By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
Northern Kentucky was well represented at the 144th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday.
Cathy Stavros brought her daughter, Nina Heister, who was born on Derby Day 2002, and two friends to Churchill Downs Saturday. With the Twin piers as a backdrop, left to right, Stavros, Heister, Sydney Phillips and Natalie Denham, were enjoying their first Kentucky Derby, despite the soggy conditions (photos by Mark Hansel).
Among those in attendance from the region were a state senator, the general manager of Kentucky Speedway, a prominent local businessman and a teenager who has a lifelong kinship with the Run for the Roses.
Nina Heister of Florence was born on Kentucky Derby day 16 years ago, May 4, 2002, and has been a fan of the race for as long as she can remember. She was attending her first Derby with her mom, Cathy Stavros, and her friends Sydney Phillips 15, from Union and Natalie Denham, 15, of Burlington.
“Every year we have had a family Derby party and every year, since she was about six years old, she wanted to be at the Kentucky Derby for her 16th birthday,” Stavros said. “So I brought her and her two good friends and we are at the Derby for the first time. Being here with my daughter makes it really special.”
The Run for the Roses always falls on or around Nina’s birthday, so the race has become a family celebration.
“We’ll eat dinner and we’ll do little family bets on horses and it’ a really fun time,” she said. In 2002, the year I was born, War Emblem won, so I have always liked that horse.”
Mom was the only one making any bets (wink, wink), and the rain put a damper on some celebrations, but not for this group.
Nathan Smith of Fort Mitchell, far left, plaid jacket, with some of his group of about 60 friends, managed to stay out of the rain in a covered box Saturday.
“It’s very, very busy, but it’s so amazing to see all of the different outfits and the people and it’s been a lot of fun so far,” Heister said. “We’ve taken lots and lots of pictures and are trying to find a place to eat, but there is literally nowhere to sit down. On our ride down, we learned the words to ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ and on the way back, we’re eating Derby Pie, so it will be a full Derby day.”
You don’t get wet in a covered box
Nathan Smith of Fort Mitchell has been coming to the Kentucky Derby for more than 25 years and always brings a large group with him.
Smith, owner and co-founder of SSK Communities and a member of the Democratic National Committee, said every Kentucky Derby experience is memorable.
“I do business all over the country and me being able to bring people in to Kentucky and show them how great Kentucky is, that’s the biggest thing for me,” Smith said. “People love it, they love the hats, they love the pageantry, they like the drinks and the betting, it’s a good time.”
Smith had about 60 people in his group this year and they were among a select few who weren’t bothered by the rain.
“You should always think about having a friend who’s got a covered box,” Smith said.
Smith was still making up his mind which horse to bet on, but he has a friend who owns part of Justify, so he was pretty sure that would be his choice.
Justify, of course, won the 144th Run for the Roses, so if Smith followed his instinct, this Derby might be one that he looks back on fondly.
Frankfort comes to Louisville, by way of Union
State Sen John Schickel, R-Union, says he enjoys the Derby more since he has taken more of an interest in horse racing in recent years. Schickel chairs the Licensing Occupation and Administration Regulation Committee , which has jurisdiction over the sport in Kentucky.
Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, was among those in attendance at the Derby, just a few weeks after completing a busy Legislative Session.
“I enjoy it more every year because I know more about thoroughbred racing than I did years ago,” Schickel said. “The Licensing Occupation and Administration Regulation Committee has jurisdiction over horse racing, so we do a lot of work with the Racing Commission and the Thoroughbred Development Fund, so I’ve taken interest in horse racing. It’s great to be here.”
Schickel was attending his fifth Kentucky Derby with his fiancé, Krsti Heist.
He said he enjoys the festivities but also sees it as an opportunity to showcase the Bluegrass state’s horse racing tradition to a worldwide audience.
“I think 14 of the horses in the field are bred right here in the state, so Kentucky horse racing is doing great, we are really on an upswing,” Schickel said. “We have the Breeders’ Cup back here at Churchill Downs in the fall, so we are looking forward to that as well.”
From Horsepower to horse racing
Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simindinger estimates he has been to more than 30 Kentucky Derby weekends in his lifetime.
Friday afternoon he has was in the paddock with some friends before the Grade II Alysheba to get a look at Always Dreaming, last year’s Kentucky Derby winner.
Simendinger has a long history in horse racing and was the president of Turfway Park when it was owned by Jerry Carroll.
Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger has attended about 30 Kentucky Derbys. The former president of Turfway Park says his most memorable Derby experience was joining owners Bob and Beverly Lewis in the winner’s circle when Silver Charm captured the 1997 Run for the Roses.
“In my past work experience, being involved with Turfway Park and then breeding a lot of horses, and having a lot of friends in the industry, the Kentucky Derby really is the culmination of everything that everybody works for all year long,” Simendinger said. “The dream that everybody has is to participate in the Derby and to win the Derby.
Having seen what it takes just to get a horse to the races, let alone the Kentucky Derby, Simendinger understands the challenges of the sport better than many.
“When I come to the Derby, I think of breeding, all of the other races that have gone on, the hard work that everyone has done on the back side and then it all comes together right here,” Simendinger said. “I think it’s really cool and it’s a celebration of what Kentucky is all about.”
The Kentucky Derby, Simendinger says, is something that everyone in the state can be proud of.
“I’m selling Kentucky all the time for people from outside the region and outside the country and they all want to know what is unique to our region and this is about as unique as it gets, so I won’t miss it,” Simendinger said.
Simendinger’s favorite Derby experience came in 1977 when Silver Charm won.
“My wife and I had a relationship with (owners) Bob and Beverly Lewis and ended up in the winner’s circle,” he said. “It was a special day for very special owners.”
Simendinger is gearing up for another kind of horsepower in a few weeks. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 headlines Kentucky Speedway’s tripleheader weekend.
“If this was a Cup race, I would have been in here looking at Martin Truex, last year’s champion, instead of Always Dreaming,” Simendinger said. “It’s been a very interesting NASCAR season, because we really thought that this was going to be the year the young guns stepped up and claimed their spot, and it really hasn’t been that way. What’s happened is the old veterans have just really dominated.”
Veterans Kevin Harvick and Kyle Bush have won seven races and Truex, Clint Boyer and Joey Logano have won one each, showing they are not yet ready to pass the torch to the youngsters.
Tickets are available for Kentucky Speedway’s tripleheader weekend, which begins on July 12 and culminates with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 on July 14.
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com
