A friend had a spot open up on a trip to this year's Derby. I can get there pretty cheap.

Has anyone been? Is it one of those things you need to do once in your life?

A little background: I'm a big sports fan, but can't say I'm into horse racing. I do enjoy alcoholic beverages, as well as looking at beautiful babies. Is the Derby right for me?

Yes, you need to do it once in your life, but only if you have good seats. The infield is like a college spring break, and the "cheap seats" are no different than seeing a horse race anywhere else. The reason you go to the Derby is to see the crowd and pageantry - so you have to have good seats to make it that once in a lifetime experience. Then, let your wife buy an expensive hat, and just don't ask how much it costs.

The boxes on the first level are where a few celebrities sit and the Governor of Kentucky, etc. It's an old school crowd, with some good hats.

Millionaire's Row is sort of like the Zone Club at Kyle Field - lots of indoor seating, good food, then you step outside of the glass to watch the race. This is where the horse owners are for the most part - George Steinbrenner types.

The Turf Club is the ultimate. It's about the size of a large restaurant, with tables, leather couches, etc. Then you step outside to watch the races. I got into the Turf Club one year, and I was sitting next to those Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy clowns, and stood in line to place a bet behind ZZ Top, and in front of Tara Reid and Rebecca Romein - I'm not a celebrity worshipper at all, but it was pretty cool.

I saw an interview with Tara Reid once where she was gushing about the Derby- recalled how she was placing a bet, right there in between Rebecca Romein and Senor Mandingo!

^
I laughed