Xany

 In 1920 Nan's father (Joe) started betting on the Kentucky Derby. He made it a family tradition by putting all of the names of his children, his cousins and his wife's cousins. It was a simple bet that you pay the winner 10 cents. It was a fun way to gather everyone around the dining room table and put up 10 cents.

The next day the Philadelphia paper would have the winner of the Kentucky Derby. It was exciting to see who would win all of the dimes. Because there were 20 horses the winner would go away with $2.00. That was a lot of money in 1920. It was equivalent of about $100 today.

Last year 2020, was the first time in 157 years of the Kentucky Derby race that the horses did not win. They tried to change the date to October 2020 but the COVID pandemic would not have the race run in public. The horses ran but people could not attend the race in person.

Every year the morning of the race Nan would start making finger foods for the people coming over to watch the race. A favorite would be pigs in a blanket, pretzels dipped in melted chocolate chips, grapes and strawberries on a stick. Nan would get mint from the local market to make the all time favorite the Mint Julep. It is made with Kentucky Bourbon, crushed ice, mint, a touch of water and a lemon rind or you could use a lime. Pull out the hats. They could be baseball hats, a veil you wore at church pulled back with a flower, any kind of netting or you could make your own creation. It was a reason to have a party.

The race is usually about 4pm Kentucky time. To get the information on the days activities there were 12 races run the first Saturday in May. the running of the roses or the Kentucky derby is the 10th race. It is certainly plenty of pomp and circumstance if you happen to be lucky enough to be at the track. Some hats were 24 inches wide and 20 inches high, for the men it could be a top hat or a derby with a horse made to look like a weathervane on the top. The men are just as dressed up as the women. They truly look like a dapper dandy doodle. For the women it is not just the hat, it is the outfit, shoes and purse to match.

Television cameras are following people around the paddock, trying to get a glimpse of the outrageous hats. 

Nan would be excited for days getting everyone to pick their horse. In the last 20 years of her life she would actually draw names so everyone would be included in the day of the race. After the race was over there were phone calls around the United States congratulating the winner that year. We have a new rule in the family now. Who ever won the race and received the money, they would have to run it the following year.

Good Luck!

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