I’ve lived in Louisville for all of my 34 years and I’ve attended the Derby probably a dozen times. Here’s my two cents:

I agree that if you are doing the Infield then you should just dress comfortably, wear sunscreen and try to not drink yourself into the hospital.

For the grandstands there is no ‘required dress’ but the local logic is that the closer you are to the center of the grandstands, the nicer you should dress. Derby tickets aren’t cheap and it seems pretty silly to pay all that money and not get the full experience. And the dress is part of the experience. We have seats every year on the far end of the grandstands. In that section it’s a mixed bag. I see people in shorts and polos and people in three-piece suits. As you get closer to the center where all the owners are, most men wear a suit or a blazer and tie.

As a Southern man I prefer the blazer and contrasting pants to a suit most of the time. One thing about Derby is that ‘loud’ or extremely colorful blazers are encouraged. I have one searsucker and one madras plaid blazer that I rotate for the Derby and that’s pretty much the only thing I wear them to (the searsucker is appropriate for church in the spring). Also, loud ties are a regular sight, usually with a horse/racing theme. Hats are becoming more common among the men. Mostly straw fedoras that aren’t too hot (the weather for Derby can range from the 40’s to high 80’s depending on the year).

All of the comments about being unique, etc are pretty silly IMO. For the Kentucky Derby the dress is a big part of the experience. Stand there in a good outfit, sing My Old Kentucky Home with 200,000 other people and tell me it’s not a moving experience. We’ve had friends in town for the Derby many times and they all say they are glad they went for the more formal attire. It’s sort of like if I ran with bulls in Spain I would wear the typical garb for that. You’ve got 364 other days to be ‘unique’. But respecting tradition is about being a part of something…not deliberately ignoring it.

But you want me to “help contribute to the ambiance and experience shared by everyone”. It’s a friggin’ horse race, for crying out loud! I’m not going to buy a set of clothing for two minutes of racing, plus gambling and boozing before and after.

“These days, individuality has come to mean doing your own thing and not caring about others.” Those kinds of “individuals” are irresponsible, immature school kids. Or at least have that mentality. True, manly individuality shows respect for people and the occasions that deserve it.

“It’s all about me me me!”

I might have paraphrased a little.

Other commenters have said, in their own ways, what the fine movie “Blast from the Past” pointed out: “good manners are just a way of showing other people we have respect for them.” That movie is also the source of something else we should always bear in mind: the “short and simple definition of a lady or a gentleman is, someone who always tries to make sure the people around him or her are as comfortable as possible.”

See, Cowboy Bob, by dressing appropriately for a situation, we are showing respect for them and their traditions. By dressing appropriately, we are making other comfortable. I don’t pretend to be something I’m not, and so I don’t wear cowboy boots and cowboy hats. However, if I were to go to an event where that was the appropriate garb, then I would either refrain from going or respect that tradition and dress that way. It’s only showing others the kind of consideration they deserve, and the kind of consideration I would like them to show me.

I think Bob and Rob up there need to understand this is 135 years of tradition, not conformity.

I have always asked my girl to come along to experience the thrilling 2 minutes that is the Derby – provided she wears a hat. For the last few years, I have invited my friends to join me at a table in the clubhouse – once again, Hat IS Required for all females.

During the day my cohorts can order any damned thing they like to drink – but EVERYONE drinks at least one julep first. Bourbon and mint…mmmm….what else do u want outta life – besides hitting the tri to pay for the day at the track?

The fact that you would view dressing for an event as tradition dictates as “caving in” says a lot about the disrespect men have for others in this day and age. If a wedding is a black tie affair, you dress in black tie. If the event is a cowboy square dance, you don’t dress in black tie, do you? So if the event calls for old fashioned southern style, you dress in old fashioned southern style. These days, individuality has come to mean doing your own thing and not caring about others. A gentleman can be his own person, while respecting others at the same time. By dressing in a certain way for an event, you help contribute to the ambiance and experience shared by everyone.

Thanks for teaching me to understand how the other half ticks – and thank God you aren’t all as shallow as I thought!