For most casual fans of horse racing, the experience of a race is sort of like the Olympics. If you happen to catch an event, whether on TV or in person, you may develop an intense interest in one athlete (human or equine) for the duration of the race, but then forget about them as soon as they pass the finish line.
The National Thoroughbred League is a fairly new organization that is aiming to shake up that dynamic, and they would like to ply you with food, drink and music to check out their paradigm-shifting event over Labor Day weekend. The league is hosting a fun day of racing at Kentucky Downs, just across the state line in Franklin, Ky. As part of their series of races across the country, the NTL has planned what they’re calling the Million Dollar Weekend in Nashville from Aug. 30 through Sept. 1.
Admittedly, saying Franklin, Ky., is the same as Nashville is a tiny bit of a stretch, but Kentucky Downs is certainly the closest track to Music City — and for at least part of the race, the horses will actually be running in Tennessee. The major connection to Nashville is the fact that Tanya Tucker is part of the ownership group of one of the league’s racing teams, and the iconic country star will be the host for the weekend’s festivities.
The team format is the most revolutionary aspect of the NTL’s strategy. Nashville is the kickoff stop for the series, where each team puts forth a horse for a five-race competition at each track. Among the other celebrity owners of the team are Nelly, Rick Ross and NBA Hall of Famer Julius "Dr. J" Erving. Points are accrued in each race, and the championship team at the end of the season will win a huge cash prize, plus individual purses along the way.
It’s set up so that fans can root for a team all season long — and of course, your favorite team should be the Nashville Dreams! Race day is also set up to be a daylong celebration of food, drink and fun with live entertainment between races. You can place traditional wagers on any of the horses in each race, or just cheer on your team.
The NTL is leveraging the proximity to Nashville to encourage both visitors and locals to join in the fun. On Saturday night, Aug. 31, Tucker will host a kickoff party at her personal tequila cantina inside Nudie’s Honky Tonk on Broadway, and they’ll be sampling a new tequila in straight pours and margaritas at the event.
On race day, Sunday, Sept. 1, your $275 VIP ticket allows entry into a special air-conditioned VIP chalet at Kentucky Downs where you’ll watch in style in a private luxury chalet with Southern eats, an open bar, a cigar bar, betting coaches, the NTL cheer squad, and a special stage with some of Tanya Tucker’s favorite Nashville artists performing between races. There will also be a fashion show as part of the proceedings, so dig out your best Steeplechase finery if you want to fit in.
The races themselves should be compelling — especially with $1.8 million in purses on the line — and uniquely all the heats will be run on a turf track instead of dirt. If this glitzy weekend of horses, food, drink and fun sounds like a great way to spend Labor Day weekend, tickets are still available at the event website.
I mean, you probably have Monday off to recuperate, so why not, right?
