I was in attendance for this past weekend Kentucky Oaks (Friday) and the Kentucky Derby (Saturday); so I witnessed first hand and admit participated in the festivities to wear or not to wear the mask!

When you entered Churchill Downs on both days you had to have a mask on to enter. On Friday your temperature was taken before entry as well. On Saturday it was not! Once in the grounds, many people removed the masks. About 50-60% kept them on Friday. Churchill had someone walking around with a sign that read: “Mask Required, Thank You”. However I noticed, I watched but the sign carrier never stopped anyone and ask them to put their mask back on! I will admit, I removed mine on Friday about half way through the day. Then on Saturday, as I mentioned , temperatures were not taken on entry. You did have to wear the mask to enter the turnstiles. Once in I’d say about 60% of the fans removed the masks and kept them off. To be fair, the Churchill employees walking around and at concessions did mask up. However, at some of the wagering windows, the tellers as the day wore on removed their masks as well.

It seemed those that removed their masks, me included, at this most attended event since COVID-19 did so as a form of our own protests. People are tired of being told what to do by government and corporate management. The statement was made “We are tired of the BS from government know it all’s who know nothing telling us how to live our daily lives.” The freaking masks don’t even work……….it hasn’t been effective. In fact we are learning it causes more health issues than it rejects. So screw the government. Derby patrons have spoken!

The interesting part of all of this, I didn’t see anyone wearing a mask upset with anyone that wasn’t wearing the mask!

On Friday at the Oaks, there was over 41,000 in attendance. On Saturday attendance was 51,873 and I’d say 51,873 wore their mask on entry, about 37,000 wore them for a few races, about 25,000 wore them until the 12th race (The Derby) by the end of the day, about 24, 000 still had them on. SCREW COVID-19 ! We are taking our lives back, whether Joe Biden wants us to or not!