I have great memories of Churchill Downs from long ago. Some of the best memories
are softball games we used to play in the CD infield before the turf course was
installed. AJ Foyt's annual backstretch barbecue on Derby Day. Being introduced to Nelson
Bunker Hunt and his daughters in the clubhouse on the day Genuine Risk won the
Derby.

The Churchill Downs of the present has a lovely record: everything they touch
either meets the wrecker's ball or turns into a sh--show.

More turf racing an interesting proposition but CD has had huge problems
maintaining the turf course at Fair Grounds and I will reoffer my free advice:
Just pick a local landscaper out of the Yellow Pages and let them try their
luck, they can not do any worse than the "professionals" CD has had to maintain
the grass course at FG.

Would a switch to SYNTHETIC kill racing? Not as quickly as PETA or politicians
can if drugs and equine deaths dominate the racing headlines.