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| Power Style Wellness Connections |
Doing Derby
By Mary Cartledgehayes
At my first Thoroughbred race (Keeneland, 2003),
I was agog. The rustles and whoops of the crowd…
the excitement of watching jockeys get boosted into their
saddles…the press of people in the betting lines…the
delicious challenge of the Daily Racing Form and, above all,
the bold, sleek beauty of the Thoroughbreds captivated my
attention and my imagination.
It was a pale glimmer of the excitement that overtakes our
community during the annual dash to the Kentucky Derby.
We have it all here: parties, parades, pins, late nights, early mornings, friends, family,
and food. The city seethes with anticipation, festivity, and the hum of lawnmowers,
followed by the clop of horses’ hooves, the click of stilettos in the grandstand, and the
shuffle of sandals in the infield. A major advantage is that you don’t have to be present to
win; the thrill can touch you whether you watch at Churchill Downs, a sports bar, a party,
or in your own living room. The city has healing powers on its way to Derby. As a
community, we agree to throw off the bulky clothing and boots of winter and kick up our
heels. Sometimes we get a little carried away. In case you’re having trouble staying on
track, I’m offering a list of suggestions that will help keep you hale and hearty.
Get sufficient rest. I talked to your boss, who said it’s fine for you to take an afternoon
nap every day between now and Derby. Taking your bed pillow to work is bad form, but
little chintz-covered throw pillows are perfectly acceptable. You might want to start with
catnaps and gradually work your way up to the two or three hours a day you’re sure to
need.
Buy the hat. Yes, that one: the pretty one with the price tag that leaves you gasping. You
know you want it, and — trust me — it’s worth it. My first year in Louisville, I paid a horrific
amount of money (at a consignment shop, no less) for a wide-brimmed hat of yellow
chiffon with floral embellishments. I wore it on Friday to Oaks. Late in the afternoon I
noticed a photographer with obviously expensive equipment aiming a camera in my
direction. “I’m wearing the prettiest hat in the place,” the bourbon coursing through my
bloodstream confided in him. To my everlasting joy, he agreed. You can’t put a price tag
on that kind of memory.
Try something new. If your friends are used to seeing you in jeans and T-shirts, break
out a zippy little frock. If black is ordinarily your color, wear chartreuse. If you have curly
hair, straighten it; if you have straight hair, curl it. The break from routine is part of Derby’
s power to leave you renewed and refreshed.
Drink plenty of fluids. I recommend the mint juleps. Don’t be concerned if the first one
tastes a bit harshly of bourbon; it will improve with each sip.
Consume healthy foods. Be advised that the mint in your julep, although green, does not
constitute a serving of vegetables. You do, however, get credit for Benedictine.
Be sensible. Sober driving and safe sex are not negotiable, even during Derby week.
Be willing to learn. If you’re new in town and choose to go to a home Derby party rather
than to Churchill Downs, get ready for the eight-year-old Louisvillians to explain to you —
verrrrry slowly — what a trifecta is. (And yes, there is a bookie at the party.)
Be realistic. If you’re invited to the infield, don’t expect to see a horse. Think of it as
NASCAR minus the ball caps. Bear in mind that, while tops may come and go, hats are to
be worn at all times.
Be gracious. Don’t go bragging about your hat. Rather, walk up to your closest
competition and say quietly, “You and I have the prettiest hats in the place.” She doesn’t
need to be told that her hat comes in a (distant) second.
Take along the three C’s: camera, cell phone, and comfy shoes. The cell phone is for
locating friends. The comfy shoes are because after the first impression, nobody’s going
to be looking at your feet so you may as well be comfortable. The camera will allow you to
capture moments, memories, and potential blackmail revenue.
Remember to bask. Bask in the spring weather, the horses, the bugle call, the roses, the
friends, the sounds, sights, smells…. We’ll never know again the particular joys of the
2008 Derby. Taste every delightful moment that comes your way and take time to
acknowledge its inimitable sweetness.
Mary Cartledgehayes is a regular writer for Today’s Woman.
By Mary Cartledgehayes
At my first Thoroughbred race (Keeneland, 2003),
I was agog. The rustles and whoops of the crowd…
the excitement of watching jockeys get boosted into their
saddles…the press of people in the betting lines…the
delicious challenge of the Daily Racing Form and, above all,
the bold, sleek beauty of the Thoroughbreds captivated my
attention and my imagination.
It was a pale glimmer of the excitement that overtakes our
community during the annual dash to the Kentucky Derby.
We have it all here: parties, parades, pins, late nights, early mornings, friends, family,
and food. The city seethes with anticipation, festivity, and the hum of lawnmowers,
followed by the clop of horses’ hooves, the click of stilettos in the grandstand, and the
shuffle of sandals in the infield. A major advantage is that you don’t have to be present to
win; the thrill can touch you whether you watch at Churchill Downs, a sports bar, a party,
or in your own living room. The city has healing powers on its way to Derby. As a
community, we agree to throw off the bulky clothing and boots of winter and kick up our
heels. Sometimes we get a little carried away. In case you’re having trouble staying on
track, I’m offering a list of suggestions that will help keep you hale and hearty.
Get sufficient rest. I talked to your boss, who said it’s fine for you to take an afternoon
nap every day between now and Derby. Taking your bed pillow to work is bad form, but
little chintz-covered throw pillows are perfectly acceptable. You might want to start with
catnaps and gradually work your way up to the two or three hours a day you’re sure to
need.
Buy the hat. Yes, that one: the pretty one with the price tag that leaves you gasping. You
know you want it, and — trust me — it’s worth it. My first year in Louisville, I paid a horrific
amount of money (at a consignment shop, no less) for a wide-brimmed hat of yellow
chiffon with floral embellishments. I wore it on Friday to Oaks. Late in the afternoon I
noticed a photographer with obviously expensive equipment aiming a camera in my
direction. “I’m wearing the prettiest hat in the place,” the bourbon coursing through my
bloodstream confided in him. To my everlasting joy, he agreed. You can’t put a price tag
on that kind of memory.
Try something new. If your friends are used to seeing you in jeans and T-shirts, break
out a zippy little frock. If black is ordinarily your color, wear chartreuse. If you have curly
hair, straighten it; if you have straight hair, curl it. The break from routine is part of Derby’
s power to leave you renewed and refreshed.
Drink plenty of fluids. I recommend the mint juleps. Don’t be concerned if the first one
tastes a bit harshly of bourbon; it will improve with each sip.
Consume healthy foods. Be advised that the mint in your julep, although green, does not
constitute a serving of vegetables. You do, however, get credit for Benedictine.
Be sensible. Sober driving and safe sex are not negotiable, even during Derby week.
Be willing to learn. If you’re new in town and choose to go to a home Derby party rather
than to Churchill Downs, get ready for the eight-year-old Louisvillians to explain to you —
verrrrry slowly — what a trifecta is. (And yes, there is a bookie at the party.)
Be realistic. If you’re invited to the infield, don’t expect to see a horse. Think of it as
NASCAR minus the ball caps. Bear in mind that, while tops may come and go, hats are to
be worn at all times.
Be gracious. Don’t go bragging about your hat. Rather, walk up to your closest
competition and say quietly, “You and I have the prettiest hats in the place.” She doesn’t
need to be told that her hat comes in a (distant) second.
Take along the three C’s: camera, cell phone, and comfy shoes. The cell phone is for
locating friends. The comfy shoes are because after the first impression, nobody’s going
to be looking at your feet so you may as well be comfortable. The camera will allow you to
capture moments, memories, and potential blackmail revenue.
Remember to bask. Bask in the spring weather, the horses, the bugle call, the roses, the
friends, the sounds, sights, smells…. We’ll never know again the particular joys of the
2008 Derby. Taste every delightful moment that comes your way and take time to
acknowledge its inimitable sweetness.
Mary Cartledgehayes is a regular writer for Today’s Woman.
