Some people take pride in the fact that they make the annual pilgrimage down to Ohio for the Little Brown Jug or to New Jersey for the Hambletonian. Some revelers may even make reference to their attendance streaks at said events.
The story of one horse racing ‘superfan’ has made the news this week, and rightfully so, as he has been to what many consider the greatest horse race in the world for the last 75 years.
As it is explained in a story by dailymail.co.uk, 84-year-old John Sutton Jr. has been at Churchill Downs for the running of the Kentucky Derby every year since 1940.
Sutton, the son of a farrier, went to his first ‘Derby’ in 1940. The article explains that the Louisville resident has amassed quite an impressive collection of racing memorabilia over the years. Also, the report states that Sutton’s streak of attending the Derby has not been lost on Churchill Downs officials.
Churchill has officially invited Sutton to attend the Derby on Saturday, May 2, which will mark the 76th consecutive year that Sutton has watched the hallowed race in person.
(With files from dailymail.co.uk)