The Kentucky Derby is America's marquee racing event and for three winners of KTTC's Triple Crown Essay Competition it was the trip of a lifetime.

Amy Schuver, from Charlotte, North Carolina, Abbey Jorstad, from Olympia, Washington and Nicole Russo, of Rochester, New York attended the '01 Kentucky Oaks and Derby in fine style.

Perched in trackside box seats for both events, these young racing fans watched the best and brightest of racing's young stars compete.

But that's not all. The trio of KTTC girls was joined by seven fellow KTTC members Friday morning for a tour of the Churchill Downs backside. The group met trainer Bobby Frankel, who discussed the chances of Flute, eventual winner of the Kentucky Oaks later that afternoon. Flute stood by as Frankel fielded questions, signed autographs and posed for pictures.

Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye visited with the group and so did trainer Joe Orseno, who took time out of his busy pre-Derby schedule with Thunder Blitz.

The group also spent time with trainers Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas, who have become regular hosts for KTTC visits. Baffert discussed the topic of the KTTC essay competition, "Why the Triple Crown is so Difficult to Win", from first-hand experience. He then told the group that the '01 group of Derby runners is the toughest since the days of Silver Charm, Captain Bodgit and Free House.

Lukas also touched on the Triple Crown–and explained why it's the most coveted prize in racing. Both trainers signed autographs and posed for photos.

The group watched horses train on the track, bath and get new shoes before trainers Niall O'Callaghan and David Hofmans met with them. O'Callaghan entertained them with his Irish wit and charm, and Hofmans went to great pains to explain the various hurdles Millennium Wind had to overcome on the road to Kentucky.

Of course, each member of the group had a favorite and Monarchos supporters were giddy after the race as they attended the post-Derby bash in the beautiful Kentucky Derby Museum on the grounds at Churchill Downs.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens took time following a disappointing loss on Point Given to present the girls with goggles and to sign autographs.

Add to it all a national television appearance on ESPN2's Breakfast at Churchill Downs and it's easy to see why these racing fans are fans for life.

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