I remember how proud I was my first Kentucky Derby, my son dressed in his finery, on the back of the horse in front of so many people, the crowd abuzz in anticipation of the start of the ‘Run for the Roses.’
Of course, we were nowhere near the racetrack.
My boss, Lee Masters, Tulsa radio station K95FM’s manager – who later went on to even greater fame and fortune with MTV and the E! television network – was staging a Derby watch-party at his grand home near Utica Square in Tulsa. His wife hailed from Louisville, and as a result, the Kentucky Derby was celebrated with all the passion of St. Patrick’s Day in New York City.
He had hired a fellow to bring along a small-sized horse for pony rides. I thought it made for a wonderful surprise.
Having grown up with neighbors who owned horses, I had plenty of chances as a kid to hop on the bare back of a big horse, grab a handful of its mane, and hang on for dear life while it ran around the pasture. My children, on the other hand, were strictly suburb-dwellers. There was more concrete than bermuda grass in our neighborhood cul-de-sac.
All in all, the ride could not have been too exciting. Maybe the stature of the horse compared to the tiny size of my two young would-be jockeys provided them a little adrenaline. I know the actual race which we saw, crowded around Lee’s television set, was more fun for the adults than the children.
I’ve not been to another Derby Day watch-party since, but I’ve seen a few on television and as those beautiful horses round the corner for the finish at Churchill Downs, I always recall the pleasant afternoon on the quiet Kentucky-like estate of Mr and Mrs Lee Masters, with my children taking turns in their ‘Walk for the Roses.’
And they’re off!