Kentucky

Kentucky doesn't have any professional sports teams. They make up with that for amazing college basketball teams (UK and U of L) and horse racing.

This entry is especially timely because one of my favorite sporting event of the year is coming up in two days, The Kentucky Derby. After I moved up north, people thought I was crazy when I would get excited for days straight just to sit down and watch a 2 minute horse race. But growing up down south ingrained a love for the derby.

Derby week was the most exciting time of the year. The family would wake up early and go watch the balloon race with all the funny shaped balloons: beer bottles, turkeys, and little men. Watching hundreds of brightly-colored, hot air balloons launch into the air within minutes of each other is one of my earliest memories.

Later that week there were fireworks over the Ohio River. Also very exciting to see as a child. But my favorite was always the race.

It was always a family affair. We never actually went to the race, but we would watch on TV. There were all the rich old men talking about their horses and pretty ladies in floral dresses and giant hats. Mint juleps in one hand and wager stubs in the other these collected people would start hollering at the top of their lungs (there is a lot of money and pride in horse racing) once the races started.

My sister and I made out bets too. We each put in a quarter and each of our parents put in a quarter. They each got to pick one horse and my sister and I got the rest of field. Only once did my mother actually win. Every other time my sister and I got to split the winnings.

Derby isn't as much fun living away from Kentucky. One day I hope to return and actually go to the derby, big hat and all.