You won’t find this list anywhere else, but Today’s Woman’s
Tamera Huber went out to find a top ten for those who thought they knew how to celebrate Derby Season.
1 Barnstable-Brown Celebrity Gawking Stalk celebrities. The right way.
A plethora of stars are as close as the Highlands. Derby Eve outside Patricia Barnstable-Brown’s home near Cherokee Park is a party unto itself. Who cares what’s going on inside the tents. Sure, you could become famous, and/or rich, and be invited to the event, which benefits diabetes research. But you’d be missing out on the excitement and camaraderie which builds whenever a sleek limousine with tinted windows pulls up to the driveway. Murmurs flow throughout the gallery as fans try to guess who the new arrival is. Finally, screams erupt, flashbulbs snap, and autograph pens fly when the celebrity emerges in evening regalia.
To those lucky enough, and early enough (say, six o’clock or earlier), to get in the front row, autographs are possible. Many guests walk the line, signing their names on everything from scraps of paper to body parts. One year, I was part of the throng, vying for a photo or autograph of a Backstreet Boy for my then-8-year-old daughter. No luck. I came too late and was relegated to the side yard behind lots and lots of other, taller heads. I did actually see Howie and got a very dark picture of a blurry head (I blame it on the camera). Sigh.
The moral of this story: Come early and get a good spot. Bring a fold-up chair, refreshments, a decent camera and binoculars, and enjoy an experience that is uniquely Louisville.
2 Create Your Own Party
Themed Derby Party
What do Elvis, Derby Princesses, and a house fire have in common?
Allen and Chris Corbin.
For 24 of the last 25 years, the Corbins have thrown themed Derby parties for an average of 150 friends and family. Each year’s theme is Allen’s brainchild, and he guards the motif like a state secret, unveiling it only after guests gather in anticipation. “I usually don’t know what the theme is until the night before,” Chris says. In 1993, when daughter Shannon White was a Derby Princess, the theme was “Royal Derby” and The King himself, Elvis, attended. The year after the Corbins’ house was flooded, then later burned down, was “Fire and Rain.” Chris says, “We keep a sense of humor.” Allen typically dresses up for the occasion — one year M. C. Hammer, Mother Teresa another. “My husband makes a speech, unveils the theme, then throws themed t-shirts or boxer shorts to the guests,” says Chris.
The Corbins met at Morehead State University. Allen became hooked in 1968 when friends asked him to go on a road trip to Louisville during Derby weekend. He hasn’t missed a Derby since. Allen and Chris married in 1972 and lived in Columbus, Ohio. Every year, the Corbins rented a motor home and came to the Kentucky Derby. In 1979, Allen received a job offer based in Louisville. He jumped at the chance. “The Derby was the decision-maker,” says Chris.
Chris administers educational programs out of Maryhurst for the Jefferson County Public Schools. Allen is a financial advisor for Morgan-Keegan in Louisville.
“My husband loves Derby so much,” says Chris. “Last year, he even sponsored a Gallopalooza horse — War Admiral. And, of course, a photo of the horse was on the t-shirts.”
3 Derby Luncheon
Last year, Dr. Max Behr’s birthday present to his wife Harriett R. Behr was a ladies’ Derby luncheon at the Standard Country Club. Fashion consultant Jo Ross moderated the event, which included a fashion show featuring hats Gabriel Amar designed for Frank Olive, lunch, and entertainment.
Von Maur provided the hats, which were available for sale. Each table was decorated by Phyllis Present with vintage hats, handbags and gloves. The occasion was commemorated in photographs.
4 Collecting memorabilia
Johnnie Stormes is not only a collector; he’s an expert. Stormes, 80, has collected every Pegasus pin ever made, including the gold/silver pins and return pins. He has two complete sets and thousands of extras. “I fell into it in the early eighties,” he says. The first pin was produced in 1973 and Stormes traded or paid for earlier years. He says, “I’m a fanatic. I got into it because I thought it would be a good hobby.” Stormes is retired. He still enjoys the thrill of opening a new Pegasus Pin package and searching for an item he doesn’t yet possess.
Pegasus Pins were instituted as a source of revenue for the Kentucky Derby Festival. Bridget Sherrill, vice president of merchandising for the KDF, says, “The true collector wants all the pins, including the instant win and the return pins.”
From 1973 to 1995, then again in 1999 to 2002, a single design was produced per year. Three pins (one design with three color variations) were created for 1996 through 1998. In 2003, the concept of five pins representing various Kentucky Derby Festival events was introduced. That tradition continues today.
5 Books – The Gift of Reading Your Derby guests, or you for that matter, may want to escape some of the frenzied activities by reading a good book. Put one on your guest’s beside table as a gift or to discourage late-night raids on the fridge.
Derby Rotten Scoundrels is an anthology filled with Derby-related mystery short stories. The stories, written by Sisters in Crime members from the Ohio River Valley chapter (including myself), are tame enough for anyone’s grandmother. Authors include novelists Kit Ehrman, Jeffrey Marks, Beverle Graves Myers, Brenda Robertson Stewart and Laura Young. Non-fiction transition pages impart Derby history. Both visitors and natives will learn something new.
Other interesting Derby reads are Billy Reed: My Favorite Derby Stories, Kentucky Derby Festival: 50 Years of Fun published by Butler Books, and Kentucky Derby Stories written by Jim Bolus. Most books are available at Barnes & Noble on Hurstbourne Parkway or can be ordered through other area booksellers.
6 Enjoy Dawn at the Downs with Professional WomenBusiness and Professional Women/River City’s 200-plus members know how to have a good time. BPW/River City’s annual Dawn at the Downs is not only a networking occasion, but a time to celebrate spring in Louisville. Event co-chair Joetta Warren says, “It’s a good venue to watch morning workouts, eat breakfast, meet people and have fun.” She adds, “It’s the one event members look forward to all year and enjoy the most.”
President-elect Lora Hardin says, “It’s a great networking event during a time in the city when we’re celebrating.” No need to be a member to attend. Contact Lora Hardin at (812)-945-2311 for reservations for the May 3 event or call Joetta Warren at the same number.
7 The Great Bed Races
“The Bed Race is the most fun and morale-building event we have as a company,” says AAA Kentucky’s Elaine Belflowers, the auto association’s insurance agency director. Roger Boyd, director of public relations, says, “Employees love the event and we include them in all facets.” AAA Kentucky is a Great Bed Races co-sponsor with 107.7 SFR. “The company believes it’s important to be a good corporate neighbor,” says Boyd. Kentucky Derby Festival announces the theme, and then AAA Kentucky holds a design contest. Past decorating themes were Gilligan’s Island and a Nascar pit crew. Runners try out for the race team. Twenty-five employees walk in the pre-race parade and other employees sit and cheer the runners. The Great Bed Races are held May 2 in Broadbent Arena. “This year is our fourth year,” says Belflowers. “We didn’t know what we were missing.”
8 Parade Preview
Bring your kids, of all ages, for a sneak peek at the Pegasus Parade floats up close. The event, at the Kentucky International Convention Center on May 3, sponsored by Republic Bank & Trust Company, includes giant inflatable characters, marching bands, clowns and horses. The Derby Festival Queen and her court will be there to sign autographs. More information is available at www.kdf.org, or call (502) 584-6383.
9 Thunder Blast
The Louisville Science Center’s seventh annual ThunderBlast is just that — a blast. I attended last year with my daughter, her friend, and my fiance. Plan on a long day of family-friendly fun, from 1 to 11 p.m. on April 23. “This is one of our best family events,” says Kim Inge, group sales and event manager.
Snag a good viewing spot early for Thunder Over Louisville in the Science Center’s parking lot on the Ohio River. Ticket purchase also includes access to the Science Center, KidBlast activities, a catered meal, drink tickets, inflatables for kids, and tickets to an after-Thunder IMAX (this year, “Nascar, The Imax Experience”) at member prices. Call (502) 561-6100 for details.
10 Organize a Marathon Team
ROAM wants you — to be healthy. Stacy Cohen created the walker-friendly club, Runners On A Mission (ROAM), to promote exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
Cohen, an RN with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, says the club was “a vision from God to promote walking and running.” Eight people came to the first meet in January 2005 at Louisville Fleet Feet Sports, a running/walking store on Bardstown Road in the Highlands. Through word of mouth, the roster has grown to 40.
Each participant establishes a “mission” then Cohen devises a training schedule to meet the goal. She began running after her cholesterol registered over 200. “Running isn’t for everyone. But I teach people they can get good cardio workouts through walking too,” she says. “Research shows if you do activities as a group, you are more committed,” says Cohen. The team’s first effort was the Anthem 5K on March 12. ROAM members plan to take on the 13.1-mile Meijer Derby Festival Marathon on April 30, some with a relay team and others on their own.
To learn more about ROAM, call Louisville Fleet Feet Sports at (502) 479-8786.
