Belle Brezing Bed Race
April 10, 2008
The Best of the Bluegrass Belle Brezing Bed Race was held Thursday, April 10, 2008, to honor Lexington’s most famous Madam. Short Street was closed between Mill and Upper Streets as teams entered their specially designed and decorated racing beds. The teams raced in heats until a grand prize winner was declared. Staff photos by Charles Bertram
All in fun, etc., I know. But it’s a sad day when a town goes out of its way to honor a whore.
Linda, please get a life and stop taking everything so seriously.
I think it is quite fitting in the way that belle was being honored. she was one of lexingtons finest citizens regardless of her occupation. maybe people should do some research. she was much more than a madam.
Jen,
Lots of people who are concerned with the declining morals of our society “have a life”.
Linda, I couldn’t agree with you more. LOL
I was shock to read about her in the Lexington Herald, and how Lexington citizens are embracing her and her sinful lifestyle.
This women was not a lady, heck she wasn’t even a woman. Like you stated, she is a whore, and brought women into her unmorale sinful lifestyle.
What does Lexington, Kentucky do, they honor her with a bed race.
No wonder outsiders call us ”a bunch of rednecks”, ”a bunch of hicks”.
Why not just call it “Whore Day” in Lexington? And make it a paid holiday.
Boy, this really makes Lexington, and the state of Kentucky shine in time for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Move over “Man - O - War”…… you’ve been replaced by a Whore.
Lexington will not only be know for it’s Horses,
but it will now be know for it’s WHORE.
Thank you Downtown Lexington Corp.
What are you telling the children of Lexington, that it’s okay to be a WHORE!
Now our little girls and young women will go into prostitution just to make a name for themselves.
By the way, didn’t I see pictures of children in this downtown celebration?
It was a lot of fun, I got to play Belle for the Hilton Suites and although I was embarrassed almost the entire time, we managed to win the “Best Use of Belle Brezing Theme”
Come on over and see us some time, ya here?
Oh, so I guess you wouldn’t mind if your daughter became a madam today in Lexington.
I guess you will be a proud parent.
Where are the people with morals and values in this country. Where is the postive in this.
What she did was a sin and inmoral, but what the heck, Lets break out the bottle and celebrate!
Who cares about morals and values.
There goes our children.
I hardly think that dressing up and participating in this race will have any bearing on JT’s parenting skills ten years from now. I thought the Hilton team looked great, and deserved the award for “Best Use of Belle Brezing Theme”. Congratulations, guys!
Folks, Belle was not a whore, she was a Madame, that’s a big difference. She was the whore’s boss, not a whore herself, she established what apparently was a very successful business. So with that in mind it is totally appropriate to honor her, she was an entrepreneur, we need to encourage more entrepreneurs to our downtown. Good work DLC, the race was fun.
Whether you like it or not, Belle Brezing is a part of Lexington’s history. She was a character that helped put Lexington on the map. According to documents she tried to fund a local hospital, founded many charitable organizations for the poor in town, and actually tried to give back to the community that rejected her. Even her death was published in Time magazine as a notable event. And I hardly think that having a light-hearted event such as this is going to lower the morals of your children. I’m sure you can teach them what is harmless fun and what is real life. And if you can’t teach them the difference then I guess they should never leave the house.
She wasn’t a Whore, just the Whores boss.
What a big difference.
I’m sure glad that a whore’s boss (aka PIMP) has put Lexington on the map.
We need more Madames like her.
Hey, this woman has just inspired me to become an entrepreneur.
Today I will become a Madam!…Watch out Lexington.
I just hope I can become successful as Madame Belle Brezing.
Currently taking applications…. women between the ages of 18 - 30…no fat ones please.
Congrats on becoming a madam. You can try to become as big as Belle, but I don’t think you will be too successful. Who knows, once you become a madam, people might start caring who you are and maybe name a day after you, but I doubt it. It would have to be called, “I’m too uptight to have fun day.” And I just don’t think too many people would show up for that.
The bed race was great, silly fun. Don’t overthink it. This was not an event promoting prostitution as a lifestyle. No one went home afterwards and said, “You know, I think I’ll skip medical school, and instead become a prostitute or madam. Then I’ll become famous!”
If you don’t want to come see the race for whatever reason, then don’t come see it. It’s your choice and I respect that. But don’t automatically think Lexington is inherently immoral by having a silly bed race.
It was great to see so many people downtown for the race & pub crawl. There should be more fun things like this to bring people together.
If Belle Brezing has put Lexington, Kentucky on the map, or she made Lexington history, then why is it she isn’t listed as one of the “Famous Kentuckians” on Kentucky.gov. Out of all the cateorgies:
Sports Personalities
Entertainers (I was sure to she her name on this list)
Authors & Journalists
Scientists, Inventors & Physisians
Military & Social Leaders
Political Leaders
If this Madam was SO GREAT!
Then why isn’t her name listed on the “Famous Kentuckians”.
I say we should all start a petition and get her name on the list of “Famous Kentuckians”
HO…..ray for Madam Belle Brezing!
Thanks, what a great idea. I’ll be sure to check into that and see how we can get her name on there!
Jen’s with me.
Who else is with me!
Let write the Governor and put Madam Belle Brezing on list of “Famous Kentuckians”
Hip…Hip… HO…………………ray for Madam Belle Brezing!
She’s me idol
I think what everyone has missed here is that the race was a fun way to raise money for charity. You are letting the theme overshadow that. I get so tired of how this town thinks it’s so high and mighty sometimes.
If we left it up to some people, history would be rewritten to exclude anything that the majority doesn’t approve of. Like her profession or not, Belle was a part of Lexington history that I’d never heard about until last night. The snobs who think that the only thing in Lexington are horses and UK sports should take a look around sometime.
Most people who degrade and belittle other people are missing that specific aspect in their life.
I think the bed race was an awesome event for Lexington (who struggles to do anything dpwntown for the younger crowd). I agree with the other writers Belle Brezing was a true entreprenuer and deserves as much respect and recognition as any other cheating, lying, or alcoholic businessman.
So my suggestion is before your point fingers, remember you have three fingers pointing back at yourself.
And guess what…most people indulge in the fact that beds aren’t just for sleeping!
We need to have fun with our fun history and shed light on our dark history, neither has been done in our downtown. People need to know the history of the slave auctions, and have fun with some of our historical vices, tobacco, bourbon and well, Belle. Pointing out the fun history will encourage people to go out and have a good time, not encourage prostitution.
What happens in Lex Vegas stays in Lex Vegas!
Good grief people. Remember humor? And do you honestly believe such a benign, fun event is going to influence children to become prostitutes and pimps?!?
If as a parent this mild spoof (compared with today’s real life debaucheries) concerns you so deeply –and your kids really did ask questions about the lifestyle of Ms. Brezing (which I doubt)– maybe you should’ve seized the opportunity for a “teaching moment.” Or do you just sweep these “unsavories” under the carpet and leave your children naive and vulnerable once exposed…as they eventually most certainly will be…to actual, authentic, real and often nasty humanity?
At the very least, “judge ye not……”
I was down at the event with my 18 month old, and never once did I have any concern over him becoming a pimp or prostitute… since I’ve read all of the responses I now understand that it would have been much better (in some people eyes) for us to stay home, not support our bed pushing and riding friends, not donated money to charity, not had a lot of laughs, not played with the fountain, seen happy people, or witness a well orgainized and fun event. Heck we should have just stayed home and watched TV… TV is OK… right? Nothing bad there.
Now seriously, history is something that shouldn’t be overlooked or forgotten, and the few parts of history that are troubling and can be made light of are few and far between, as far as I’m concerned as a spectator I got all I expected… a fun time with good friends for a good cause, and when the day comes when my son asks me questions about these issues, I’ll try my best to explain to him right and wrong/good and bad, and that the real world is usually in the middle most of the time.
JW - Now there’s a sensible dad.
By the way, our scandalized friends might find interesting this little tidbit concerning a recent field trip by students from Randolph College of Lynchburg,Va. (founded over 115 years ago in a world largely opposed to the “dangerous” idea of educating women…)
See:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080411/ap_on_re_us/brothel_field_trip
It is interesting how some folk have no problem wanting to restrict other peoples fun. Have an opinion about what others do and say. Why don’t you just keep on watching soaps and idol and leave young and/or active people to their fun. They will promise you that they will never make you partisipate in it..
UW makes the point I think so many of us on this thread are trying to express: live and let live. You can’t control this world and it’s actually essential to surviving it that you allow yourself a little fun and humor now and then. Who was harmed by the Belle Brezing Bed Race (other than those that took a spill)? Nobody. Looked to me like that crowd was having a ball.
So shame on these busy-body do-gooder types who are so lacking in self- esteem they have to distract themselves by pointing a finger at others. A little introspection seems appropriate here.