Kentucky Derby with Noah: Kentucky Derby 2018 Photos Derby Day

The next day was DERBY!

Thanks to an obnoxiously loud wake up call courtesy of Chris Mull, click to hear the wake up call we all were dressed and ready early - jackets, dresses, hats, feathers and all. Unfortunately, the rain started even before we left the condo and did not stop all day. Don't worry. That did not spoil our day.

Kevin's Second Kentucky Derby

Kelly and Noah
Kelly's First Kentucky Derby

Kelly, Tracy and Chris
First Kentucky Derby for all three.

Stephanie and Travis
Big timing it in the Grandstands. All dry, too.

Kelly with White Castle baby.

Noah and Chris
Uber ride to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby 144

Cayla, Kelly and Tracy Ubering to the Kentucky Derby

For pre-gaming the Derby, the VFW across the street is a favorite meeting point for me and my Derbynites. We eat breakfast there and fuel up on drinks for hydration.

VFW Breakfast Pre-Derby Prep
Tracy, Maureen, Chris, Cayla and Kelly

VFW Derby Prep
Mike, Maureen, Cayla, Chris, Kelly and Kevin

Awesome Derby Prep Party Group Shot at the VFW
Chris, Tracy, Maureen, Mike, Kevin, Kelly, Cayla and Noah

And then we walked over to Churchill Downs. Special thanks to Cayla for encouraging us all to buy ponchos from the VFW and Courtney for meeting us at the back gate to get us in the backside. We tailgated with her and Tim for a bit around the stables and watched a few races from the rail.

Tailgating it on the backside.

Kelly conversing with the horses on the backside.

Cayla and Kelly in the rain on the backside with the horses and jockeys.

The rain just would not stop. Luckily, Cayla made us all buy
these blue rain ponchos at the VFW. Thanks Cayla! Thanks VFW!

Kelly, Kevin and Noah

Early race. Not the actual Derby race.

Churchill Downs and its Twin Spires on this wet Derby Day.

Cayla, Kelly and Maureen trackside.

Cayla and Noah

Twin Spires of Churchill Downs

We did escape from the rain for a bit in the backside Track Kitchen where we ran into Kisha and her family who always watch the races from the backside rail. We had great food and great seats looking out onto the track. Kelly got asked "when are you due" - which she blamed on White Castle. Kisha, I can't believe we didn't get a better photo. I look pretty haggard. I'll have to do better next year.

Kisha and Noah at backside Track Kitchen.

Against Mike's best judgement , I hauled the Krewe out in the rain to the third curve where we all got soaked, stole an umbrella (which was promptly returned), took rain relief in the port-a-potties and watched Justify win the 144th Kentucky Derby!