Kilted at Churchill Downs and I did not see a single race in two days

**ForresterModern** · 3rd May 14, 06:59 PM

My employer allows each employee two paid days of VCS---Volunteer Community Service---off work each year. Originally I was supposed to use mine as part of a week long trip to the Dominican Republic with a mission from our church to do infrastructure work while "spreading the Word" in a poorer rural town. However in mid-December I blew out a disc in my back which eliminated my ability to do any heavy manual labor for a year, while also sucking up 9 of my limited PTO days, so I had to back out of the trip in its early planning stages back in January. This missionary organization is based out of Louisville with some of its efforts and monies spent locally but the majority in the third world. I One local event was for fundraising the last week or so around the events of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby race days. So I volunteered two days at the souvenir booths at Churchill Downs for GO-ministries.com (for our church) and on the second day (Kentucky Oaks Day--the big race day Friday right before Derby Saturday) the leaders let me work in full kilted kit (minus my Argyll jacket which was replaced with a pink "merchandise vendor staff" t-shirt) instead of the boring requisite khakis. The kilt paid off big for all involved when the local business journal media person saw me and asked me for an interview:

http://www.bizjournals.com/louisvill...rom-derby.html

My vendors tent was one of 26 booths/tents scattered around the Downs, but was the biggest, busiest and most central being only 20 yards from the pre-race show and saddle paddock (where the jockeys mount up right before the race) so we were in high traffic zone and very busy. During a five minute lemonade break I must have had my photo taken by or with 15 people, not including the media reporter who wrote the nice piece above. 14 hours on my feet in ghillies is not likely to happen again for quite some while I think. But all in all a great experience for a great cause at a great place with great people. Did see one other kiltie there--a native highlander relocated to somewhere in Iowa--also dressed to the nines in full day dress tweed attire.

**Spartan Tartan** · 4th May 14, 02:13 AM

That is fantastic! I was watching yesterday and kept an eye out for any kilts whenever they showed people walking about. I wondered if you were there this year. I am glad to see that you were able to get out there and enjoy the day.

**BCAC** · 4th May 14, 08:49 AM

Good for you, Jeff. By the way, your link doesn't work.

Edited to add: It does work when copied into the address bar of a new browser page (after failing once, my fault). The pink tshirt may become a must have now!

**WillowEstate** · 4th May 14, 09:19 AM

Well done Sir, a good cause and great publicity, though I have to say, I'm not overly enamoured with the pink T-shirt!

Your link doesn't work directly (maybe one of the mods can fix) but works fine copied into a browser (I use Firefox), provided you remember to drop the [url] front and back.

**EagleJCS** · 4th May 14, 09:23 AM

Good on ya, Jeff!

**rlh2** · 4th May 14, 01:51 PM

Very nice sir!

**mookien** · 4th May 14, 02:45 PM

Jeff: Way to go! You look great in that pink-laden outfit. It takes a real man to pull that off. I would just look like a wimp.

By the way, Etienne Prophete, founder in 1974 of the Haitian Christian Mission, gave the sermon at our church this morning. We support his mission in Haiti.

John

**ForresterModern** · 4th May 14, 07:58 PM

yeah not fond of the pink T either, but pink is the color of the day for Kentucky Oaks day. They have a big breast and ovarian cancer survivors parade before the official Oaks race, and the whole crowd is wearing something pink, some a lot more than others. We sold more pink ballcaps to guys that day because their lady friends were upset with them for not having pink on. The pink ball caps were lady-specific designed with smaller crowns and bigger opening in the back for ponytails, and they had pink and white chevron pattern on the underside of the bill. Not the most masculine of items to be wearing. But that comment comes from a guy in a "skirt" (as several of them commented while I sold them their pink hats)