CPO™ Contest

Kentucky Derby 134 Infield Board of Directors

After all the great video interviews submitted from crazy Derby Infield fans across the country, we are pleased to introduce your Kentucky Derby 134 Infield Board of Directors!

Tim “Stymie” Snyder

Chief Party Officer

Tim “Stymie” Snyder is the first-ever Chief Party Officer of the Kentucky Derby.  Stymie’s video was chosen through a YouTube video contest in which contestants had to submit :90 job interview videos.  Stymie, 43, is a native of Michigan, but is now a resident of Louisville, KY.  He attended the University of Michigan for a short time and has held many, many jobs in his life.  He is currently in-between jobs.  The 2008 Derby will mark his sixteenth Derby Infield appearance.  Stymie will preside over the entire Infield crowd on Saturday, May 3 from his board room in the middle of the infield.

Matt “Danger” Porter

Matthew Porter is a single college student in his hometown of Louisville, Ky. He doesn’t have any children that he is aware of. Porter has attended the Kentucky Derby Infield 8 times and has only been caught sneaking alcohol in once. Matthew has been a member of the United States Beer Drinking Team since 2005. Porter is also well known throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky for his corn hole, beer pong, quarters, and flip cup playing abilities.

Lauren Molter

Lauren Molter is a 23 year old Louisville native who works hard and parties harder. She recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati and currently works in video production. In her free time she enjoys concerts, bowling, sporting events, and of course horse racing. (Basically any event where drinking is completely acceptable.) She is so excited to be one of the first Derby Infield Board Members and says this will be the best Derby ever........even though she probably won’t remember any of it.

Nicholas Nethery, a.k.a. Nicky J., is a University of Kentucky Communications graduate struggling to find full-time employment in today's poor job market. In between job interviews and his part-time third-shift job, Nicky J., enjoys songwriting, recording music, playing the guitar, and of course PARTYING. His knack for partying has taken him from Bardstown Rd. to Beale St. to Sunset Blvd. and even some dirty streets in Acapulco, Mexico. Most recently, he was named an official Board Member to the Chief Party Officer for the 134^th running of the Kentucky Derby. If his position on the board does not launch him in to a full-time partying profession, he plans to pursue a career in music, marketing, or advertising. Nicky J. is an avid beer drinker with a penchant for Jaeger Bombs. He has practiced in the art of beer pong, flip cup, and late night cab hailing.

Russell Strange

Russell Strange is a 50 year old native of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.  He first attended the DERBY at age 13 in 1971.  He returned in 1973 and has now attended 35 consecutive DERBIES in the infield.  The DERBY has been special to him because of the great atmosphere, tradition and the PARTY.  Also, although never a huge bettor, in the “old days” attending was the only way to place a legal wager on the DERBY.  His passion intensified in 1976 when a prominently placed photo appeared on page 10 of the Courier- Journal Derby Section.   This prompted his dismissal from the Elizabethtown High School baseball team.   Not for merely attending the DERBY, but for telling the coach he was sick and then skipping games on DERBY DAY.  Russell is now passing the DERBY tradition to two of his daughters.  18 year old Jennifer is making her third straight trip with Russell and 17 year old Emily, who put together his video, is making her first.  Although they would have liked to attend sooner, his daughters were not allowed before they could be his designated drivers.  LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!

Danny Kramer

To many people, the month of May means springtime, young blossoming love, and Cinco de Mayo.  To Danny Kramer, however, May means only one thing: The Kentucky Derby.  In the weeks leading up to the Derby, if you observe closely, you can see glasses of Mint Juleps in his eyes, hear “My Old Kentucky Home” from his lips, and smell Skyline Chili and Derby Pie on his breath, all in preparation for his favorite event of the year.   Danny is a Northern Kentucky native, hailing from the great city of Fort Wright.  His love of horse racing began at a young age, and finally brought him to the excitement, revelry, and passion of experiencing the Kentucky Derby for the first time in 1999.  Danny is a proud alumnus of the University of Kentucky, class of 2003.  He now lives in Los Angeles, where he teaches Art, Surfing, and Sailing; experience which led to he and his friends’ theme for this year’s Derby: “The Lifeguards of the Infield”.  In his spare time, he attends Pepperdine University to earn an MBA.  Danny truly loves the Derby and everything that goes along with it, and he could not feel more honored and privileged to be selected as an Infield Board Member!  So look for Danny this year to help lead the wildest, the craziest, and the most outrageous party the infield has ever seen!

Thomas J. Nelson

I was going to write a little bit about myself, but you don't care, and I have a few things that I want to say. The infield has gone un-noticed outside of the Kentucky audience for far too long. I wanted to know what kind of impression the Infield had nationally, so I walked around New York posing the question, "How great is the Derby Infield Experience?" The most common response was "Are you talking about Baseball?" We want the response to be "I hear that party's crazier than Mardi Gras!"  This Derby, we need the infield to take responsibility and spread the message. The Infield WILL be recognized nationally as the greatest party in America. Say goodnight to Mardi Gras.

Robert Svoboda

Raised on the rough streets of Richmond, Virginia’s West End neighborhood, Svoboda had a tough time fitting in with the local kids. Always questioning the status quo with his lofty yet radical ideals. Former teachers described him as a twiddler, a dreamer, a silly heart, and a jabberbox. Upon graduation from University of Sao Paulo, where he double majored in Brazilian jujitsu and international commerce, Svoboda moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting.  While on location for a Lowe’s Days commercial in Brooklyn, Svoboda snapped at director Mizzy Fishburn (of former Pop Rocks Fame) and walked off set swearing that he would never act in that town again. Robert Svoboda is a life long thoroughbred speculator, real estate entrepreneur, and former film actor.