By Vicki Prichard
NKyTribune reporter
Charlie Begley was dancing a celebratory jig as the horse he bet on crossed the finish line at Turfway Park on Saturday. He would be going home to Lawrenceburg with big winnings.
“I’ve been coming to this event for five years,” says Begley as he twirled with his ticket in hand.
Begley was representative of the festive atmosphere in the VIP tent at the 47th Running of the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park in Florence on Saturday. The event, particularly the VIP tent, has long attracted racing aficionados, politicians, the business community, and savvy dressers.
The track’s annual prestigious spring race on Saturday was the inaugural race with its new sponsor, Jeff Ruby. Formerly known as the Spiral Stakes and the Jim Beam Stakes, the race will run through 2020 as the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Ruby, a racing enthusiast, who owns numerous steak houses throughout the U.S., provided catering for the event. Lengthy lines wrapped around the buffet, as an obvious nod of satisfaction with the culinary offerings. Ruby is no stranger to racing sponsorships, and has signed jockeys to wear his steakhouses name on their riding breeches.
Many of the guests in the VIP tent added a touch of the Irish to their attire, as the Jeff Ruby Steaks coincided with St. Patrick’s Day. Shaun Patrick Michael, a bona fide Irishman, says he has spent previous St. Patrick’s Days in Ireland. Saturday was his first time for the VIP tent at the Jeff Ruby Steaks; he dressed accordingly, sporting a bold shamrock blazer and bodacious bowtie.
