You may have tuned in over the weekend to watch the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby, a muddy Run For the Roses won by Triple Crown hopeful Super Saver. But the more intriguing – maybe we should say “disturbing” – race to portable restroom operators could be found in the infield city created by thousands of Derby attendees who prefer to get down and dirty when they visit Churchill Downs.
They call it “running the gauntlet,’’ and it involves (most likely inebriated) Derby spectators getting a boost to the top of a bank of portable restrooms and then running across the top of the units while others throwing beer cans, bottles – even folding lawn chairs – try to knock them off. I assure you this is true, and it’s becoming more commonplace, if online evidence is any indication.
Following Saturday’s Derby, the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper ran this article about the rowdy antics of those in the Churchill Downs infield: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/02/1247588/infield-the-only-place-to-live.html
The story includes photos of the bottle-throwing mob aiming at drunken restroom runners. Want to see more? Go to www.youtube.com and you’ll find dozens of videos of this activity.
And it’s not just the Derby. You can find videos like this from other horse racetracks, NASCAR event campgrounds, etc. If these event venues have no interest in putting a stop to this dangerous activity, how can restroom contractors halt the “portapotty races’’ that can cause a lot of property damage to their equipment and open them up to potential liability claims?
Suing a restroom contractor after falling off of a unit in during a drunken prank sounds far-fetched? People have sued for stupider reasons … Well, maybe not. But isn’t there the potential that a person injured in this activity could sue the venue for allowing it to happen and the restroom provider for not affixing a warning sticker on each unit? Maybe something like this: “Warning: Getting drunk and running on top of these units may be hazardous to your health.’’
Has someone “run the gauntlet’’ across your restrooms? If so, let me know about it by sending an e-mail to editor@promonthly.com and I’ll share your views in a future post.
