Take a gamble on Louisville

People who are feeling lucky and don't mind a little road trip can stop at the bank and drive about two hours to Louisville. If you want to gamble on the Indiana-Kentucky border, you have two options: go to a casino in Indiana or go to Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.\n"People have tried to put gambling on Louisville's side of the river, but the city wouldn't allow it," says Tamara Edgehill, visitors agent for the Bureau of Tourism in Louisville, "the only gambling you'll find here is bingo."\nBut nearby in Bridgeport, Ind., is Caesars Indiana Casino and Resort. With four decks totaling 93,000 square feet of casino space and 2500 slot machines, Caesars has the largest gambling vessel in the world. \n"Each of the four decks has a theme," says Judy Shess, Caesar's public relations director. \nThe first deck is divided into a movie theme with the appearance of a backlot drive-in and the burning of Rome with smoldering cinder carpeting. The first deck also boasts a 10-table poker room.\nDeck two is the most popular deck, with a music and sports section and 24 television screens perpetually tuned in to the latest matches all under a ceiling resembling a mini-Colosseum. The Rome casino can be found on the third deck, mimicking the decor of Caesars' Palace and holding the world's largest light fixture. \nThe Cleopatra slot casino is on the fourth deck of the riverboat, complete with hand-painted murals and crystal chandeliers. All of the decks are accessible through both elevators and escalators. \nAdmission for the riverboat and parking is free at all times, but entrance to the boat is restricted for those older than 21. Besides the riverboat, the resort includes various restaurants, a Pavilion that caters to everything from regional bands to boxing matches, a covered parking garage that is free of charge and a hotel that opened one month ago. With 503 rooms, 19 suites and a multitude of entertainments, it is the largest gaming hotel in the state in Indiana. All of these branches of the resort are connected by covered, climate-controlled moving sidewalks.\n"You'd have to see it to appreciate it," Shess says. "I can't describe it."\nBut if playing the slots or gaming tables isn't your thing, there's always the race track.\n"The Kentucky Derby is where college spring break meets the horse racing," says Tony Terry, Churchill Downs publicity director. \nThe horse racing industry dates back to the 1700s when the primary mode of transportation was by horse. Races drawing larger and larger crowds were organized in downtown Louisville on Market Street. The infectious appeal of horse racing was embraced by the masses who appreciated the beauty and value of top horses as contemporary consumers appreciate a Mercedes Benz. Recognizing the wide interest in these events, the city built its first track away from the busy thoroughfares. Churchill Downs opened in 1875, and during 127 years of continuous operation, has entertained countless race enthusiasts.\nThe Downs attract all classes and all walks of life. Admission is $2 and a program containing statistics for each horse and jockey, the records and their names is $3. \n"It's a mixtures of high and middle classes and of some who can't afford it," senior Lindsey Weinberg says, "but mostly of those who have the money."\nThe regal atmosphere is enhanced by vibrant colors of the silk uniforms and flags of the jockeys.\n"People come here to be seen," Terry says. \nOwners in turn utilize the races as a breeding ground for their horses, paying for those with a history of victories in the family to breed with their own. One horse with a strong lineage, Seattle Slew, earned $100,000 per mate after his victorious season as a Triple Crown winner of the Kentucky Derby in the 1970s. \nWhile wagering money on the probability that a horse may win provides the primary source of entertainment for the patrons and income for the Downs, many also attend the races merely for the pleasure of watching the thoroughbreds race down the track toward fame and glory. \n"It's not the thrill of winning, it's the opportunity to win," Terry says. "This is the sport of kings"