Louisville Magazine

APR 2014

Louisville Magazine is Louisville's city magazine, covering Louisville people, lifestyles, politics, sports, restaurants, entertainment and homes. Includes a monthly calendar of events.

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1 0 4 LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 4.14 DARRYL ISAACS 555-1212 I N F I E L D E R NATIVE HABITAT Infeld, Muddy Puddles, Line for Beer and/or Bathroom, Jail BLOODSHOT EYES (that have yet to see a horse) SHAME METER (reading low) PAINFUL FARMER'S TAN LAWYER'S NUMBER FULL BLADDER ACTUALLY NAKED POST MUD-SLIDE INJURY FORGIVING LIVER FLEUR-DE- LIS TATTOO BARE FEET (aka mud shoes) CLEAR YOUR THROAT. YELL, "AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!" IT'S FUN, RIGHT? NEW GUY ON VOCALS Larry Collmus, 47, succeeds Mark Johnson for race calls at Churchill Downs this year, which ofcially makes him the "voice" of the Kentucky Derby. Collmus has called the Derby for NBC the past three years, and he'll remain as NBC's on-air voice for the Triple Crown series. His calls are clear and straightforward, and thankfully devoid of over-the-top histrionics. We caught up with Collmus just afer he landed the big gig. What's it like to call the Kentucky Derby? "You don't really know what to expect when you call the Kentucky Derby for the frst time. You have a very high energy level, and a very high nervous energy level. It's a very anxious two minutes, and probably even more anxious in the lead up to it. I will say that when they hit the wire of the Kentucky Derby, the uter feeling of relief — you didn't mess it up! — it's like a thousand-pound weight coming of you." The Kentucky Derby's 20-horse feld is the biggest of any race in North America. Is keeping track of all those horses the toughest part of calling the race? "The feld size is daunting, but at the same time you're so familiar with those horses by the time the Derby comes around. I've been looking at them for the past three months. So when they come onto the track for the Kentucky Derby, those 20 horses are like my best friends. I know exactly who they are." It rained last year. The day was gray and the track was muddy. And the winner, Orb, came from way back. How hard was that? "By the time those 20 horses made their way to the top of the stretch, the silks, which is what we use to separate these horses, were already turning brown in the mud. You had to pick out what you could see under that mud. In that Kentucky Derby feld there were at least four horses with red-and-white silks. I told people right afer the Derby, when Orb made that move at the top of the stretch I was 80 percent sure that it was him." — BD SPF 80. LEARN ONE OF OUR FAVORITE DERBY TRIVIA QUESTIONS, WHICH WE'VE PUBLISHED IN THE PAST. There has never been a Derby horse whose name begins with what leter of the alphabet? 1. Q, 2. V, 3. X, 4. Y, 5. Z (Answer: X) 105 TIP 106 TIP 107 TIP 98-111.indd 104 3/20/14 11:19 AM

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