Louisville Real Estate News

Much ado seems to be made about the final rose ceremony on TVs glorified dating game "The Bachelor."  As I understand the show, 25 women compete for the love of a man they just met and are eliminated one-by-one until 2 remain.  Using all the tools Hollywood has to offer, the producers make the final selection a spectacle unto itself.  Sounds interesting...or not.  If you want true drama, you should tune in on the first Saturday of May and watch 20 competitors vie for "The Garland of Roses."  I assure you the power, the grace, and the strategy seen at the Kentucky Derby are unparalleled in the world of 'Reality TV.'  This year I took a few minutes to see the garland being made and at the same time learned a little history regarding the flower's association with the race.   

As a bit of trivia, the rose first became associated with the Derby via a party.  Ladies were each presented a rose at a Louisville Derby gathering.  Upon seeing the sensation this caused, Colonel M. Lewis Clark, founder of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, made the rose the official flower of the race.  (What single gentleman wouldn't?)

Over the years, the tradition evolved and grew.  The winning rider's were given Jockey's Bouquets of roses.  In 1925, the Kentucky Derby was dubbed, "The Run for the Roses" by a New York sports columnist.  Finally, in 1932, the first garland was commissioned.  Grace Walker designed the initial blanket of roses at the behest of Churchill Downs official Samual Culbertson.  The garland made this past week is substantially similar to Ms. Walker's version 77 years ago.

Friday night a team of Kroger Master Designers gathered at the Middletown Kroger to prepare "The Garland of Roses" for the winner of the 135th Kentucky Derby.  They worked tirelessly into the evening while hand sewing over 400 roses to the backing.  When finished, the blanket is over 10 feet long, 22 inches wide and weighs almost 40 lbs. 

Of the many features, the Crown is the most poignant.  This centerpiece is constructed of 21 roses.  Each of the race participants is represented by one of the 20 flowers surrounding the single upward-facing rose.  The center rose represents the struggle and heart necessary to earn the right to wear this blanket.

Unlike the pseudo-real complexities of The Bachelor, The Kentucky Derby is stunningly simple in it's construction.  The call to the post is trumpeted.  The crowd sings, "My Old Kentucky Home" as the competitors walk in front of the grandstands and then head back to the final turn.  Upon arrival, the thoroughbreds are loaded into the starting gate.  A brief moment of silence follows as 150,000 plus collectively inhale.  Then, the gates fly open and the great beasts surge forward. 

Over a mile and a quarter,

    they run for the jockeys on their backs,

         they run for the ghosts of those who came before,

             they run for Secretariat's otherworldly 1:58 2/5,

                  they run for immortality,

                       they Run for the Roses. 

At the end, there are no questions, there are no doubts, there is simply a Rose Ceremony.

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Erik Hitzelberger is a licensed REALTOR with RE/MAX Alliance in Louisville. If you need a Louisville Real Estate agent please email me or call 502.921.3989.

I specialize in the following areas of the Metro Louisville Area: Prospect, Middletown, Jeffersontown (J-Town), Fern Creek, Okolona, Shepherdsville, Mt Washington, Hillview, and Brooks.  Click the following links to learn more about Louisville and Bullitt County Real Estate or to Search for Louisville Homes 

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The 2009 Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Glow was a stunning success.  We were among the thousands of people who gathered at the fairgrounds Friday evening to watch the Hot Air balloon teams light up the night sky.  The high winds that had threatened to prevent people from going on to the fields died down around nightfall.  We were able to walk around and see the balloons up close.  

We arrived early and staked out prime viewing territory against the fence while sampling some of the food.  My wife and I are suckers for funnel cakes, so we definitely had to indulge.  Fortunately, there was an on-site mortgage broker accepting loan applications.  I should have dinner and that funnel cake paid off in just under 5 years. 

As daylight turned to dusk, the balloon teams began unpacking and unrolling their vessels.  The process of inflating the balloons was complicated by the winds, but almost all of the crews were able to persevere.  Both the crowd and the level of anticipation seemed to increase exponentially over a 30-minute period.  

Around 9:00 the last of the ballons was fully inflated and the crowd was rewarded for their patience.  With a warning to extinguish all cigarettes we were free to enter the field.  We wandered around as the kids stared in amazement at each of the nylon airships.

We left around 10, but many people were still arriving.  The event continued long into the evening while Q103.1 provided music and commentary.

All-in-all, this is a great family event and I recommend checking it out in the future.  US Bank sponsored the event and other than the cost to park, entrance was free with a Pegasus Pin. 

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Erik Hitzelberger is a licensed REALTOR with RE/MAX Alliance in Louisville. If you need a Louisville Real Estate agent please email me or call 502.921.3989.

I specialize in the following areas of the Metro Louisville Area: Prospect, Middletown, Jeffersontown (J-Town), Fern Creek, Okolona, Shepherdsville, Mt Washington, Hillview, and Brooks.  Click the following links to learn more about Louisville and Bullitt County Real Estate or to Search for Louisville Homes 

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Certain sports records are controversial (60, 61*, 70 or 73*).  Others are impressive in that the represent consistent above-average performance over time (Ripken's 2,632).  But, some are truly special.  They are the result of an awe-inspiring performance that we mortals cannot fathom seeing repeated (DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak, Wilt's 100 point night, Larson's perfect game).  Among the last set of records, is Secretariat's 2:24 world record time at the 1973 Belmont Stakes.   The race is legendary and his 31-length victory remains unparalleled in horseracing history. 

Watch it on Youtube

What is less commonly known is that Secretariat also holds the Kentucky Derby record at 1:59 and 2/5s.  In the 112 years since the 3-year olds have been running 1-¼ miles, only one other horse has broken the 2-minute mark (Monarches-1:59.97). Less than 1 second separates the two and yet it is an eternity.  The paradox of time.

This year, the first Saturday in May brings with it the start of the 134^th Kentucky Derby and another field anxious to challenge the bar set by Secretariat.  At the end of the day, the record will still be intact, but no one will speak of it.  Instead, all will focus on the horse standing in the winner's circle wearing the blanket of roses.  They will laud the new Champion.  However, before the first petal begins to wither, they will question his ability.  Is he fast enough for the Preakness?  Will he have the stamina for the Belmont? Does he have the desire, heart, pedigree, upbringing, to join Secretariat as a Triple Crown winner and as a Legend?  The paradox of success.

The challengers....

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Erik Hitzelberger is a licensed REALTOR with RE/MAX Alliance in Louisville. If you need a Louisville Real Estate agent please email me or call 502.921.3989.

I specialize in the following areas of the Metro Louisville Area: Prospect, Middletown, Jeffersontown (J-Town), Fern Creek, Okolona, Shepherdsville, Mt Washington, Hillview, Brooks and Pewee Valley.  Click the following links to learn more about Louisville and Bullitt County Real Estate or to Search for Louisville Homes 

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Trailing by 12 lengths with 18 beasts blocking the path to greatness, he showed restraint.  Running effortlessly while hugging the rail through the first ½ mile, he showed wisdom.  Finally, it came.  The loosening of the reins, the urging from above, and he showed power.  His strides lengthened as lesser competitors tired and slowed.  The path cleared and the leaders loomed larger.  Moving off the rail, he dispatched another foe and suddenly there was but one before him.  With a ¼ mile left, the race was over.  Hard Spun put for a noble effort, but he showed determination.  Even when his jockey, caught up in the moment, raised his arms toward the heavens, he showed discipline.  Never relenting, Street Sense thundered across the wire to become the 133^rd winner of the Kentucky Derby.  

Including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 156,635 people watched the race from Churchill Downs.  Millions more watched on TV.  None have denied that the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports lived up to its billing once more. 

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Erik Hitzelberger is a licensed REALTOR with RE/MAX Alliance in Louisville. If you need a Louisville Real Estate agent please email me or call 502.921.3989.

I specialize in the following areas of the Metro Louisville Area: Prospect, Middletown, Jeffersontown (J-Town), Fern Creek, Okolona, Shepherdsville, Mt Washington, Hillview, and Brooks.  Click the following links to learn more about Louisville and Bullitt County Real Estate or to Search for Louisville Homes 

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