Macsters at a Race Party in 1996

[michelej1]

[I just saw this article and didn't see it posted online already, so I thought I'd put it here. So, I wonder what Mick and Luke Perry talked about]

Lexington Herald-Leader (KY), May 5, 1996

Section: Derby

STARS TAKE A SHINE TO RACE DAY DIVERSE MIX OF CELEBRITIES ADDS TO DOWNS' DERBY HOOPLA

Andy Mead, Brenda Rios, Susan Catron and Valarie Honeycutt Herald-Leader Staff Writers

It's a strange thing, this mixture of the famous, formerly famous and vaguely familiar who are known as Kentucky Derby celebrities.

They come to be wined, dined and photographed, and to push current or coming projects. In return, they add a bit of glamour, or at least what passes for glamour on the first Saturday in May.

Yesterday's crop was not as stellar as some years, but not bottom-of-the-barrel either.

Here's who was here:

Fresh from his first public performance with Stevie Nicks since President Clinton's inauguration, Mick Fleetwood turned his attention to ponies.

The question of the day: Why Christine and John McVie - who were at Patricia Barnstable Brown's Derby Eve Gala on Saturday night - didn't take the stage when Fleetwood and Nicks sang "Johnny B. Goode."

"John had sort of left," Fleetwood said. "It started raining and he started panicking that the roof was going to collapse."

Christine McVie, he said, might have been a bit daunted by the party crowd.

Fleetwood yesterday was with rocker Steve Winwood and Dick Clark, the older-than-he-looks fixture of the American music scene. Thousands got a glimpse of them on the terrace of the exclusive Turf Club.

Someone asked Winwood which of his songs he liked best, but he demurred, saying that was akin to "asking which is your favorite child."

Clark said his annual New Year's Eve shows and his appearance as the King of Mardi Gras paled in comparison to the Kentucky Derby.

Actor Albert Brooks looked at the mob and deadpanned, "Too bad it's not crowded. I thought it was an auto race until an hour ago."

Heart-throb Luke Perry, Ford super model Jerry Hall, singer Paula Abdul and actor Charles Bronson - all Barnstable Brown guests - avoided the crowds and concentrated on the race.

Boxer George Foreman, who often comes out on top, said he would probably wrap up his career down under - he's planning a final fight in Australia in the next three months.

"Horses are the best athletes in the world," said Foreman, no slouch in the athletic department himself.

Lynda Carter, who once played "Wonder Woman," said she has resigned herself to being identified with that role forever.

"I might as well enjoy it," she said.

But she was unable to enjoy a mint julep because she doesn't drink alcohol. She tried to order a virgin mint julep, but gave up when she was told it would be just sugar and water.

Baseball great Stan Musial said his latest project is a Little League baseball complex in Poland where coaches and players are trained. The Man was happily signing cards with a current picture of him in a baseball uniform.

In the exclusive Skye Terrace, Wendy's founder Dave Thomas chatted with former Gov. Wallace Wilkinson and country singer Waylon Jennings. Thomas said his restaurant's latest product will be four different kinds of pitas.

What celebrity did celebrity Joan Rivers most want to meet at Churchill Downs?

Brad Pitt, of course, the sexiest celebrity alive.

Was he even here? No, but Rivers was hoping he was, and hoping he would wear a jacket, since he didn't wear one to the Academy Awards. She was also making jokes about his height.

"He's probably standing around here somewhere," joked the petite comedian as she looked on the floor around her.

She said the elevator ride up to Millionaires' Row provided her with the opportunity to see some of the "wackiest" jewelry anywhere.

"It's the one time you get to bring out anything with a horse on it," she said.

Rivers was pleased with the black hat with white flowers that she bought at a mall because "It was so cheap."

Rivers sat with Mary Lou Whitney, actor Gary Collins and his wife, Mary Ann Mobley, all of whom were being nice to regular people.

Jennifer Ingraham of Kansas City and her sister, Kate Matlock, asked Rivers and Collins to stand for a photo. "I expected them to be nice and they were."

Then there was Prince Albert of Monaco, who was running low on patience when asked for an interview by a television reporter. "Let's get this over with," he said curtly.

But he quickly shifted gears and flashed a smile. He said he always has a good time at the Derby. And when the races started, he really got wired.

"Yes, yes. Keep going," he shouted as he cheered for Everhope in the second race. The distinguished prince held a mint julep in one hand and clenched his other into a fist as Everhope won.

Eric Lutes, who plays Del on NBC's "Caroline in the City," was at his first Derby.

Lutes was a guest of the local NBC television affiliate and said he was thrilled with his three days in horse country.

"It's just been wonderful; they've really shown us everything," he said.

Lutes said his betting hadn't been on par, but he was having fun anyway.

"I've got a knack for picking the last horse," he said. "Watch me and learn which ones to avoid."

Lutes said his next project is a made-for-TV movie called Full Circle, which is based on a Danielle Steel novel. The picture, which is part of a multi-Steel deal for NBC, probably won't air for at least a year.

Waiting so long to see your work isn't really a problem, Lutes said. "You can be more objective when you see it."

Turnaround on the weekly series "Caroline" is about two weeks.

He plans to return to the series next year, but he won't say what's in store for the last episode this season in which his character is rumored to marry Caroline. Did the pair make it through the ceremony?

"I forget," Lutes said, not wanting to hurt the ratings.

George Steinbrenner, who owns Diligence as well as the New York Yankees, was in the fifth floor of the Skye Terrace awaiting the race.

Diligence was his third Derby horse. His first, Steve's Friend, ran fifth in 1977. His other horse was Eternal Prince, who ran 12th behind Spend A Buck in 1985.

Steinbrenner has been in the spotlight this year, sort of, as a character in NBC's "Seinfeld." A stand-in for him appears in some episodes as George Costanza's boss.

But in one not-yet-seen episode, Steinbrenner plays Steinbrenner. It's been taped and was to be shown as the season-ender, but Steinbrenner said he hears it will not be aired until next season.

"It's the episode where George gets married, and I'm in it, but that's all I can tell you," he said.

And what did he think of his stand-in this season? "I'm nothing like him!"

Elaine Chao, president of the United Way and wife of Sen. Mitch McConnell, was one of the few prominent women on Millionaires' Row who went hatless.

"I wish I had found one that I liked," she said. "There are some wonderful, beautiful hats here."

McConnell, a Louisville Republican, said his luck at the track yesterday was only fair, but he did not see winning at the betting booth as his biggest task.

"My biggest challenge today is getting Peter Jennings' autograph," he said.

Meanwhile, Jennings, the ABC news anchor, was on the other end of the floor standing with fans for photos.

Jennings said his first Derby has provided him with the "Kentucky experience."

Jennings laughed when told about McConnell's wish to seek his autograph. "Sure," he said sarcastically.

Jennings said his 16-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, is his handicapper. As of the fifth race, Elizabeth said they were losing money. He left the betting to her while he busily and courteously signed autographs for fans in the crowd.

Plenty of politicians were here, including Gov. Paul Patton who was surrounded by an entourage of staff. He said he has to look at the Kentucky Derby a little differently now that he's the guy who hands over the trophy.

"We view this as fun, but we're representing Kentucky," Patton said as he waved to passers-by.

Walter Cronkite said the last time he attended the Derby was nearly 15 years ago, when he took a train from Lexington with Gov. John Y. Brown.

Uncle Walter said he has stayed busy since retiring as a CBS anchor. He now runs a company that produces documentaries for the Discovery channel and public television.

Cronkite and Robert MacNeil, the retired PBS news anchor, sat at a table as the guests of Barry Bingham Jr., former owner of The Courier-Journal.

MacNeil said he does not bet much because he's "older and wiser" than he was when he attended his first Derby 15 years ago.

Rob Carr
Model Jerry Hall may have smiled for the camera, but she avoided the Derby crowds to concentrate on the race.
Frank Anderson/Herald-Leader
UK basketball coach Rick Pitino sat in the Skye Terrace to see another one of Kentucky's favorite sporting events.
David Perry/Herald-Leader
Actor Albert Brooks made a joke about the size of the large crowd, estimated at 142,668. "Too bad it's not crowded."
David Perry/Herald-Leader
Blaine Trump, sister-in-law of Donald Trump, and "Wonder Woman" actress Lynda Carter, were members of the classy hat squad as they enjoyed the day on the Turf Room Balcony.
Rob Carr
Arte Johnson, was a regular on NBC's "Laugh-In" in the late 1960s.
David Perry/herald-Leader
Movie critic Roger Ebert and Jane Downey of Louisville gave the Derby thumbs up. Ebert also gave his favorite movie of the year, Fargo, a thumbs-up endorsement.
David Perry/Herald-Leader
Boxer George Foreman complimented the Derby contenders - the horses, that is. He said they're the best athletes.
Rob Carr
Dick Clark shared a laugh with Derby Festival Queen Charliese Brown, right, and her court. Clark said his annual New Year's Eve shows and his appearance as the King of Mardi Gras paled in comparison to the Kentucky Derby.
Michelle Patterson/Herald-Leader
George Steinbrenner, who owns Diligence as well as the New York Yankees, waited in the Skye Terrace for the race to start. Diligence finished ninth in the Derby.
Rob Carr
Actor Luke Perry and rocker Mick Fleetwood talked in the Turf Eclipse Room. Perry avoided the crowds and focused on the race.
Rob Carr
Talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael enjoyed a day at the Derby after enjoying a night of pre-Derby partying at the Anita Madden fund-raiser.
David Cooper
Wearing a black and white suit, comedian Joan Rivers looked classy for her third Derby. "It's my third time and it still hasn't rained."
Michelle Patterson/Herald-Leader
Eric Lutes, who plays Del on NBC's "Caroline in the City," and his wife Christine Romeo-Lutes cheered during race 4. It was Lutes' first Derby.
David Perry/Herald-Leader
Wendy's founder Dave Thomas was at his third Derby with old friends Martha Wilkinson, Waylon Jennings and Jennings' wife, Jessie Coulter. Thomas picked Prince of Thieves to win. "I play golf with a lot of guys like that," he said.
David Perry/Herald-Leader
Baseball great Stan Musial sat with his wife, Lil. Musial said his latest project is a Little League baseball complex in Poland where coaches and players are trained.

[Sahara]

I'd pay money to hear that Johnny B Goode

[David]

Originally Posted by Sahara

I'd pay money to hear that Johnny B Goode

Isn't there a video clip of it?