Trip to Keeneland

Originally Posted by Bystander

Trust me, the Kentucky gentry weren't too pleased with me being there, but one of my best friends is from Lexington and can get me in- and that year I went Bluegrass weekend, and it was a godssend. My two friends were unprepared for the clothing issue, though, and had to buy ties and "rent" kelly green sports coats... and one of them, who is Greek, turned at one point to say "I am the closest thing to a person of color in this entire place."

But that's a whole other conversation.

I assure you the only color the folks at Keeneland care about is green.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

No Gary Sciacca horses on any of my tickets. You happy now?

That's it.. You've had your LAST Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich..

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Bystander

Trust me, the Kentucky gentry weren't too pleased with me being there, but one of my best friends is from Lexington and can get me in- and that year I went Bluegrass weekend, and it was a godssend. My two friends were unprepared for the clothing issue, though, and had to buy ties and "rent" kelly green sports coats... and one of them, who is Greek, turned at one point to say "I am the closest thing to a person of color in this entire place."

But that's a whole other conversation.

He must not have seen KYRIM in her purple Burka w/ the Sheikhs like PP did.

that is however, the one drawback to KEE...they take themselves VERY seriously.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I second this...
but it sure does smell good esp. on rainy spring mornings when the wind is blowing and the only people at the track are a bunch of old men...and me

And when it is cold and rainy and the wind is blowing, it is always 10 degrees colder at Keeneland than it is in town. Dress accordingly.

But when the sun shines and the pink and white dogwoods are in bloom....,

[Bystander]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

I assure you the only color the folks at Keeneland care about is green.

It's the only color they see, there's a difference.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Kasept

That's it.. You've had your LAST Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich..

no offense steve but that looks about as appealing as what Paisley puked up yesterday

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

no offense steve but that looks about as appealing as what Paisley puked up yesterday

Quick....save it for the Carolina Bar-B-Q.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Quick....save it for the Carolina Bar-B-Q.

too late ...my dad's dog "recycled" it.

[Riot]

And eat the bread pudding, too <g>

Lexington is a smallish town, so travel times are not really that significant (on weekends traffic backs up trying to get into the track on Versailles Rd).

Fly into Bluegrass Airport, it's physically small, easy to get in and out of, right across the street from the track.

Second choice is to fly into Northern Ky Airport (Cincinnati, but on the south, KY side of the Ohio) - you can come down I-75, it will take you an easy hour to get to Lex. Louisville is third choice, little farther, an hour plus from Lex.

Look at a map or mapquest, notice New Circle Road encircling the city - I'd first try to get a room at one of the hotels at Exit 115 - I-75 and 922-Newtown Pike (try LaQuinta first it's nice, then Holiday Inn, etc., Embassy and Marriot Resort are there but more expensive, but the Marriot is worth $159 night, it's a beautiful five-star w/golf course, and alot of the horse folks stay there, fried green tomatos are great - just do it <G>) - close to the Horse Park, the horse farms.

Then go to the southwest and south side of the city - stay on New Circle before you go to off Man O' War Blvd. for travel time ease. Just avoid the east and far southeast side if you can, travel times will be a bit long and it's just suburbia hell down there. Day's Inns, Red Roofs, etc.

Try to get a room anywhere west of Tates Creek Road on the south side for travel time ease. Downtown, or just south of downtown, is fine too. The independent hotels (Springs, etc) are clean and good in that area.

You can also get reasonably priced rooms during Kee at the 8-10 hotels at I-75 and Rt 62 in Georgetown, very quick to zip (10 minutes?) down I-75 to Newtown Pike, and then straight into the track via New Circle and Versailles Rd. (Best Western, Ivy, Microtel, etc)

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Bystander

Trust me, the Kentucky gentry weren't too pleased with me being there, but one of my best friends is from Lexington and can get me in-

The clubhouse is a real club - you have to be a member or guest of a member to get in. Us hoi polloi can only get reserved seats or haunt the apron. BUT, the clubhouse is 'way up the stretch and grandstand seats are at the finish line, unlike any other track I know of.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

so in late afternoon, you are trying to watch races looking into the sun; it beats onto the apron and parts of the stands, too. Bring shades and a hat if you don't like squinting hard..

But if you have a box, Kee provides appropriate white sun parasols for use ....

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

The clubhouse is a real club - you have to be a member or guest of a member to get in. Us hoi polloi can only get reserved seats or haunt the apron. BUT, the clubhouse is 'way up the stretch and grandstand seats are at the finish line, unlike any other track I know of.

That's not entirely true. The clubhourse restaurants encompass the entire top floor. There is a great room to have lunch in that is pretty much right above the finish line.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

too late ...my dad's dog "recycled" it.

Oh yeah... my appetite is really kicking now.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by Kasept

That's it.. You've had your LAST Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich..

damn thats cold....

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

too late ...my dad's dog "recycled" it.

omg beth.. that almost made me lose my lunch

[randallscott35]

My puppy has been trying to eat deer pellets lately. Then I chased her and she ran into the bird feeder and re-injured her leg. Now I feel bad about it.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

omg beth.. that almost made me lose my lunch

shame...dads dog woulda thanked you for the seconds.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

shame...dads dog woulda thanked you for the seconds.

oh dear lord someone save me from this madness!

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

shame...dads dog woulda thanked you for the seconds.

he would have...but he might have knocked you over trying to get to the pile first...no worries though because when he was finished he would totally give you a kiss on your face to say he was sorry

[SniperSB23]

I actually didn't like Keeneland at all. The sun shining in your eyes the entire time was so incredibly obnoxious that it could have ruined the whole experience by itself. In addition to that it was way too crowded and the majority of the people there seemed way more interested in being seen and looking important than in actually being there to view the races. They also let any yahoo wander into the paddock that wanted to (mostly the people wanting to be seen) so you wound up with about 200 people in the paddock for every horse. So if you are outside of the paddock you can't possibly see anything which kind of defeats the purpose of the paddock in the first place. Placing bets was also a pain in the butt. There were several other things I didn't like about it but those are the ones that immediately jump to mind.