LOUISVILLE, KY. -- Friday night: Rain kind of messed up Oaks day. Many people in the announced attendance of more than 100,000 before Proud Spell won the Kentucky Oaks.
There was more rain Friday night and at times it was heavy enough to move some of the Derby parties indoors.
My friend Mickey Clark celebrated his 68th birthday by playing a gig with Dale Perry who plays terrific guitar and sings the odd number too.
It was a barbecue place and some of Mickey's relatives from Florida popped in. I arrived a little later from Churchill Downs. We were told the restaurant had run out of food. They did rustle up some burgers and chicken brisket for us that was quite acceptable.
Mickey who is working on a new CD - Jerry Jeff Walker who knows Mickey from back in the 1960s is one of many to have agreed to perform on the album - and introduced a new song that was well received. It's called: Don't piss on my boots and tell me it's raining.
Mickey and Dale sure do honest sets, plenty of tunes and energy.
Mickey's wife, Sandy, was there and their son Brennan showed up with his friend Kyle, who likes to talk baseball so we hit it off pretty good.
In our chat, he was questioning the way Blue Jays manager John Gibbons handles pitchers.
These guys have some wicked talent in the video field. They were in Toronto for a few days recently to work as part of a prize they won for a submission. I was out of town covering TFC and the Raptors so missed them.
After Mickey had taken down the equipment we were off to the home of his brother Bill and his wife, Theresa, who had their annual Derby party. It was nearly midnight by the time we got there and raining. Brennan and Kyle went to another party.
Just about everybody has a Derby party so all the street parking was pretty well taken. I missed Mickey's mother, Isabel, who already had left and will turn 100 next week, and is still sharp as can be. Mickey's brother Del was there, too. He refers to me as the Canook. It was too late for the brothers to do some jamming.
We also visited some neighours whose house is next to the city's biggest Derby bash, the Barnstable Brown Gala held at the residence on Spring St. of Tricia Barnstable Brown.
The celebrity list included Tom Brady, Smokey Robinson, Hugh Hefner, Bo Derek, Travis Tritt, Mary Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, Anastasia Brown - you get the idea.
There was some pretty good music played at that party, even late. Could hear it next door, no problem.
On the way home on Speed Avenue, we pass a banner outside a house proclaiming the third annual Unstable Clown Derby party.
Saturday morning. Cloudy and damp again. The infielders arrive early prepared for damp and cool weather. Somehow their spirits won't be dampened. The infield on Derby day is one of the better shows in sport.
By 10 a.m., the sun is trying to break through.
Someone has been selling fake media credentials in the parking lot at Churchill Downs. Media members were being asked to keep some photo ID handy, just in case they are checked.
