I arrived at the Jai Lai Fronton at around 10:30AM to see what kind of crowd would show up for the Kentucky Derby. As I was walking in, a small group of ladies walked out with very exotic hats. I got excited figuring there must be a crowd inside all elegantly dressed and waiting for the race to start. When I got to the simulcast room filled with hundreds of TVs, I looked around and was disappointed to find that it looked like the usual crowd. Where were the men in suits and the women in flowing dresses? I decided to sketch the room anyway and half way through the sketch the race started up. Men were screaming and cheering. I never know where to look and honestly I have no idea what horse won the race.
Much later in the day I got home and Terry told me that the Kentucky Derby was going to start at 6:30PM! The race I had witnesses at the Fronton wasn’t even the Kentucky Derby. I did watch the race from the comfort of my living room and was thrilled that the underdog “Mine That Bird” won with 50 to 1 odds. I should have placed a bet at the Fronton, I could be rich right now. Would I ever have bet on a horse with 50 to 1 odds? I doubt it.
