WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.480 In company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine day. 2 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:18.879 Now here's Nick Coffee. 3 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:21.960 All right, let's get it started. Hour number two Here 4 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:25.480 on a Monday afternoon coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's 5 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:27.879 on Sports Talk seven to ninety Nick Coffee, Austin Montgomery, 6 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:31.399 taking you up until six o'clock and hopefully you had 7 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:35.000 yourselves a good Derby weekend. I was happy that the 8 00:00:35.079 --> 00:00:38.359 weather didn't really keep a humongous crowd for showing up, 9 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:41.439 and those that were there, it was, you know, it's 10 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:43.079 nice to see that they didn't seem at all to 11 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:45.439 be impacted by the weather. Which, hey, that's good. There's 12 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:47.200 nothing you can do about it. I mean, you know, 13 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:51.320 that's out of your control. So also I ended up 14 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:55.759 at a derby party after I left. I left probably 15 00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:57.880 and this is what I tip. Actually was there a 16 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:01.000 little longer this year than I typically am. But I thought, okay, 17 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:03.280 do I want to stick around and wait for the erase, 18 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:06.319 or do I want to get on the shuttle and 19 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:09.439 get back and watch the race at a derby party 20 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:12.680 where my family is, or you know, stick around and 21 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:15.159 then you know, I feel like the shuttle would have 22 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:16.799 been a real mess if I tried to leave like 23 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:19.200 right after the derby, So was it a mess? Now 24 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:21.439 I didn't stay. This is the first time, Oh you 25 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:22.319 left before the derby? 26 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:22.439 Two. 27 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:24.519 I left the half an hour before the derby. I 28 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:26.760 got a beer and then I looked up saw thirty 29 00:01:26.760 --> 00:01:29.719 minutes till posts, and I thought, I can leave now, 30 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:32.599 or if I wait till after the derby, it's I'm 31 00:01:32.599 --> 00:01:33.920 going to be here another two three hours. 32 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.280 Yeah, that's you and I are on the same page, 33 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:39.040 and typically I'm out, you know, a lot earlier than 34 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.359 when I left Saturdays to where it's not really that 35 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:44.640 kind of a decision. But I think we probably left 36 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:46.519 nearly around the same time because I ended up getting 37 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:48.920 where I was headed right right around the time the 38 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:51.599 derby started, So worked out good with timing. But you know, 39 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:54.599 it's such a big deal that, like I would imagine 40 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:56.799 that there probably is a lighter turnout to some of 41 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:59.439 the parties if in fact weather's not great, But that 42 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:02.359 wasn't the case where I was. And again, like it's 43 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:04.400 not good, you're not gonna cancel it, right, it's the derby, right, 44 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:06.120 I mean it's kind of like rain or shine, which 45 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:09.360 really did seem to kind of be the uh, the 46 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:11.960 theme on Saturday, because you know, I finally just stopped 47 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:13.719 having to ask people about the weather because they you know, 48 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:16.680 they they're aware that it's raining, but that didn't wasn't 49 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.400 something they were thinking about because plenty of places to 50 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:22.479 stay dry, and obviously, you know, it's, uh, it's out 51 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:24.039 of your control. What are you gonna do? So did 52 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:26.039 you stay uh? Did you stay dressed up and nice 53 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:29.719 going to the parties or I usually give myself time 54 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:32.719 to get home and get changed. This year I didn't, 55 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:34.680 And I asked my wife. I was like, should I 56 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:36.479 head out? You know, I don't know how long? You know, 57 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:38.159 I said, I don't know how long you're gonna actually 58 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:40.039 be there after the derby. I'd be getting there closer 59 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:42.240 to right around the time the race happens. And she 60 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:43.759 was like, yeah, it's fine. There's a few other people 61 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:46.199 dressed up to And I did feel a little lot, 62 00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:48.120 a little out of place, but you know, it was 63 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:50.479 it was still all in fun. So we hopefully everybody 64 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:53.120 had a good Derby weekend. I know I certainly did. 65 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:56.240 And if you're somebody that's still recovering, maybe you're somebody 66 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.439 that takes this Monday off because you know you have 67 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:01.400 the vacation, the PTO whatever is, and you realize you 68 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:04.520 might need a little extra time to get the batteries charged. 69 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:07.680 It's it is totally understandable. They had a. 70 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:12.159 Ever since Tuesday. I was on, I was on a heater, 71 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:16.240 and then after Tuesday, it all fell apart, deposit after 72 00:03:16.360 --> 00:03:20.360 deposit after deposit, twenty five here, twenty five there, and 73 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:22.919 I was on like my last seven dollars on like 74 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:26.479 race eight, I think, and then I decided to place 75 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:30.639 a two dollars exacta and then the it came in, 76 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:34.439 came in seventy dollars on a two dollars bet, and 77 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:36.120 it got me all the way back up, and it 78 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:37.719 got me ready for the race. I was able to 79 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:40.719 cash out everything that I put in for that week, 80 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:43.120 and I had twenty five to bet on the derby, 81 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:43.599 so I. 82 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:45.319 Just have bets everywhere. 83 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:49.759 I was very high on the Sandman, very very very 84 00:03:49.800 --> 00:03:51.479 sad that I think he's still running. 85 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:53.840 Yeah, not a good day, because not a good day 86 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:56.400 for Salman. And I'd shifted to Sandman two once I 87 00:03:56.439 --> 00:03:59.879 really started to, you know, realize I should absolutely emphasize 88 00:03:59.879 --> 00:04:02.280 that connection that I have to the to the Cassie family. 89 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:05.199 I really didn't even put that together until we were 90 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:08.759 talking to Joel Marc, Cassie's son on the air on Saturday, 91 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:10.919 and I knew he has he's got a horse in 92 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:13.879 the derby every year just because that's how how successful 93 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.600 he is in this industry. But no, Sandman, it had 94 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:19.120 becomes once Rodriguez went down. Sandman had kind of become 95 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:21.360 my horse and it was sad. 96 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:24.519 And it was poor guy, still a beautiful horse. I loved, 97 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:27.800 loved everything about the the story of it that James 98 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:31.240 Hetfield come up from Nashville because Metallica is playing two 99 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:32.120 days at Nissan. 100 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:35.160 He came up, got to meet Sandman. I love the 101 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:35.920 the way that the. 102 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:39.639 Owner of the horse, he's a young cat, he's he's 103 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:40.800 all over social media. 104 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:44.120 He's the Tiktak guy right. Yes, yes, it's something Griffin. 105 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.079 I can't remember his name, but they were showing him 106 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:49.800 quite a bit on the lead ups because the Salmon. 107 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:52.079 Salmon was a was one of the top buzz horses. 108 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:54.920 But also he's someone that you know from from I 109 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:58.480 guess TikTok fame and fortune. He's now using that to 110 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:00.959 be you know, involved in horse race singing. Here he 111 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:02.399 was with a horse that you know, had a lot 112 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:06.240 of momentum. But and I don't, I mean, I shouldn't 113 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:08.160 just assume that I'm going to have the opinion of 114 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:11.120 this person that everybody else does, because you really never know. 115 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:13.759 But I'd always heard that he's someone that everybody was 116 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:15.680 gonna not like, and he was going to be really like, 117 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:18.240 you know, obnoxious and you know, kind of make it 118 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:20.439 a stunt. But I didn't hear anything about that. He 119 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.480 actually seemed the brief interview that I heard, he seemed, 120 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:24.639 you know, like someone who genuinely was excited to be 121 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:26.120 able to be in the position to have, you know, 122 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:29.319 the wealth, to you know, have a horse that's in 123 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:29.800 the derby. 124 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.600 Yes, he seemed really nice. But you know, your boy, 125 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:37.079 he still played. He still put three dollars on sovereignty. Goodness, man, 126 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:39.240 came for you. I came through with twenty four bucks 127 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:40.079 Tanka for you boy. 128 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:43.360 What I said before right as we started the show. 129 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:45.759 I don't know if this is one thousand percent accurate, 130 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:48.879 but it's the way it seemed to me. Sovereignty was 131 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:52.000 always in the conversation as one of the favorites, like 132 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:53.800 it was never viewed as like, who the hell's that? Like, 133 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:56.120 I've never heard of that one, but it just never 134 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:59.240 quite had the buzz that that you know, you saw 135 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:03.519 Sandman get and obviously journalism, hell even Rodriguez before the scratch, 136 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:05.240 I feel like it started to become a little bit 137 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:07.360 more of a of a buzz horse. So you know, 138 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:10.560 it's a big field. In the end, there was only 139 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:15.079 nineteen that competed on Saturday. And if you're I mean, 140 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:16.720 if you're in the derby, there's a good chance you're 141 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:19.920 you know, you've done a lot in your career as 142 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:22.319 a thoroughbred to you know, show that you're worthy, and 143 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:24.639 that makes it to where you really never know what's 144 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:26.439 going to happen. I mean, this wasn't like some big 145 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:29.639 long shot like we've had in previous years. But you know, 146 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:31.480 I kind of feel like as much as I was 147 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:35.000 pulling for Sandman on Saturday, once we got to the day, 148 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:37.680 I mean, you know, again, I'm not selling this as 149 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:40.040 some underdog story. Who would've ever thunk it? But when 150 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:42.480 there is, you know, when there's a big mixture over 151 00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:45.639 many years of different types of winners, different types of results, 152 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:48.439 I just think that makes it more of an intriguing 153 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:50.480 race because you really see, you know, you really never 154 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:52.279 know what you're going to get, right. I mean, I 155 00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:53.959 think if you have a ten year stretch where it's 156 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.120 just long shots that aren't believed to be you know, 157 00:06:57.240 --> 00:06:59.839 considered in the top fifteen, I mean, that would be wild, 158 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:01.560 but it would be a really bad look for the 159 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:03.600 event to where like people who cover this that you know, 160 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:04.959 this is their world, they don't even know what the 161 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:07.439 hell they're doing because this race is too long and 162 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:08.959 they have too many horses in it to where it's 163 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.920 just I feel like that would leave it open for 164 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:13.360 a lot of criticism. Now, if the favorites just win 165 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:16.399 it every year, I mean, that's not a bad thing, 166 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.199 but I also think that it becomes a little bit 167 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:20.720 boring and stale to the outside folks that don't really 168 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:23.240 get into horse racing other than the Derby. But if 169 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:26.759 it's a mixed bag consistently and there's always that level 170 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:28.879 of not really knowing what the hell's going to happen, 171 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:31.639 I think that's that's good for it. Again, the Derby 172 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:33.639 is gonna be fine regardless of what happens. I just mean, 173 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:36.040 if your goal is to always make it appealing to 174 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:40.120 those that maybe wouldn't necessarily be interested in. You know, 175 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:42.560 that leads to more growth. And again here I am 176 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:44.439 acting like they needed. I mean, the viewership that they 177 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:47.360 had on Saturday don't really surprised me. But you know, 178 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:51.000 just seeing the number seventeen point seven million people tuning 179 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:53.720 in to watch, I mean that is an yeah, that's 180 00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:58.920 this is it's a record for NBC. And the peak 181 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:01.600 of the race was twenty one point eight million, So 182 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:04.480 at one point during the race, twenty one point eight billion, 183 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:08.519 twenty one point eight million people were watching. And I 184 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:12.720 mean you look around at viewership in sports and I 185 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.199 sometimes nerd out on this, but I try not to 186 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:18.000 bring it to the radio because I don't think it's 187 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:19.879 that interesting and I don't know if i'd be good 188 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.519 at finding a way to make it interesting and entertaining. 189 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:27.199 But we now have the ability to to to I 190 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:30.639 wouldn't say not watch, but like you gotta for something 191 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:33.320 to keep your attention and keep your interest, Like that's 192 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.840 that's hard to do now because at any moment, you've 193 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:37.720 got a device in your hand that you could easily 194 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:40.039 just find something. You could pull up a game you 195 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:42.080 could pull up your your Instagram feed, you could go 196 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:45.159 to Twitter, or you could text somebody, I mean, you know, 197 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:47.159 or you can just you know. I just feel like 198 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:50.279 back in the day, you didn't have something on you 199 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:53.519 at all times that could easily distract you from something 200 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:55.519 that you have found yourself really not that interesting. I mean, 201 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:57.399 how many times have you set down to watch a 202 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:00.919 game or a TV show even or movie maybe, or 203 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:04.200 you're just out somewhere and you realize in the moment, oh, 204 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:06.600 I'm not really even paying attention to what's on television. 205 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:08.840 I'm not really paying attention to what's around me. It's 206 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:11.840 because without even really having the the you know, the 207 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:16.200 confirmation upstairs mentally, you just you know, you weren't interested enough. 208 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:18.000 You knew you could do something that would interest you 209 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:21.200 a little bit more So, I think the viewership that 210 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:23.080 we see, the numbers we see when it comes to 211 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:26.360 watching live sports, not to say the numbers aren't real, 212 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:31.000 but you know, I think sometimes it's just background noise 213 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:33.320 to people, right, and it's not really something that like 214 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.240 is hey, this is it's it's not necessary, Like for example, 215 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:42.720 when you are at a bar restaurant airport and they've 216 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:44.960 just got it on ESPN, Like that counts for like 217 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:47.639 a linear television view but like how many people are 218 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:49.799 really like locked in the sounds? Probably not even on. 219 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:53.120 But if you're watching the Derby in that moment, it's 220 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:56.279 appointment viewing because it's just a brief amount of time, right, Like, yeah, 221 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:58.840 you know the Derby coverage, that's that's longer than two 222 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:00.919 minutes obviously, But I don't know. I just think big 223 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:04.600 events in this country that really, you know, are of 224 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:08.559 this magnitude, like the Kentucky Derby, they still get insane viewership, 225 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:10.840 and in fact they get it. I mean there's more 226 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:13.759 viewership because there's now different ways in which you can watch. 227 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:16.200 If you're in your car on a road trip, you 228 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:17.720 can pull off to the side of the road and 229 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:21.000 watch it on your own because that's just now where 230 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:24.279 we are in twenty twenty five. So you know, not 231 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:26.559 that I was expecting the Derby to have like a drop, 232 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:31.120 but you know, it's the popularity is there, and the 233 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:33.240 sport of horse racing is still viewed as something that 234 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:36.360 is quote unquote struggling, and I wouldn't be in the 235 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.399 note to even be able to dispute that or have 236 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:40.639 a conversation about that. That's foolish of me to admit 237 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:42.360 to you guys, I'm just being real. Whenever I hear 238 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:44.720 that the sport's in trouble, I assume it's because of, 239 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:47.639 you know, the health issues with some of the horses 240 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:50.159 over the years. Obviously Churchill had to close down one 241 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:51.679 of the parks here in the state that they own 242 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:54.080 not that long ago because it's some things going on. 243 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:56.200 So maybe that's what people mean when they say that 244 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:59.000 the sport is, you know, quote unquote struggling. But when 245 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:02.679 it comes to the appeal of Derby Day here at 246 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:05.360 Churchill Downs in Louisville, that ain't slowing down, that is 247 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:08.360 not having any kind of struggle. That thing's healthy and 248 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:10.919 ready to roll as if they just left the office 249 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:12.919 over at the Louisville Men's Clinic after a new visit 250 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:14.720 with doctor Wood. I mean, you know what I'm saying, 251 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:18.200 like it's it's in peak peak performance to just you know, 252 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:20.559 think and think of it that way. Didn't mean to 253 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.639 spinning around to doctor Wood, but sometimes we just end 254 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:25.039 up there. That's how naturally it comes to your mind exactly. 255 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.759 You know what I got to give Churchill Downs a 256 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:28.559 lot of credit on and just the last couple of 257 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:30.879 years going out and doing the coverage, it's still been 258 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:31.919 kind of under construction. 259 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:35.320 The new Paddock area. That area is absolutely awesome. 260 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:37.600 Ye like to walk down to get so up and 261 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:40.600 like up close and personal with like the horses and 262 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.399 the jockeys and that little like I wouldn't even say 263 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:46.240 like intimate area, but like it's all nice. It's brand 264 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:48.360 I just like things that are brand new that just 265 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.279 always attracts me. 266 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:51.639 And you got the whole lawn jeans, Like watch up there. 267 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:55.279 It's it's awesome. I feel like a different person when 268 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:57.759 I'm there there the magic of the Derby. Man, it's 269 00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:59.039 just sad it's over. 270 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:01.120 It is. It is a sad thing when it comes 271 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:03.519 to an end. And I'm glad you said that because 272 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:06.039 the first I guess year or so, because I guess 273 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:07.639 this is now the second year that it's kind of 274 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:09.200 looked the way it looks might be the third year. 275 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:11.559 But either way, it did make me sad, but only 276 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:15.519 because of the nostalgia, right the you know the track 277 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:18.919 Churchill Downs where you know when I go every year 278 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:20.759 for Father's Day, long before I became a father, But 279 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:22.840 I would go with my dad. We would go like 280 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.679 in the spring, like a lot of people around here, right, Like, 281 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.679 it's not something maybe you do every day that they're open, 282 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:28.679 but you know, you take advantage of having Churchill Downs 283 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:31.720 kind of right here in your backyard. There was always of, 284 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:34.120 you know, something that came to mind, a visual of 285 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:36.600 what it was like, and you know, the experience because 286 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:39.120 it's all I knew. And they made some slight, you know, 287 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:42.159 renovations over the years. It became more modern. So you know, 288 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:45.080 I'm sure they've made some changes in my thirty six 289 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:47.360 years on Earth, but really the last couple of years, 290 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:50.080 that area that you're speaking of now is all brand new, 291 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:53.600 and you know, it is insanely nice. And that's one 292 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:56.480 of those things that I feel like, you know, we 293 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:59.440 talked about it last week. They are well within their 294 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:03.159 right and very smart, I think, to appeal and really 295 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:05.679 you know, cater to a group of people that you know, 296 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:08.840 look at this as I'm gonna be one of the 297 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:11.039 most you know, I mean I shouldn't, you know. I 298 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.960 guess every individual there has a different story, but like 299 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:16.840 it's just a place to be. It competes with some 300 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:19.879 of the bigger events that you'll see in Hollywood and 301 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:22.279 fashion and sports because you know, that's just what the 302 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:25.039 Derby brings. So, you know, I keep going back to 303 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:27.399 the visual that I see over on Bowman Field, and 304 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:29.840 I did see somebody post a clip I think it 305 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:32.000 was on TikTok that just showed all the private jets 306 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:34.759 that are sitting over there at the airport on Bowmen Field. 307 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:36.879 And I don't know if they're there for the day, 308 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:39.080 if they're there for the weekend or whatever it may be, 309 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:42.519 but like that's the kind of people that the Derby 310 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:44.720 brings in, right, people who can just you know, I'm 311 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:46.759 gonna make a trip, but I'm not catching a flight. 312 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:50.279 I'm gonna use the private jet. I mean, like that's 313 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:54.840 that's what the Derby brings. So, you know, in order 314 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:57.440 to kind of continue to be this dominant monster that 315 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:59.639 is the Derby, one of the biggest events in sports, 316 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:01.559 one of the old time. Hey I got to be there, man, 317 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:03.919 that's a special thing. That's an event, it's a bucket 318 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:06.120 list type of thing. I mean, all the changes they 319 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:09.559 made recently have have been for good reason. And you know, 320 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:12.360 certainly seems as if it's uh, if it's if it's 321 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.120 working out for them. 322 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:15.399 So many people when you were out there doing your 323 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:17.559 field reporting, how many people did you talk to that 324 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.519 were local compared to who was at. 325 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.480 A time, not a one not. I mean I saw 326 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:24.320 people that I knew, yeah, and ran into some folks 327 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:27.399 that that that you know, that I chatted with. It like, 328 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:30.000 you know, a couple of people listening to the show, 329 00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:32.559 a couple of people that that that I just know 330 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:34.200 of and and and said hello to. And then you 331 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.039 and I actually ended up not together but seeing and 332 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.519 talking to the same person. Vince Tyrae was out there. 333 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.919 Oh yeah, so you know, awesome, dude. So I see 334 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:44.879 people that you know, I know are from here, and 335 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:47.080 and I just assumed that some of them are. But man, 336 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:49.279 I tell you what of all of the eight different 337 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.440 people that I stopped to just have a conversation with, 338 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:54.120 I mean I went in without any real expectation of 339 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:56.440 knowing where they're from, and they weren't from anywhere. Like 340 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:59.960 one person was from the Northeast, one person was from Pittsburgh, 341 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:03.480 one person was from Texas, one person was from Maine. 342 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:06.320 There was a couple from Tennessee. So you know, you 343 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:08.519 never and that that alone. I'm a nerd for that 344 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:11.120 kind of stuff, I suppose, but like just not knowing 345 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:13.840 that just look just the the you know, you could 346 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.799 be anywhere there and it'll be crowded, and just knowing 347 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.120 that the all the folks that you're surrounded by could 348 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:20.360 be from anywhere on the planet. And man, I tell 349 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:23.480 you what, the you know, you really can tell if 350 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.320 someone's maybe not from here, if they have an accident 351 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:27.600 or they don't or they're not speaking English. And that 352 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:30.159 is something that also I noticed, you know, just on 353 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:33.000 the walk walk to the shuttle. I mean I could 354 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:35.159 tell that there were some folks that I don't know 355 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:37.480 what language they were speaking, but it certainly wasn't English. 356 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:39.440 And you know, they got me thinking, man, they could 357 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:40.840 be from anywhere, you know what I mean. And that's 358 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:42.639 just you know, the nerd in me is like, that's 359 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.440 actually kind of cool. 360 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:46.639 Spoke to a guy from Sydney, Australia. Hell yeah, it 361 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:50.320 was awesome. Has a long trip is a long long 362 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.159 trip speaking of a long trip, and we got to 363 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.440 get to a break in just a second. But I 364 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:55.279 have to share I have to share this story. I 365 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:58.840 think I mentioned this kind of in passing a couple 366 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:02.200 of weeks ago, and it's so random and just bizarre, 367 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:04.799 and I don't know how hell notable it is to 368 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.320 bring up on the air right now. But then I 369 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:08.320 tell you that my stepfather, who I'm very close to 370 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:10.200 has been in my life for a long time, that 371 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.279 he was going to Africa. 372 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.919 Did you remember me bringing that up at all? No? Okay, 373 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:17.039 I can't remember. So I think I mentioned it like 374 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:20.039 last minute of a show, just because he had texted 375 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:24.600 in something. And he's I mean, he's he's a big adventurer. 376 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:28.559 He loves he loves to travel and see new places. 377 00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:30.360 He's one of those guys, and there's always good to 378 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:32.440 have one of these guys in your army. There's not 379 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:34.879 anything that he's not willing to go, like on a 380 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:38.320 trip to do like he makes his own schedule. He 381 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:41.080 loves adventurers, like, hey man, I gotta make a trip. 382 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:44.039 I gotta go to like Wisconsin and drop something off. 383 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:46.399 You want to ride with me? He's there, He's ready 384 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:48.039 to roll, like he just you know, he's a good 385 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:50.240 guy to go on a road trip because he'll blend 386 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:53.320 and have fun with whatever is going on. So he 387 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:55.240 has a friend that used to be his neighbor who 388 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:58.759 moved away still lives here locally, but doesn't live next 389 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:02.000 to him anymore. Well, he he has been engaged and 390 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:04.640 he was getting married. His wife is from Africa, and 391 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:06.240 they were going to have the wedding that they had 392 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:10.359 the wedding in in Africa where she's from. So so, 393 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:12.960 you know, I think it was kind of one of 394 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:15.319 those well you know, you want to come, you can come, 395 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:18.480 and he took him up on it. Like so he 396 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:22.359 and another buddy who's a neighbor that also knows the 397 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:25.119 guy getting married, they just decided the hell with it. 398 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:28.160 So they went on a sixteen day trip to where 399 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:31.880 they I mean they flew I think to They ended 400 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:37.400 up flying from Louisville to Minneapolis, then to Paris, France, 401 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:40.839