We camped at the Kentucky Expo Center, about 1.5 miles from the track. It was right under the flight path of UPS planes as can be seen in the picture.
Despite all this, we had a very enjoyable time in Louisville and the Derby. On Thursday we had a free day which we spent in downtown Louisville visiting the Slugger Museum and factory, viewing the Pegasus Parade and dining at the Makers Mark Lounge.
The Pegasus parade is held on Thursday before the Derby.
The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory is identified by this giant bat out front.
We had an infield suite near the starting gate which included all the food and drinks we could consume. I'd say that I got my money's worth in drink alone. We were dressed up for the Derby as is the custom for these suites.
Below is the start. Our money was on Soldat 17, Midnight Interlude 15, Shackleford 13, Pants on Fire 7, and Dialed In 8.
And here they come! Our picks Schackleford, Pants on Fire, Mucho Macho Man and Midnight Interlude are looking good, just behind # 5, Decisive Moment. Animal Kingdom nowhere to be seen here. Starting to count our money.
Shackleford takes the lead over # 19 Nehro. Looks like we have a winner!
And from nowhere comes Animal Kingdom to win the Derby. Shackleford did, however win the Preakness two weeks later. The Maryland track is one sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Derby at Churchill Downs; Animal Kingdom was coming up to challenge Shackleford, but he just did not have enough track left to catch and pass, he came in second, hence no triple crown winner this year; a 34 year drought. Affirmed in 1978 was the last one.
We left Louisville and stayed three nights in Elizabethtown to tour the bourbon distilleries: Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Makers Mark. In the US, bourbon is a special form of whiskey created, distilled, and aged in the eastern United States, mainly in the state of Kentucky. It is classified as a distilled spirit made from a fermented mash, mainly consisting of corn, and aged in white oak barrels for at least two years. The unique nature of bourbon is derived from the iron-free water used in the distillation process which is found in Kentucky, as is the corn. Bardstown is at the center of these distilleries and we had a nice Mothers Day dinner at the historic Old Talbot Tavern. Even though it was Sunday, the local liquor store was open and I bought some Old Bardstown bourbon. This is know only to the locals and is one of the greatest bargains in good bourbon. None of the local distilleries will admit that they make it, but it is as good as Makers Mark but only costs about $20/liter. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good bourbon. Unfortunately, it is not sold outside the area.
Jim Beam had the best bourbon chocolate candies, Heaven Hill the best display for understanding the bourbon making process while Makers Mark was the only place where the whole process could be seen. There, we even dipped our fingers in the corn/barley/wheat/rye brew and a bottle of bourbon in their distinctive red wax. Bourbon requires at least 51% corn; the amount of barley and wheat distinguish most bourbon distilleries as does the length of aging in the barrels. I'm not sure which use rye.
At Makers Mark we had a nice lunch in the Toll House Cafe and then a tour of the distillery, purchase of some bourbon and dipping my bottle into the red wax.
And below is my master piece!
We toured where Makers Mark bottles are dipped in wax and packaged, as well as their vats, storage facilities and distillery operations. We stuck our fingers in this vat, tasted like liquid bread, smelled terrific. To be bourbon, need at least 51% corn.
The odors at these distilleries reminded us of Reston, VA when Virginia Gentlemen was brewing its bourbon. Can you imagine a whole town with the odor of brewing bourbon? I tell you, it is something special and here we relived this special fragrance.
We also visited the Patton Museum at Fort Knox. It was very interesting and depicted his life and career.
While in Elizabethtown we also visited the Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum. They have a great collection from the turn of the 19th century through the 20's, 30's and into the 40's. The collection is part of the Swope dealership and is free. Below are some cars of interest.
This last picture is the Bonnie & Clyde car about which Clyde wrote Mr. Ford complimenting the car's performance which suited robbing banks. The letter is shown in the photo.
After Elizabethtown we went to Bowling Green, home of the Corvette factory and museum.
Here we are in front of the Corvette Factory. Visiting this factory was like stepping back into time. We've toured BMW in Munich 30 years ago and in Spartenburg, SC a few years ago; no comparison. In Munich, BMW was making on the same line cars for delivery to several countries meeting their various specifications such as left/right hand drive, pollution, etc. Lots of automation and at the hand of the few workers on the assembly line. At GM it seemed a hand operation; cars of the same color were grouped together, spec sheets on paper, not digitally encoded, manpower intensive. Here one can see first hand how unions are making us uncompetitive.
At the museum we learned that the first Corvette logo was to have contained the flag, but a last minute change used the Chevrolet symbol and the fleur-de-lis .
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