Golf has The Masters Tournament.  Basketball has the Final Four.  Soccer has the World Cup. But there is no bigger event in racing history than the Kentucky Derby.  As a native of Kentucky, the Derby is just something I have always known about and the whole hustle and bustle around it is something I look forward to every year. But it occurred to me that not everyone–especially those who aren’t from the Bluegrass State–intrinsically knows all about it. It doesn’t matter whether you are planning on going to the Derby to watch the race or you are having your own Derby party, no other sport has so much fanfare for a race that lasts two minutes.  But oh what a two minutes it is.  Everything stops around the world when the trumpet blasts, the gate is lifted, and the announcer says “They’re off!” With just a little less than a month before the 150th Kentucky Derby, I thought I would share what I know about this iconic horse race with a little Q and A… and share a few of my favorite things that make this such a festive time of year.  

 When is the Kentucky Derby?  A lot of people may not realize that the date may change but the day does not.  It is always run on the first Saturday in May. Always. Well, there is one exception. During the early months of the worldwide pandemic, the Derby was postponed and it was run in September. But other than that, it’s always on the first Saturday in May. In sunshine, rain, freezing temperatures, and even a light snowstorm…yes, that has happened…more than once!

 What is the history of the Kentucky Derby? Who is the first Derby winner?

The first Kentucky Derby was in 1875. The same Louisvillian who started the Louisville Jockey Club, Meriwether Lewis Clark, teamed up with two distant relatives, John and Henry Churchill, and patterned this iconic horse race after an English race called the Epsom Derby. Oliver Lewis rode Aristides 1.5 miles (now it’s a mile and a quarter), in a field of 15 horses, in front of an estimated 10,000 people in the inaugural Derby. 

Why is the Kentucky Derby so famous?

That’s an easy one.  It is the longest continually held sporting event in America and notably one of the most prestigious horse races in the world.  Held at the legendary Churchill Downs, known for its twin spires, and also called “The Run for the Roses” because the winning horse is draped with a blanket of exactly 554 red roses. The race is called the “most exciting two minutes in sports” and it is always preceded with a two-week-long celebration called the Kentucky Derby festival. The Derby is the most-watched and most-attended horse race in the US, and this year marks the 150th running of the race. 

What are the traditions of the Kentucky Derby?

Other than the race itself, there are a few traditions that play an important role in making the Kentucky Derby so spectacular.  The first is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby: the mint julep.  It’s a frosty iced drink mixing bourbon, mint and a simple syrup.  Historically, the mint julep is served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup and most Kentuckians own at least one—maybe more!  At Churchill Downs and at many a Derby party, the mint julep is served in a souvenir glass, first offered at the track in 1939. Burgoo, a thick beef stew made with chicken, beef, and a variety of vegetables,is a popular traditional food found at the track. The “infield” is an infamous tradition where spectators watch from inside the track and it’s often the place where anything goes.  In stark contrast, another tradition is “Millionaire’s Row,” which is where the most expensive box seats can be found and often a plethora of the “rich and famous” decked out in elegant attire.  Another tradition of the Derby is the lavishly accessorized, larger-than-life, elaborate hats, which I will discuss a bit later.  A bugle Call to the Post, and the traditional rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home” performed by the nearby University of Louisville Marching Band begin each Derby. 

What kind of hats do women wear to the Kentucky Derby?

There is no right or wrong answer here…just as long as you are wearing a hat!  Men wear them, too. The Derby is known for its sea of colorful, elaborate, lavishly decorated hats. There are many stories about how the hats became such a focal point but my favorite is that wearing a hat was a symbol of good luck and many people thought the bigger the hat, the bigger the luck.  Derby hats are so famous that entire stores are dedicated to them, and entire books, magazines, and newspapers feature them as well.  

What to wear to the Kentucky Derby?

Again, anything goes and it largely depends on where you are seated.  The more expensive the seat, the more expensive the outfit. Derby attire typically consists of bold patterns and colors. Lots of pastels, pinks, yellows, white, baby blue.  Many people think that the Derby attire was first fashioned after the spring flowers in bloom…if you’ve ever been to the Derby or seen it on television, you would probably agree that is a good assumption.  What not to wear to the Derby? While there are no hard and fast rules, one should generally not wear dark, winter colors like black or brown–and neutrals are definitely a no-no unless they are perked up with a mile-high hat of many colors. And again, the outfit is really not as important as the hat!

Whether you are at Churchill Downs, attending or hosting a Derby party, or just watching it on t.v.--make a day of it.  Afterall, it is the biggest holiday in the Bluegrass.