, fighting my way to the stage to hear The Captain and Tennille do one chorus of Muskrat Love.

Can you think of anything with more buildup and less rewards?

2

I’ve been to many live horse races. I think you’re correct. While I prefer live racing to simulcast, there is no way I’d go to the Kentucky Derby. At most races, you can’t even see the horses but for just a quick amount of time. As far as paying to get in? Most tracks charge a nominal admission fee and often have free parking as well. I’d never pay the kind of money the Derby would require.

3

The derby isn’t the only race at the track that day. I can’t recall, but I think there are maybe 11? The derby is towards the end (though not the very last race). So you have other races to watch and bet on while you’re there. If you don’t get good seats (very pricey), you probably won’t see much of the races themselves. It’s more the excitement of being there.

4

If the OP doesn’t limit things to sporting events, I always think of New Year’s Eve like this. The countdown (as presented almost everywhere I’ve ever spent NYE) is 10 seconds long, even shorter than the Kentucky Derby. At least the Derby has an element of surprise – you don’t know who is going to win until it happens. New Year’s, after the countdown, you get … the next year. Wow, I wonder what year it’s going to be? :wink:

But I think NYE and the KD are also similar in that it’s not just about the actual thing, it’s about the party. I’ve had great times on NYE and Derby Day! Any excuse for a party, really.

I also wanted to mention that while you can spend big bucks on the Derby, you can also go on the cheap and have a great time.

5

My first thought on reading the OP was many of the recent over-hyped boxing matches where people paid megabucks for ringside seats or watched on pay-per-view only to have the fight last for less than one round.

6

Like in the Mike Tyson-era.

7

My sister will be attending the Kentucky Derby this year. I’ll be sure to ask her opinion, although I dare say this thread will be a bit stale by then.

Another event that comes to mind would be the Indianapolis (or Daytona) 500, or probably most other large oval track race. You certainly get a longer bang for your buck, but it is my understanding that many of the people who attend these races never actually see a minute of racing.

Again, it’s not so much about seeing the event as just being there.

8

I thought the whole point of the Kentucky Derby was to figure out creative ways to sneak in booze.

9

I agree with the earlier posts: It’s not the race, per se, but being there that’s important. I’ve never been to a KD live, but I’d venture to say that the vast majority of the folks in the infield haven’t been to a horserace since the KD last year (if that). Desert Roomie and I watch the simulcast of the race in the clubhouse at the local track and it is easily the most crowded day they have. I make sure I get my reservation in as soon I can, the Saturday two weeks before. It’s one of the four times you have to reserve an entire table (seating four), the other three being the rest of the triple crown races, and Breeder’s Cup. Judging by the conversations and questions overheard at the adjoining tables, most of 'em are totally clueless.

For DR and I, though, the Run for the Roses started back in October or November watching the top two-year-olds on Breeder’s Cup day, following them and other notables who for one reason or another didn’t make it to the BC, during the winter campaign, trying to wade through all the hype in the final few weeks, then finally the big day itself. The two minute race, while climactic, is almost an after thought.

DD

10

I’ve heard this is also true for many people at Le Mans. 24 hours, and they don’t see any of it.

I’d think that a 100m sprint is a contender for buck>bang, even though (like any horse race) it’s surrounded by other competitions.

11

The brevity of the actual Big Event™ is precisely why I love Triple Crown races and New Year’s Eve. You go to a big party, and for about three minutes everyone pays attention to something together, and then you just go back to the party. It’s like a shorthand for community togetherness, but you don’t have to buy gifts or cook a big meal or sing event-specific songs. (Except “Auld Lang Syne” sometimes, which I love.)

12

I attended the Indy a few years back.
You can see it better on TV.
You cannot get the ambiance on TV.
If you are a gearhead, it is worth the trip at least once.

13

yep - you are spending the day with people - the event for most attendees is a mere excuse. This is unlike boxing where - to the best of my knowledge - most people are showing up to see a fight, not hang with their friends drinking mint juleps for the day.

(Though mint juleps at a boxing match might add a certain class).

14

Believe it or not, many of the drunken revellers at the Kentucky Derby are not interested in the horse race at all!

Some people come to Louisville on the first Saturday in May for the hundreds of thousands of people partying, the food, the festivities, the celebrities, the hats, the girls in the infield lifting their shirts up… Short of Mardi Gras there’s not a party like it.

I suppose if you were a hard core horse-racing fan and otherwise utterly boring, going to the Derby in person wouldn’t make much sense. Sitting in your basement watching TVG would be much more efficient. But not nearly so much fun.

15

I’ve saw the Kentucky Derby last year. First BIG horse race I’ve ever seen. Great seats. Definitely worth the expense, hassle, wait and hoopla. The thundering of the hooves, the roar of the crowd, the lightning speeds and knowing you’re seeing the best of the best–amazing.

16

With apologies, we have removed all the posts of a once-banned multiple-name jerk. Unfortunately, sometimes such a jerk can sometimes post something worthwhile (usually by accident.) Our policy is to remove all posts, not to be selective, to try to teach them that it’s futile to return: all posts will vanish. This causes a slight hiccup in history, of course; that’s the price we all pay for the misbehavior of one asshole.

17

Before I moved to Louisville, I would have agreed with you. I found it hard to believe all the fuss made over one horse race. As I am now already planning what to wear for my 18th Derby, let me tell you a bit about what I have learned over the years to explain why anyone would put up with the crowds, inflated hotel prices, ridiculously priced seats, and other aggrevations for what we HOPE will be a race that lasts for LESS than two minutes.

When I was younger, I did what your son probably does. I joined the craziness in the infield. For $25 we would haul blankets, chairs, and coolers a very long way to set up a spot where we wouldn’t even be able to see a horse all day. It was usually the first day we got to spend the day in the sun, since the last fall, and happily peal of layer after layer of clothes. We had spent time figuring out how to smuggle booze in, and as expected had about half what we tried to bring in confiscated. It is not about the horses at all. It is about a bunch of people with spring fever, getting drunk and silly in a safe enviornment. Everyone we meet is there to have a good time. We see old friends, make new friends. Many are passed out by the time the actual race goes off. We go home sunburned and happy, and know we will come back again.

Now that I am older, the experience is a bit different. I follow horse racing now, and I know what this race means to our sport. The Kentucky Derby is the nation’s oldest, continuously held sporting event. There is so much history and tradition involved, it is hard not to get caught up in it. We know that these 20 horses that have made it here, have been pointed their entire lives for this one race.

Even before they were conceived the thoughts of Derby were there. What mare matched with what stallion will produce a horse who will peak in early May of his three year old year? Who can go to an auction and look at the yearlings, who have never even been on a track yet, and see a Derby starter? Who can look in the lowly claiming races, and find a two year old whose owners/trainers didn’t realize what they had, and snatch them up for a very small price? To get to the Derby, these horses and their owners, trainers and jockeys have hoped and prayed for safe trips, and lots of racing luck just to get there. Sleepless nights of worrying that what appears to be a small set-back does not turn-out to be a carreer ending injury. These horses are pampered and no expense spared to give them every chance to make it to the top, the Kentucky Derby. They only get one chance.

Lives will be forever changed each year as we have a new Derby winner. As long as he is not a gelding, the winner is pretty much guaranteed to make a fortune in the breeding shed. The sire and broodmare sire of the winner will see their stud fees increase. The winning trainer will have a long list of people wanting to use him. The winning jockey joins a great list of the other winning jockeys, and insures his place in history. And the winning owners enjoy such a wild adventure, they know they will do whatever it takes to repeat the experience.

As horse racing fans, we have been following this group of Derby entrants for about a year already. We have watched the early two year old races looking for the next stars of racing. We have debated trainers’ choices of when and where to run their potential stars. We have had some of our early favorites leave the Derby trail, either due to injury or not being able to continue to hold their early winning form. We have debated sires’ abilities to produce a horse that can run a mile and a quarter. We look for signs a particular horse won’t be able to cope with the inevitable chaos that comes with putting 150,000 cheering people at Churchill Downs. As the races get progressively longer for the young horses, we see many who show themselves to be great sprinters, but not Derby horses, and cross them off our lists. On the first Saturday in May, of the 35,000 foals that were born three years earlier, only 20 are left to have a chance making Derby history.

On the actual day, the ladies arrive at the track looking beautiful in their Derby hats, which are usually chosen first, then an outfit to match. The ladies notice the admiring looks from the men. They feel beautiful, and enjoy the affect they have on the men for one day a year. The men respond to the ladies as southern gentlemen would. Compliments are given, doors are held open, every courtesy extended. Mint Juleps are bought for strangers for no other reason than, “This is just my way to thank you for looking so lovely in that hat,” said by men who on no other day of the year would ever even dream of saying anything so corny. But it is Derby day, and everyone caught up in the fun and excitement. For the women, we get one day to play dress up like we did when we were young, and enjoy it even more. For the men, they get to admire the ladies, and be chivalrous for a day, in a world that usually doesn’t accept that anymore.

Conversations are easy. “Who do you like?” Even those that don’t follow racing have a favorite. Chosen by name, by familiar jockey or trainer, by the story of an unlikely underdog that tugs at the heartstrings. Everyone is excited and happy and friendly. Many friends are made, romances begin, everone is affected in someway.

Excitement builds throughout the day. We throw money at horses for fun in the early races and every now then get lucky and have another reason to celebrate. The day has flown by, and before we know it, we are standing as they play My Old Kentucky Home. Some of us tear up, but we all have goosebumps. The jockeys parade by, and you can see tears in many of their eyes as well. We glance up at the famous Twin Spires and say silent prayers, wanting most of all a safe trip for all the jockeys and horses.

They are loaded in the gate. You wonder what the connections are thinking. This is last moment that all but one of them will have to enjoy the dream of being this year’s Derby winner. You are so excited yourself you can barely breath, you can’t imagine what it is like for those whose futures will forever be changed in just two minutes.

The bell rings, the gate opens. Twenty horses pop out at once. The colorful silks, the thundering of hooves. We get our first glimpse of the race. We try to remember what color silks our choice has and look for him. But the horses are tightly bunched, we can’t see where our choice is. But it really doesn’t matter what position they are yet. We now this is a long race. We just enjoy the magnificent spectacle of so many horses speeding by. After they thundered by us, we realize we had stopped breathing while they were near. They are rounding the first turn and we can’t really see them so well. We take a minute to breath. It seems like it is forever that they are on the backstretch. What is taking them so long? We glance at the big screens with close-ups of the leaders, we try to hear the announcer’s call. It is all a blur. You really aren’t aware of anything except the butterflies your stomach. Then the crowd roar grows even louder. Those at the far end of the stands can see the horses rounding the second turn. The horses by now are no longer all clumped together, some are out front and leading into the final stretch. As they straighten out, dramatic moves are made. Some with plenty left are passing the early leaders. The wire draws near, sometimes one pulls away and wins easily. Sometimes there are still many left battling down the stretch every step to the very end. Sometimes the early leader hangs on the entire way, crossing the wire first.

And then it is over. You realize again you had stopped breathing, and take another breath. If your choice happens to win, you cheer wildly. If your choice doesn’t win, you still cheer. You just witnessed in person what is called, “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” You have to agree. You really don’t understand why your heart is also racing, but everyone is buzzing, you just go with it. You see the winner bringing his horse back to the winner’s circle. You cheer him as he goes by. Even if he wasn’t your choice, you are so happy for him. And now he is your choice for the Preakness Stakes. He is this year’s only chance for a Tripple Crown winner. You think of the people who are able to say they saw Secretariat win a Triple Crown race. You hope this new Kentucky Derby winner is the next Secretariat, and you can say you were there to see him win the Derby.

The Derby experience isn’t for everyone. I know many people who wouldn’t attend if someone paid them. Some buy expensive tickets only to find the seats are bad. Some can’t take standing in line to bet or use the rest room. Some years the weather doesn’t cooperate, and we are huddled together under cover to avoid driving rain.

But even with its drawbacks, for many it is a once a year magical experience. There isn’t much recorded history that doesn’t include man and his relationship with the horse. The Kentucky Derby is a chance to celebrate man’s love affair with the horses. We also honor a 133 year American tradition that is modeled after the culmination of several centuries of English tradition. For two minutes you are part of an event being watched by people all over the world. For some, potential fortunes are won or lost, lifelong career achievements attained or denied. For the rest of us it is a day to focus on horses and traditions, and a chance to let yourself get caught up in a world your are not normally part of. And for our out of town visitors, they get to enjoy what we consider our unofficial state motto, “Fast horses, beautiful women, and smooth bourbon.”

I absolutely cherish my many Derby memories. Every year it is the same, and every year it is different. I have some friends from California coming out this year. They may think they are coming out to see a two minute horse race, but they will leave knowing that the Derby experience involves so much more than just a two minute race.

Is is May yet? Are you sure I can’t talk you into coming this year Zeldar?

18

From the perspective of ArchitectChore, the gambler…

I attend about a dozen horse races each year. Only once have I actually been to Churchill Downs on the day of the Kentucky Derby.

On a typical day at the track (usually Keeneland here in Lexington or Churchill Downs in Louisville), I can park for free within a short walk to the entrance. The admission price is $3. I get there early so I have time to read and take notes in the program and Daily Racing Form. Before the first race begins, I go to the paddock where the thoroughbreds roam before trotting out to the track. I look at the current physique and behavior of each horse, look over my notes and statistics, and then decide what bet(s) to place for that race. The lines of people waiting to place bets are short and I never have trouble placing a bet before the race begins. It’s impossible to tell what will happen in any given rave, but my system works very well over a series of races. On a bad day, I’ll break even. On a good day, I’ll walk out with several hundred more dollars profit. On my best day, I profitted over $3000 (see below).

The day of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs provides a unique experience that cannot be found at any other place or time.

For me personally, the experience is not all that pleasant for the following reasons: 1) parking is a huge hassle. It’s nearly impossible to park within a half mile of the entrance, and beyond that distance it’s still expensive to park (it varies but $20-$30 is nothing unusual). 2) Although I can pick up a copy of the race program and Daily Racing Form without much trouble, it is damn near impossible to actually look at the horses in the paddock because of the huge crowd. If I manage to weave through the crowd to look at the horses, then there is no possible way to go place a bet before those horses race. (3) It costs an enormous amount of money ($1500 and above from what I hear) to have a seat where one can see the races in person from start to finish. Churchill does have a few TV monitors scattered throughout where certain pockets of the crowd can see the races on a television much like those watching at home. (4) The traffic coming in and leaving is not pleasant and much worse than leaving a sold-out football game.

However, my take on the Derby is not typical…
-The excitement and anticipation and crowd surrounding the Derby are enjoyed by most but not enjoyed by me so much.
-Most of the people in the crowd haven’t heard of most or any of Derby horses until the day of the Derby race.
-For most people in attendance, the Derby is a social event as much or more than it is a day of horse races. Women get to show off their dresses and fancy hats while the men admire them and act like Southern gentlemen, and of course there is much alcohol consumption (and not just by those in the infield).
-I get the impression that most who attend enjoy the large crowd and the overall feeling of attending such a paramount event.
-As pointed out by other dopers, many of the college-age kids go to the infield to sunbathe, get wasted, smoke dope, and party with little or no awareness of the races around them. I am 23 today and was 20 when I attended, but this is not what I like to do when attending a day of races

For most people who attend the race annually, the experience is like that described in detail by Grits and Hard Toast. (well done by the way!) I have no need to bother giving any background or info on the Derby since the post above this one already has all that.

To contrast the Derby experience at Churchill Downs, I like to watch and bet on all the Derby day races at Keeneland:
-It’s a local drive for me.
-Parking is easy and free.
-I easily run into friends there.
-It’s crowded enough to create excitement, but not crowded enough to cause inconveniences.
-Many of those who attend here are also women wearing fancy hats and dresses and there is even a contest for best hat/dress.
-I can get a decent look at the horses on the plethora of TV monitors showing coverage of the paddock in between races. I can easily place bets afterward
-IMHO, Keenland has a much nicer environment compared to Churchill Downs which is mostly old and run down with the exception of the recent additions to it. Churchill looks impressive on tv with the big crowd and Twin Spires but if you physically there especially when it’s not crowded then it looks like a slum. Keeneland is one of the most beautiful horse race tracks in the world; a beauty perhaps only eclipsed by the Del Mar thoroughbred racetrack in San Diego.
-In 2004, I won over $3000 in one day betting on the Derby from Keeneland. About half of that was won on the 4th race (the Derby is usually the 10th race of the day, IIRC) when I not only hit the trifecta but I also put $50 on the longshot (15-1 betting odds, 6-1 morning line odds) who won the race. My bankroll was inflated suddenly and my bets for the rest of the day were increased and I held a strong momentum through to the last race. I bet $100 on Smarty Jones to win the Derby; it paid off $410. So many amateurs bet on the days of the big races and it makes my intelligent betting pay off nicely.
-2005, I only made a couple hundred profit (no complaints), but I didn’t make any money on the Derby race itself. Giacomo won and I certainly didn’t see it coming.
-I didn’t bet much ($2 to $5 per race) at the Derby in 2003 because (like I said before) the crowd made it difficult to see the horses before the race and damn it I like to see the horses before I make bets.

In response to the OP, attending the Derby in person does not offer much reward to me, but it’s a great experience and reward to many of those who do attend. My priorities are just different from those who love going to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. I really don’t care about what dresses and hats are being worn, I really don’t care about being a part of history, and I really am turned off by the extra expenses and major inconveniences of attending Churchill Downs on Derby day. I would need to have some awesome success with my betting just to break after all the expenses.

YMMV.

IMHO, the best way to enjoy the Derby is to watch it from Keeneland. You get the feel and excitement of the crowd’s anticipation, the fancy hats, the bets, the mint juleps, a Derby program, Daily Racing Form, and a much more pleasant setting…without any hassle or expense.

19

Amazing posts by ArchitectChore and Grits and Hard Toast.

To answer this question “Are you sure I can’t talk you into coming this year Zeldar?” I guess I’ll have to stay with “Yes, I’m sure.”

But I do appreciate your interest in the race. I’ll stick with the TV version.