June 16 - 18
RECAP: This recap is of the trip we took to Louisville June 16 - 18, but if you'd like to see the racing recap from my days at the track all week long, CLICK HERE. On Thursday June 16 Kim and I boarded a flight to Chicago at 5:30 am. Oh my. When we arrived at Midway Chicago airport we split paths with Kim going on to Pennsylvania to visit her family for a week and I flew to Louisville where I was meeting my buddy Keith for a long weekend featuring a night of racing under the lights on Saturday. The original plan was to check into our hotel, the Sheraton in Jeffersonville, Indiana right on the Ohio River, fifteen minutes from the airport and Churchill Downs. Then to go to Twilight Racing on Thursday, explore Louisville on Friday, then spend the day at the track Saturday before an early morning flight home. But, you know how plans go.....first, on Tuesday before the trip Churchill announced racing had been cancelled for both Wednesday and our planned day Thursday due to the extreme heat (highs in the upper 90's). So when I arrived we went for dinner and then drove around Louisville and discussed what should we do as an alternate plan. We opted to make plans to go visit the Mega Caverns which are over 100 feet below ground (basically below the Louisville Zoo) in the morning on Friday and then do the track in the late afternoon where I had selections for Monmouth Park which didn't start until 2 pm. We'd grab a bite to eat and then head to our pre-arranged Ghost Tour Walk in Old Louisville. Both those excursions were AMAZING, especially the nearly two-hour walk around old Louisville where our guide, David told the best stories. Saturday morning we met my cousin Mary Beth and her partner Ron Riddle for breakfast at Wagners, which is a little pharmacy/diner right across the street from Churchill Downs. Just an old fashioned diner that was fun - enjoyed the visit. We went back to the hotel and then returned to the track around 2 pm for the extended day. The track experience was THE BEST.....under the nights with over 40,000 LOUD fans - most dressed "to the nines" (like I was) made for a special night - as did all the winning. Last race went off after 11 pm so we got very little sleep before Keith dropped me off at the airport at 5 am for my 6:25 flight. But, like the first part of the trip - the unexpected happened. My flight was postponed to 10 am, getting me to Orlando at about noon, missing my 9:30 flight. The "next" flight from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale wasn't until 10 pm so I was rerouted at 1pm to Baltimore with a 6:30 flight on to Fort Lauderdale, arriving at 9 pm. I said "NO" to that and looked at options once I arrived in Orlando. As I was on my computer the flight was changed again, now leaving at 7:30 am and getting to Orlando at 9:30. I booked a rental car figuring it was better to drive the three hours and be home in early afternoon than to spend the day flying and waiting. I arrived in Orlando ten minutes before my original flight to Ft. Lauderdale which was delayed fifteen minutes to 9:45. I got to the gate in time and the door was still open. But because my flight had been cancelled I could not get on. Got the car and drove - "landed" at Fort Lauderdale International (where my car was waiting) at 1:30pm and was home by 2pm. A long day, but shorter than had I stuck with the flights. Here are photos of the highlights of our trip.....
