A devoted Kentucky Derby enthusiast who fulfilled his 'dying wish' to attend the renowned horse race for the 80th time has passed away. Bob Weihe, affectionately known as 'Derby Bob', was a native of Louisville, Kentucky. He first visited the Churchill Downs meeting in 1947 at the tender age of nine and had not missed a single running of the race since, not even during the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, however, the 89-year-old was under hospice care and largely confined to his bed.
A Final Visit to Churchill Downs
Weihe's heartfelt desire to make one last trip to Churchill Downs to witness the 152nd edition of the 'Run for the Roses' was brought to light on social media by CBS News contributor David Begnaud. In his post, Begnaud shared, 'He wants to go the Kentucky Derby this weekend. He's a Louisville, Kentucky native. Bob Weihe is his name. I am trying to get a ticket for him, his wife Barbara and his caretaker. He's in a wheelchair on oxygen and unable to walk.'
Churchill Downs responded by providing complimentary tickets, while local state police troopers offered a blue light escort for the vehicle transporting the Weihes to the racetrack. At the racecourse, Bob was treated like a VIP, given a prime position trackside with an unobstructed view of the finish line.
Picks and Predictions
Making his selections for the race, Weihe chose three horses: numbers one, 19, and 22. The final results saw Golden Tempo (horse 19) take the win, followed by Renegade (one) and Ocelli (22). The victorious trainer, Cherie DeVaux, made history as the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. One of Weihe's grandchildren reportedly won over £40,000 by betting on his picks. Additionally, DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz signed Weihe's racecard.
Passing and Tributes
Breaking the news of Weihe's death, Begnaud stated, 'I woke up to the news that Derby Bob died today. He died exactly one week after we all took him to the Kentucky Derby for the 80th Derby in a row. It was his dying wish to go.' He added, 'To everyone who made this man smile, thank you.' Bob Weihe's legacy as a steadfast Derby fan will be remembered by many.
