Everything you wanted to know about The Kentucky Derby!
When was the First Derby?
It’s been held every year since 1875. The second Saturday in May has been its home since 1946.
When is the post time for the 2023 Derby?
6:57 pm the horses will burst from the starting gate!
Where is the Derby held?
Louisville, Kentucky is the home of the race. Head to Churchill Downs and join the other mad crush of people there! The expected crowd should be close to 150,000 spectators, which makes it one of the most attended sporting events in the world!
(Andy Lyons | Getty Images)
What’s the deal with the hats?
In 1875, Col. Meriwether Clark Jr., grandson to the famous explorer, William Clark, is the founder of the Derby. To make it similar to horse races in England, where a dress code was required, men and women were encouraged to dress appropriately. And that meant to don hats!
When the first race was televised in 1952 by CBS, the show and fashion with it were a hit.
Milliners in Louisville are busy this time of year. But don’t fret. The Hat Girls will take care of all your head wear needs!
#TheHatGirls have been named a Featured Milliner of Kentucky Derby 149 ® 👒🌹🏇🏻 We are honored to partner with the @KentuckyDerby and can’t wait to see what the future holds 🤩https://t.co/a9k8oz9yCF
— The Hat Girls | Rachel & Kate 👒 (@TheHatGirls) February 24, 2023
What channel will you find the Derby?
NBC broadcasts the “Run for the Roses” from 2:30 PM until 7:30 PM.
What is the official Drink of the Derby?
Mint Juleps are the drink of choice and has been one of Kentucky’s gifts to the US since the 1700’s. For roughly a century it has been the drink of choice a the Derby. And Washington, DC can thank Senator Henry Clay for introducing the drink to the nation’s capital!
The mint julep is simple. Bourbon, simple bar syrup, crushed ice and of course…mint leaves!
Old Forester is the official bourbon at the Derby, but choose your fave! Woodford Reserve, Four Roses Small Batch, Jack Daniels are all good choices, too!
Recipe:
3 ounces of your bourbon, .5 to .75 ounces of the sugar syrup, 8-10 mint leaves, crushed ice, 3 sprigs of mint.
Muddle the leaves at the bottom of a glass with the syrup. Use anything that can lightly crush the leaves and syrup. Add your bourbon and crushed ice. Top with your sprigs and Viola!
Non-Alcoholic recipe:
3-5 ounces of unsweetened tea, syrup, mint leaves, ice and sprigs.
Follow the same, only add your unsweetened tea!
How does a horse make it to the Derby?
Horses enter races called “Prep Races” from December to April, just before the May event. In these races the horses earn points. The top 20 point earners find their way to Louisville.
How long is the race?
The race is a mile and a quarter long. It could take only two minutes for the race, but the pre and post events make the entire event about one hour and a half! The race used to be one and a half miles but was changed in the early 1900’s.
The day has come…
HAPPY DERBY DAY 🌹
Meet the field in the Run for the Roses here: https://t.co/1q3JQq25rw pic.twitter.com/tgSTHOlORI
— America'sBestRacing (@ABRLive) May 6, 2023
What is the Triple Crown?
The triple crown is a series of three horse races. They consist of first the Kentucky Derby. Then the trainers/owners/horses can head to Baltimore for the Preakness two weeks later. Finally, the last race is held in New York, as The Belmont Stakes closes out the Triple Crown.
To win these three races is extremely difficult! They are all different in terms of their length. The two most recent winners were American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018). The most famous winner was Secretariat in 1973!
Here’s is Secretariat’s Kentucky Derby win!
Or watch it here!
On this date in 1973, Secretariat wins the Kentucky Derby in a record time of 1:59.4, a record that still stands today.
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) May 5, 2023
Heard there were Horse Deaths leading up to the Derby?
Sadly, there have been four horse deaths this year in the two weeks leading up to the event. Take Charge Briana and Wild On Ice were two horses that were euthanized after suffering significant injuries during their training.
Two other horses, Parent’s Pride and Chasing Artie, have died after odd circumstances and are still being investigated. The trainer of these two horses, Saffie Joseph, has been suspended from the race and any horses he trained cannot run in today’s race!
What is meant by the “team?”
The horse is just one of the important members of the team. You have the owner, trainer and jockey. These men and women work tirelessly for
Why three years? The horse must be three years old to race in the Derby.
Has there ever been a female horse to win the Derby?
Yes, indeed. But only three in the 144 races! Lucas Aulbach has a great story on the history of fillies in the Kentucky Derby. Please read his piece here!
Enjoy the race! Weather looks amazing all day! 76 degrees and a bit cloudy, but perfect for the 19 horses entered this year!
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