Greetings from ‘Up North’!

Welcome to the Kentucky Derby 2018 Open Thread. This will mark the 37th year in a row that I have watched the race on tv. For the longest time, even in the military and living out of the country, I have never missed this race. I don’t care about horses, horse racing, or betting on horses. I have zero interest in all things equine. But this statistical anomaly has recently fascinated me. I havent’s missed this race since Jr High School because I have always quite randomly been in front of a TV that was showing the race live. This has occurred in Berlin, Kenya, Ireland and Israel and at home here in the States with no effort on my part.

For the longest time I never noticed this occurrence. Then it struck me. What are the odds of randomly and without effort being in front of a TV showing a once a year horse race every year for 37 years?

Of course, over the past decade or so I have made it a point to watch to keep the string going, and now this has become an event at my parent’s. Mom is a horse person. Yinz know how they are. This started by me bringing up my girls to G’Ma’s to wear great hats and watch the race. Well, has this little event grown.

Now, G’ma has more or less commandeered the local country bar up the road to host this event that now draws 50 or so friends and neighbors. It’s a great little joint with good food and they are long time friends with the owners and staff from well before the place re-opened under their care. G’Ma has fashioned the most elegant hats for the girls and Mrs Coldwarrior. These are really fancy and would do well at Churchill Downs. She has the special cups and ingredients for mint juleps ready to go and has schooled the bartender on the proper mixology for this icon. All women are to be in dresses and hats and all men are to be in proper attire with a hat as well to attend. This event has grown too big for their property, and that is saying something!

I will be wearing one of my Cubavera shits, linen pants, and a classic Sam Snead Porkpie hat procured at the Village Hat Shop in San Diego. I will be bringing a box of Drew Estates Liga Privada for cigars on the deck after the race.

More on the horses later! Enjoy this open!