The Kentucky Derby is one of the most exciting events of the year! Its the first leg of the Triple Crown and takes place on the first Saturday in May! Louisville, Kentucky host thousands of people every year at Churchill Downs to watch the thrilling race, place bets and the unbeatable atmosphere.
We help our clients host the most amazing "Kentucky Derby" parties year round, but this week, we wanted to explain why many of these derby traditions are so popular!
It all started in the late 19th century, thanks to Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., who was inspired by horse races he saw in Europe. He founded the Louisville Jockey Club, which later became Churchill Downs, and the first race was held in 1875.
Since then, the Kentucky Derby has become a global phenomenon, attracting celebrities and fans from all over. The event is full of traditions, from fancy attire to signature cocktails. Derby Weekend is a month-long celebration in Louisville, with events like fireworks, air shows, and parades alongside the main race.
As we get ready for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, we're taking a closer look at some of the event's most beloved traditions. Get ready to enjoy all the excitement and history of this legendary event!
-Mint Julep
"The Mint Julep has probably been with us since the very first Kentucky Derby" says Chris Goodlett, senior curator of collections at the Kentucky Derby Meseum, which is adjacent to the Churchhill Downs racetrack.
Juleps – MINT and SUGAR stirred with CRUSHED ICE and spirits like BOURBON and RUM – were a staple of genteel society below the Mason-Dixon line since the early 1800s, guzzled by Virginian farmers in the morning as a RESTORATIVE.
The link between juleps and the racetrack dates back to at least the 1820s, when references appear to STERLING SILVER julep cups being awarded as TROPHIES to first-place jockeys. "It ties together two of Kentucky's most well-known industries: HORSE RACING and BOURBON," says Goodlett.
-The Running of the Roses
The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses", because a lush blanket of 554 RED ROSES is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year.
The tradition originated in 1883 when New York City socialite E. Berry Wall presented roses to ladies at a post-Derby party. The Churchill Downs founder and president, Col. M. Lewis Clark, attended that event. This gesture is believed to have led Clark to the idea of making the ROSE the race's official flower.
However, it was not until 1896 that any recorded account referred to draping roses on the Derby winner. The Governor of Kentucky and the Chairman of Churchill Downs Incorporated present the GARLAND and the Kentucky Derby Trophy to the winner.
Pop vocalist Dan Fogelberg composed the song "Run for the Roses", released in time for the 1980 running of the race.
-The Hats
According to Jessica Whitehead, curator of collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, the Derby’s fashion element goes back to early Derby celebrations. It is drawn upon British and French racing traditions at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris and Epsom Downs in Surrey, England.
“The Kentucky Derby, which was patterned after the Epsom Derby, owes many of its rules and pastimes to its English predecessor,” said Whitehead.
Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., THE MAN that helped to establish the Derby and founded Churchill Downs, and his wife, Mary, traveled to England and France in the years right before the 1875 inaugural Kentucky Derby. They noticed how onlookers at these racing events were well-dressed.
Hot Air Balloons and Fireworks
The Kentucky Derby is more than just a single Saturday in May - it's a whole month of festivities leading up to the big day! The highlight of the pre-Derby celebrations has to be the Great Balloon Race during the Derby Festival weekend. It's truly a sight to behold, watching the sky fill up with colorful hot-air balloons. It's definitely a must-see event for everyone in the area!
Derby month begins with a bang, literally! Thunder over Louisville is the largest firework show in North America.
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