We were also among the first into the infield. We took a position right by the rail at the 1/8 pole (just in front of the Derby start.)WOW! That is about exactly where we were. We had to be within 10-15 ft of each other. IIRC, I bet (and lost) on Eastern Fleet. It was also my one and only live Derby. I highly recommend it. It was a very enjoyable memory of my youth. The atmosphere was fantastic. The folks I met that weekend in and out of the Derby were very hospitable. It was a great feeling...being in Kentucky...my first time visiting that state (commonwealth).
The 1971 Derby was also my first time in Kentucky (except possibly for visiting homes when I visited Cincinnati as a teen). My car broke down on Friday in Lexington. I got a ride from the folks who towed me to the MG dealer out to the airport so I could rent a car. We wound up staying in Lexington which was probably a lucky break costwise. We got up early the next morning and drove to Louisville. There were residential streets along the backstretch and the people there were blocking the streets and charging money to pass and park. I just drove around to the back entrance to these streets and parked there for nothing. It was actually a convenient place to park as the infield entrance I went in at was on the far turn.
I remember it being a big party with all sorts of people around us from all over the country. I didn't drink much. I had my mint julep, and most of my wife to be's mint julep; and maybe a beer. I don't remember any rowdiness around us, just lots of good cheer.
If you can ever get your movie into a computer readable format, I'd sure like to see a copy.
Since then for the last ten years or so I've become a regular spring and fall visitor to Keeneland. I was there for Bluegrass week again this year. I've only spent one November weekend at Churchill since that Derby trip. This was after it was rebuilt. As far as I am concerned it doesn't compare to Keeneland. But you're right about the folks in Kentucky. I've had only good experiences on all of my visits.
I'm also a regular at Saratoga in the summer and I haven't missed a Belmont Stakes since my first one in 1966.
ML/NJ