The Kentucky Derby is the most recognized race in the world.  Owners, trainers, and jockeys all dream of winning the Kentucky Derby each year.  The first race was run in 1875 the same year Col. M. Lewis Clark opened Churchill Downs.  There is a statue of the first race winner stands in the garden behind the clubhouse and there are several race winners buried there.  It is possible the great horse Barbaro will join the horses in their final resting place.

The Kentucky Derby became prominent after Col. Matt Winn gained control of the track in 1902.  The track showed its first profitable year in 1903 because of Winn’s talent for promotion.  He also made many improvements and expansions on the grounds and brought the Kentucky Derby to the front of the field in thoroughbred racing.  Today the Kentucky Derby brings fans and media to the track for the festivities of Derby Week.  Millions of others watch the race on television.  It has been called the most exciting two minutes in sports.  Millions of dollars are spent at the track and millions place bets on the race around the world. 

The Kentucky Derby typically draws around 155,000 fans and is called the “Run for the Roses.”  A blanket of roses is placed on the winning horse and the purse totals close to $2 million dollars.  The race pays through fifth place and most of the horses go on to race in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes in search of a Triple Crown victory.

The Kentucky Derby came to television for the first time in 1952.  This gathered many more fans to the sport of thoroughbred racing.  There are some important milestones in the history of the Derby.  Here are a few of the historic years.

Sir Barton was the first horse to win all three races in 1919

The race was first televised in 1952

The race purse went over the $1 million mark for the first time

One horse has been disqualified because of traces of a drug were found in his blood.  Ironically, a few years later, the rule was changed and phenylbutazone is no longer illegal

Jockeys were allowed to wear corporate logos in 2004

The race started paying through fifth place in 2005

In addition the fun and excitement of the race, many traditions have played a role in the atmosphere at Churchill Downs.  The traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby is the Mint Julep.  It is served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup, but many fans sip from souvenir glasses with the names of all former winners inscribed on the side.  The average crowd at the Kentucky Derby will drink over 80,000 mint juleps!

Gambling is legal at the track and many more dollars are spent in other betting places worldwide.  Derby Day will find race fans partying in the infield.  Staying sober is not a priority and sometimes clothes are not either!  The spectators see little of the race action in the infield; they are there for the party.  In contrast, Millionaire’s Row attracts the rich and famous.  They women dress in lavish, beautiful outfits and they top it off with gorgeous wide-brimmed hats.  Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home” is played by the University of Louisville’s marching band.  The governor of Kentucky awards the garland of roses and the trophy.  The rose is the Kentucky Derby’s official flower.  A blanket of 554 roses is given to the Kentucky Derby winner each year.  The first year for the rose blanket was 1896.  Com. M. Lewis Clark routinely gave a rose to ladies at a post-Derby party and that began the tradition of the roses at the race.

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