U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger took one sip of the mint julep, then joked that his team of golfers needs to start every tournament with such a drink.

Of course, this wasn't just any mint julep. It was one of the $1,000 varieties served on Derby Day at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The drink is poured into a commemorative gold cup, using Woodford Reserve bourbon and mint from champion thoroughbred Secretariat's former home.

Only 99 of the gold-cup drinks were prepared this year, with proceeds going to the Secretariat Foundation. Penny Chenery, the horse's owner, was on hand to present Azinger with the drink. It was numbered 37, representing the 37th Ryder Cup that will be played in Louisville in September.

All the other mint juleps consumed at the track yesterday came in souvenir glasses.

Chenery told Azinger he needed to carry on Secretariat's tradition and bring the Ryder Cup back to the United States. Azinger said Derby Day gave him perspective on what kind of host Louisville can be.

"It really puts into perspective for me Kentucky's ability to handle a massive event like the Ryder Cup," he said.

Leyland had the winner

Detroit Tigers manager and Pittsburgh resident Jim Leyland was pulling for Big Brown to win the Derby.

"I want Big Brown because of Rick Dutrow," said Leyland, who was in Minneapolis to open a three-game series against the Twins.

Leyland met Dutrow, Big Brown's trainer, through baseball buddies Joe Torre and Don Zimmer. He said Dutrow has agreed to train Leyland's yearlings Little River Bob and My Miss Kelly. Leyland doesn't expect Dutrow to turn his horses into Derby contenders, but was pleased to hear the trainer would work with them. The plan is for Dutrow to begin training them in October.

Leyland said he immediately liked Dutrow because, "He's not your suit-and-tie type guy. He was a barn guy. It's kind of an interesting story."

Leyland has never been to the Derby, and wants to get there some day.

"That's on my bucket list," he said.

Forget the budget

Thousands turned out for a free Kentucky Derby breakfast of eggs, ham, sausage, biscuits and cheese grits at Frankfort, Ky., the state's Capitol. Officials threw the traditional breakfast yesterday morning, even as other state-sponsored events surrounding the Derby are being scaled back because of budget cuts.

Gov. Steve Beshear says the state is being more efficient and not spending as much money as in past years. Even so, Beshear says there's as much fun this year as in previous years.

Kentucky is facing a $900 million revenue shortfall over the next two fiscal years. The legislature last month approved a two-year $19 billion spending plan that includes funding cuts to numerous government agencies and programs.

Plenty of VIPs

Churchill Downs rolled out the red carpet for VIP arrivals, among them Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton; country music singer Travis Tritt; Playboy founder Hugh Hefner; and celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Flay's wife, actress Stephanie March, had to hold onto her hat as the wind kicked up.