Kentucky Derby 2000 - Celebrity Scorecard

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: May 08, 2000 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader Submitted By: vh60082 4 quarterbacks, 3 Boys, 2 lovebirds, 1 prince HERALD-LEADER STAFF REPORT Good morning, and welcome to the Backstreet Derby, featuring Brian, Kevin, Howie and tens of thousands of people who wanted to be near them. The only thing that saved the three Backstreet Boys from being crushed was security guards who seemed to be physically attached. A few fans did get close enough to collect autographs; a few journalists close enough for interviews. ``I never had the time or the money'' to get to the Derby before, said Estill County's Kevin Richardson, who was there with Kristin Willits, his fiancee, as well as fellow BSBers Brian Littrell of Lexington and Howie Dorough. Although Richardson couldn't pronounce Fusaichi Pegasus, the favorite and eventual winner was his pick. ``I like the name,'' he said. Between the Turf Club and Skye Terrace, there were plenty of celebrities at the Downs yesterday. It was the kind of day in which a U.S. senator (say, Jim Bunning) had trouble getting by a much more flamboyant former MTV veejay (say, Daisy Fuentes). Hey, there's The Green Mile's Michael Jeter, standing at a rail on the Skye Terrace balcony. And there's Travis Tritt on the Turf Terrace. And, over there, Rod Steiger. Pssst ... Is that Christina Aguilera in the packed elevator? No. Was that Yellow Pages author Jon Lovitz in a wheelchair? Maybe. Anything's possible on the first Saturday in May. Walk out onto the fourth floor of Skye Terrace for a princely surprise: Prince Albert of Monaco mingling with Philadelphia relatives at his sixth Derby. ``It's a wonderful time,'' he said. ``This is a great place.'' Bad boy rocker Kid Rock wore a ribbed tank-top T-shirt and fedora as he sipped a Budweiser. The fedora came off during the Star-Spangled Banner; his cigarette stayed lit. One of the day's most ubiquitous couples was Miss America Heather Renee French and Lt. Gov. Steve Henry, who announced their engagement earlier this year. French, who is from Maysville, wore a gray suit and a hat that hid part of her pageant-winning face. She and Henry clasped hands as they fielded reporters' questions. Her Derby pick? ``I've been looking at Captain Steve. ``And I want The Deputy to do a great job. For a woman trainer (Jenine Sahadi) to make it to the spotlight, I really wish her the best.'' One of the earliest arrivals and most gregarious celebs was Jerry O'Connell, who starred in Mission to Mars and Scream 2.``I'm a big fan of the horses,'' said O'Connell, who was making his first trip to Churchill Downs. ``The only analogy I can make is what a Muslim must feel like in Mecca,'' he said, adding, ``The chicks are so hot in Louisville, and you can quote me on that.'' That '70s Show's Kurtwood Smith has been to Louisville a few times in recent years. (His wife is from here.) But the actor who plays Red Foreman on the Fox show said he hadn't been to the Derby since 1984, when he and his wife scored box seats. Downstairs, the Turf Club became the Quarterback Club as legends Johnny Unitas and Don Meredith joined youngsters Peyton Manning and Tim Couch. Manning and country singer George Strait mulled Derby picks, but Unitas passed. ``I don't know anything about'' horses, the former Baltimore Colt said. ``I just watch 'em.'' Della Reese of TV's Touched by an Angel danced and slapped a ticket counter after cashing in a winner. ``I'm having a ball,'' she said. ``I just won. Pretty big, pretty big.'' Enjoying his winnings was comedian and In Living Color alum David Alan Grier. He joked that at the Oaks on Friday he scored a whopping $12.44. ``By Louisville prices that's half a mint Julep,'' he said. Staff writers Le Datta Grimes, Jefferson George, Andy Mead and Heather Svokos contributed to this report Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: Shawn Submitted by: Michael Pollitt Submitted by: Kevin Submitted by: Kevin Submitted by: Eugene Submitted by: Lemat Submitted by: Kelly Submitted by: Jennifer Submitted by: Carol Clark Comment on this item. Next Item: Kentucky Derby 2000 - Party for the ages Prev Item: Celebrities play at Derby Day Pegasus, Boys prove sure bets for entertainment