This Saturday marks the kickoff to the 137th Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby, which always falls on the first Saturday in May, takes place at Churchill Downs race track in Louisville, Kentucky. The Derby is known in the United States as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” and I’m here to tell you why….
- It’s the 1st race in the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. It is followed each year by the Preakness Stakes (Baltimore, MD) and the Belmont Stakes (Elmont, NY). A horse must win each of these races to be named a Triple Crown winner. There have only been 11 Triple Crown winners since 1919, and the most recent one was Affirmed in 1978.
- No girls allowed. The Derby is for male horses only (colts). Fillies (female horses under 4 years old) run in what’s called the Oaks Stakes, also at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The Oaks race is always the day before the Derby and it is the first leg of the Triple Tiara, the Triple Crown equivalent for fillies.
- What child labor laws? All horses that run in the Triple Crown have to be at least 3 years old, making horses the youngest athletes to compete in sports.
- It’s about more than just the horses. As many of you know, the Kentucky Derby is a chance for the attendees to get dressed to the nines! One of the main things people associate with the Kentucky Derby are women dressed up and wearing big fancy Southern-Belle inspired hats. And trust me, the hat industry is HUGE this time of year!
- You’ve never tried a Mint Julep? The Mint Julep, a type of alcoholic mixed drink, is another tradition associated with the Derby each year. The iced drink consists of Bourbon, mint, sugar syrup and water, and is garnished with a mint leaf. Each year almost 120,000 mint juleps are made inside Churchill Downs during the Oaks and Derby race weekend, and they’re served in special Kentucky Derby collectible glasses.
- Millionaire’s Row. The Kentucky Derby has always had a special appeal to celebrities and elite alike. The area of the grandstands where most of them preside during that first Saturday in May, designated “Millionaire’s Row,” usually overflows with U.S. Presidents, athletes, movie stars, directors, and music industry stars (many of whom own horses).
- It’s a 2-week long party! The Kentucky Derby Festival is more than just the 2 minutes when the horses run. It kicks off this Saturday with “Thunder Over Louisville,” the annual firework and airshow along the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville. “Thunder,” as it’s known, began in 1990 and has an average attendance each year of 625,000 since 1997. Other events throughout the 2 weeks leading up to the Derby include a balloon race, a steamboat race, a parade, and a marathon.
- If you watch from the Infield, you may never see any horses. If you can’t afford a ticket in Millionaire’s Row, an unlimited number of tickets are available each year for the infield in Churchill Downs. However, there are no seats in the infield, and very few spots available to see the actual race from there. The infield always promises to be the site for the biggest Derby party in the country, with tens of thousands of horse racing fans packing their coolers and heading out to this huge party in the middle of Churchill Downs. The alcohol will flow and a good time will be had by all.
So there you have it, my rundown of the most important things you need to know to celebrate the 137th Kentucky Derby this year! Now it’s up to you to pick your favorite horse and tune in Saturday, May 7th on NBC (coverage starts at 5pm, post time is set at approx. 6:15 pm).
Happy Betting,
Riddler
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