LOUISVILLE, Ky. — You might say Louisville man Bob Weihe has been on a lucky streak for 73 years. The 82-year-old hasn't missed a Derby since he first attended with his mother in 1947. This year's tickets almost didn't happen, as the annual Run for the Roses will happen without fans.
Bob's grandkids have called him "Derby Bob" for a reason. He and his wife Barbara have collected much memorabilia over the years. The couple has a collection of photos and newspaper clippings, and they remarked over the memories they share.
"This is kind of goofy," Barbara laughed, thumbing past a picture of Bob in a woman's Derby hat.
The Derby tradition is part of their family history. The two haven't missed a year at Churchill Downs together since a date they had at the track in 1957. That was the year they met. Bob's memory, however, goes back even further.
"I can remember the first one I went to," he said. "That was in 1947. My mother took me, and I couldn't really see, so my mother told me to get on my hands and knees and crawl up to the fence and stay low so I wouldn't block anybody else that was up there," said Weihe.
It's been a tumultuous few months as the Weihe family watched for news from Churchill Downs. At first, the Derby was postponed, then it was scheduled for September with sanitary procedures and restrictions in place. After that came the announcement that only 23,000 fans could attend, until most recently, Churchill Downs announced no fans would be allowed.
The Weihe's never gave up on getting in, although it did seem unlikely they could go. That's where their son, Mark, came in. He's been to the Derby for 50 straight years himself. He tried for tickets, relentlessly.
"To go 74 years to the same event, and it's one of the biggest events in the world and it's in your home city...it's just something we were going to keep trying until we couldn't anymore," said Mark Weihe.
It turns out, Bob's luck hasn't quite run out, as he plans to attend his 74th consecutive Kentucky Derby this Saturday. Mark got a call from a friend Tuesday night, and the owner of racehorse Max Player is giving the father and son a ticket each in exchange for buying a share.
"It brought tears to my eyes. I was like...couldn't believe it," Mark explained.
Tradition means a lot to Mark, but his father's happiness means even more.
"Just to know that he gets to go now is very emotional," he added.
There aren't many words to express how pleased Bob is.
"It's exciting," he laughed.
As for Weihe's race predictions? Derby 2020 will be a memorable one.