BlairAndCernyFamilie..

One of the most spectacular and thrilling trips I ever
had in my lifetime was in 1947 when I was invr'ted to go
with some of my friends to the Kentucky Derby in
Louisville, Kentucky. Hy friends were Geraldine Rork who
I kne$, when I had worked in Decatur, Illinois, Henry and
l'like Nolan who were brothers and r.prked in Decatur and
Catherine Sheehan of Oalton City, Illinois. The five of
us drove to Louisvflle the first saturday in llay. Nonc of
us were sure of the way there so we left early in the
morning, around 4 n U on saturday.
The first thing was to look for a hotel for all of us to
stay over night. lJe checked every place in Louisville and
there were no rooms to be had. At one of the hotels the
desk clerk told us we might be able to find rooms at
Lexington, Kentucky. l.le drove back to Lexington and found
roofns there.
lle all had lunch together and then went to Churchill Downs.
The place is just beautiful with all the ponds and flowers
inside the center of the race track. It was just beyond
our imagination but we finally found seats in the bleachers
amid the great crowd of people.
None of us had much money to spend in 1947 so none of us
did any betting on the first three or four races. Henry
bet a little money on some of the races and lost. Finally
next to the last race I bet six dollars, two each to win,
place and show. The horse I bet on was a long shot to win
and they all told me I was wastr'ng my money and they all
bet on the favori te. Howeverr the long shot horse I bet on
won and I went to the window to get the noney, The man at
the window gave me a check for 5700.00 and I was overcome
with surprise and bewilderment.
Since I had won so much money I felt obligated to take all
of us out to dinner that evening. We all went to the Brown
hotel and had a mint julep and dinner in the bridle room.
The attendance at the derby every year is over 1001000.