LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As the owners of the Kentucky Derby contenders picked at a buffet, sipped on cocktails and placed bets from their seats in the shadow of the winners’ circle, the people responsible for the enhanced hospitality were nowhere to be found.
The owners of last year’s Derby winner, California Chrome — Perry and Denise Martin and Steve and Carolyn Coburn — were upset with Churchill Downs after their experience here in 2014, so much so that the Martins decided to skip the Preakness.
Perry Martin’s mother, Catherine, was in a wheelchair, and the group had trouble getting her from their suite in the clubhouse to the winner’s circle after the race.