Downs After Dark Scrapbook

 June 21:  Downs After Dark

I love going to Churchill Downs for the night time party atmosphere, "Downs After Dark."  I've not been in a few years so I arranged to meet my buddy Keith in Louisville for this Saturday program.  It was a perfect fit with the Stanley Cup playoffs slated to be completed no later than June 20th - fortunately our Panthers DID go all the way to the Final and won Game 6 on Tuesday June 17th.  But, because Kim and I are heading out for our Alaska trip on Thursday June 26th I did not want to make this a whole weekend adventure.  When I first looked into it the flights and hotel seemed very expensive for a one night adventure.  And then it occurred to me to used my airline points.  I was able to book a flight to Louisville out of Fort Lauderdale in "Delta Comfort+" seating for FREE and a return flight home on Southwest Airlines FREE.  So I was up at 4:45am Saturday morning for a 6:30am flight to Louisville on Delta, via a short layover in Atlanta.  Landed a little after noon where Keith picked me up.  Drove the 20 minutes to the hotel, right on the Ohio River, checked in, and went to lunch.  By the time we finished lunch we had about an hour to drive around Louisville on our way to Churchill Downs.  Got there a little before 5pm - first post was at 6pm and the last race went off a little after 11pm.  Back in the hotel around midnight.  Alarm goes off at 4am to get to the airport for my 6:30am flight home.  Stopped for several hours in Tampa (where I had breakfast and worked on the computer) - was the "price" I paid to get a FREE flight - and was home mid-afternoon Sunday.  WHEW.  Here's a scrapbook of photos from our cool adventure!

Front row nearly on the Finish Line

Welcome To Churchill Downs

The new Clubhouse Turn Grandstand

Free souvenir program with admission

The view from our first row seats, balcony level nearly on the finish line

The caricature murals of all the legends who've been a part of the history of Churchill Downs

The historic & iconic Twin Spires

The brand new multi-million paddock

Long time pals of nearly 30 years

The massive jumbotron

Echo Lane JUSTS holds on for the first win

Vahva runs through the stretch under the Twin Spires to WIN the featured Grade 2 Chicago

The stands are PACKED

I've got the winner!

That's a winning ticket my friends

The massive crowd

It's a big party atmosphere that brings out the "youngsters"

And they love to show off their festive party outfits

Downs After Dark Highlights