A Lonesome, Lost Weekend on Longfield Avenue

In 1970, Hunter S. Thompson wrote the quintessential "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved" for Scanlan's Monthly magazine, a piece that launched the writing genre of "gonzo journalism."

Amid a massive construction project at Churchill Downs in 2004, the Run for the Roses was dubbed the "Demolition Derby."

Last year's Derby will be known as the "Disqualification Derby" after Maximum Security became the first horse to be taken down after crossing the wire in front.

This year's Derby has slid down the calendar to the first Saturday in September, leaving us with the "Delayed Derby."

While we won't know the winner for four months, we already know who the losers are: those who live on or around Longfield Avenue. The four-lane road is the backbone of the Churchill Downs backstretch and a gateway to the Twin Spires.

A half-century ago, Thompson, a Louisville native, succinctly captured the debauchery of Derby week. Come 2020, amid social distancing designed to stem the tide of COVID-19, the scene this weekend is one of detachment and desolation.

The Derby's departure from May 2 has left a gaping hole in the community surrounding Churchill Downs—and the pocketbooks of its residents. They are among many in the Derby City who rely on the income from Derby/Oaks weekend to carry them throughout the year. It's their annual stimulus package.

On May 1, Longfield Avenue looks lonesome. The uninhabited parking lot at the Veterans of Foreign Wars is equally forlorn.

Those few residents along Longfield who were outside on a beautiful spring day politely declined to go on the record, but several noted the lost revenue from parking alone would be upward of $1,000 for those with a sizable lot. Gone, too, are the kids hawking $1 bottles of water and hot dogs early in the day as more than 100,000 stream into Churchill Downs, and $5 to $10 for a pair of flip-flops on the way out to the women wanting to get out of their heels.

Around Longfield Avenue, and just down the stable area gate entrance on Fourth Street, is Wagner's Pharmacy. A mainstay for locals all year long—and especially Derby week—the drug store and lunch counter has been hit hard by the closures due to the pandemic. The Delayed Derby, and the deferral of the stable area opening until May 11, has been devastating.

"When I got up this morning, I started to cry," said Joanne Hellmann, Wagner's server and an employee for 19 years.

"It's really sad—the whole situation," she said. "This is our week, this week. We haven't seen all of these people since they left in November. We look forward to all the trainers and their staff coming back and coming in here. It's not the same. It's quite sad.

"This time of year, we're making more money than we can carry home, and now we're not making enough to even open our wallets. We're going to be a long time getting over this. It's hard times."

Pamela Pryor is the kitchen manager at Wagner's and has worked at the storied lunch counter for 21 years.

"We were swamped up in here before (the COVID-19 shutdown) happened, and then after it happened, it was rough for a few weeks," Pryor said. "It's picking up a little. Our Wednesdays and Fridays are real good. People are starting to know we are open, and we're doing curbside and we have our gloves and our masks. We are doing what we're supposed to be doing, but this is brutal.

"We've lost a lot of money and miss the people coming in every year—our friends. I hope they are safe and they come in September if we get to have our Derby."

The biggest carryout items at Wagner's are the club sandwich and Friday fish fry, but Pryor figures their business is at about 15% of what it normally is this time of year. Regardless of being down, she's not out.

"(Gov.) Andy (Beshear) is doing a great job," Pryor said. "Not opening up everything at one time—I think that is a great thing. Don't get me wrong, I need the money, but I don't think restaurants are the safest places to be right now.

"I'm not the owner, but as the manager, I know we will make it through this. It won't be easy. Our hours have all been cut, and you count on this week to carry you through. Thank God, we are getting the benefits from the government for small businesses. That is what is going to keep us going. I hope our customers will come back when we open up."

Across the street, Vickie Young exits the 4th and Central Food Mart with a bag of drinks and some snacks. She has worked at Churchill Downs since 1985 and is on the maintenance crew. Laid off earlier in the year, she was called back April 27 to start getting the backside ready.

"It's quiet and it's strange," she said. "It's really different."

She hands off a soda to Tim Quinn, who was also called back Monday to work on the turf course.

Asked about the mood, he offers a scant, "It's fair."

At the stable gate, long-standing security ace Leon "Plummie" Bass mans his station. Masked and wearing rubber gloves, he stops the few vehicles that pull up to the gate seeking entrance. A few trucks and cars pull up, but the drivers are members of the maintenance crew, vendors, and suppliers. No owners, no trainers, no exercise riders. The barn area is void of equines until May 11. Racing will resume May 16, but spectatorless racing will mean just that: a groom or two, a trainer, and a rider—that'll be it.

"It's eerily quiet," noted Kevin Kerstein, a member of the Churchill Downs publicity staff. It's been 40 days since he's been in the office, a most unusual Derby month. He notes the work-from-home period has been a roller coaster with spots of good news and bad, but mainly waiting for the signal to get back to work. That'll start in earnest after the Derby.

Racing will return to Churchill Downs, and the rest of the country, in due time. For now, however, it's another lost weekend on Longfield Avenue.