Dear Derby Diary,

I arrived in Louisville Friday afternoon just in time to get settled and catch the Friday night Balloon Glow which is truly amazing!

It is all part of a nine-day Derby party that runs through Derby Eve. And let me tell you this town really knows how to party!!

I did miss out on the Derby Festival Marathon/mini-Marathon yesterday which is just as well because I could have only finished if I had been RIDING a horse. There are hot air balloon races, fireworks, a big Texas Hold ‘em Tournament, and a Derby Festival $1 Million Hole-In-One contest as well.

There are races with beds and steamboats and even employees that race against one another’s companies this week. There is also an “A” List Kentucky Derby Sim Gathering at Louisville Pizza Company on Friday night at six. That is a huge, invitation only blowout that all of the celebs are trying to find a way into. I plan to take it all in and let you know about some of it this week leading up to Saturday.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that we are going to have a couple of huge horse races here this week as well. Something called the Bluegrass Derby and Bluegrass Oaks. There are a few owners and trainers this week that will be having lots of sleepless nights and it won’t be just because of all of the partying going on!

We will take a look at the race and the horses and owners themselves this incredible week and try to give you a little flavor of the “goings ons” as well. I’ve already bumped into a couple of the trainers in my spare time between parties and it looks like we are going to have some great insight into this fantastic weekend.

Good luck to all runners!