The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby takes place this afternoon at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This is, of course, the most prestigious horserace of the year, the start of the run for the Triple Crown. And here in Denver, people will be dressing up and heading to the bars in Lower Downtown (LoDo) to watch the race and show off their attire. But if you want to do it in style, you can attend the Denver Derby Party, which organizers say is the largest Derby party west of Kentucky. It will be taking place at McGregor Square, just across the street from Coors Field, and will feature a huge stadium screen, live entertainment with DJs, a fashion contest, and unlimited food and drinks, all for $150 a ticket. If it wasn't for prior commitments, I would be there in a flash. In any case, when I think of the Kentucky Derby, I always think of Hunter S. Thompson and his sports article titled "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved." Thompson was sent to cover the Kentucky Derby for Scanlan's Monthly back in 1970 along with illustrator Ralph Steadman. Facing a deadline without a coherent story, thanks to a week of partying, a desperate Thompson typed up his notes and produced a wild, first-person narrative that marked the start of gonzo journalism. He sent the story in, waited for his journalism career to end, and was surprised when he started getting rave reviews for his new style of writing, getting personally involved in the story. It wound up changing his life. He became a successful and famous writer but also wound up creating a persona and image that would stay with him for the rest of his life, a role he could never stop playing even if he had wanted. The sometimes-high price of fame.
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