Allen Northcutt will be enjoying his 75th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 4 during the 150th overall running of the historic horse race.
The Louisville native and Lake Leelanau resident has been going to the Kentucky Derby every year since he was 7-years-old in 1948.
“It was because my grandfather was interested ... the man loved races,” Northcutt said. “Three or four o’clock in the afternoon they go out to the races and they would sometimes take me, and they taught me how to bet (on the race).”
That first race in 1948, Northcutt saw triple-crown winner Citation win the race and ever since he has been hooked.
Northcutt was born on February 4, 1941, ironically, the same year Whirlaway won the triple-crown during the heart of World War II.
Northcutt’s normal week at the Kentucky Derby consists of week consisted of ‘Thurby’ race on Thursday, The Oaks race on Friday, before ending it all during The Run for the Roses (Kentucky Derby).
Since the early days, his family had access to a box-suite ever thanks to his grandfather who had connections.
Northcutt and the family go all-out for the occasion.
According to Northcutt, the proper attire for the weekend includes wearing khakis on Oaks Day with a button-down shirt, a horse oriented tie, and a tweed sport coat. On Derby Day, Northcutt wears a dark gray suit with a white button down shirt, and a red, derby them tie because the winner of the Kentucky Derby always gets red roses.
“They call it the greatest two minutes in sports. That’s about how long it takes to run the Kentucky Derby,” Northcutt said. “People all over the whole wide world, China, Japan, Australia, Europe, Africa, Indonesia, everywhere are glued to the TV. Derby Day is more than the Super Bowl or the World Series or anything. It’s just got the reputation for being the. Greatest two minutes in sports.”
For the most part, Northcutt says the race has largely remained the same over the years.
“I’d say it hasn’t changed at all. At some point they had a gate for 12 horses and now they’ve got a gate where they can put 20 horses in ... It’s a cavalry charge now with 20 horses coming out of that gate,” Northcutt said.
The only year Northcutt didn’t attend the Kentucky Derby since was when he was serving in Vietnam at 26-years old. Northcutt remembers paying a large fee to broadcast the Kentucky Derby over the radio from Vietnam.
“I made my bets and we huddled around and listen to it,” Northcutt said.
Northcutt remembers a horse named Riva Ridge who won the Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972. Riva Ridge was owned Penny Chenery. Northcutt and Chenery met through skiing in Colorado. In 1972, they called and said they were in Louisville looking for a place to stay so they could watch Riva Ridge in the Derby.
Northcutt remembers taking Penny and her husband Jack to the River Valley Club right on the Ohio River before the race.
“They might have sat with us in the box and lo and behold, her horse won ... Then the next year, she had another horse, that horse’s name, you may not recognize it, but that horse’s name was Secretariat,” Northcutt said.
Yes, that Secretariat, who ran the fastest Kentucky Derby ever recorded, along with winning the triple-crown, and winning Belmont Stakes by 27 links.
Northcutt’s grandfather worked for a company called the Brown Lumber Company located in Kentucky, which was the only pressure creosoting plant east of the Mississippi River. They harvested trees from North Manitou Island and fell in love with Leland.
“He fell in love with the town and bought a old cottage right there at Reynolds Street,” Northcutt said.
The first time Northcutt came to the area was at 4-yearsold.
Northcutt resides in Delray Beach, Florida from January to March, relocates to Louisville from April through early June, spends mid-June to October in Lake Leelanau, and returns to Louisville thereafter. Talk about a nice way to do it.
He recalls attending camp in Leland when he was between 6 and 8-years-old, where he was introduced to the Fischers and Balls, among others, while learning golf and fishing. On Saturday nights, they would gather for singing sessions, and in his later years, Northcutt would navigate the waters of Lake Leelanau aboard a sailboat.
Rules to bet (responsibly) by Allen Northcutt: -$20 to win -$20 to place -$2 trifecta, where he bets on four horses to have them come in first, second, or third in any order.
“I’ve cashed a couple of $6000 Trifectas when I had some long shots come in second,” Northcutt said.
