The Kentucky Derby, the oldest continuously held major sporting event in the United States, is celebrating its 150th anniversary on Saturday with a new $200 million paddock and a host of safety initiatives meant to curb the horse deaths that marred last year’s event.
Revelers at Churchill Downs will be wearing colorful hats and sipping $22 mint juleps from souvenir glasses under the twin spires that stand sentry over this cathedral of horse racing. From the first Derby, won by Aristides in 1875, to this year’s race, one constant has remained.
When the announcer declares, “And they’re off,” all involved with getting the top 3-year-old thoroughbreds in the country into the starting gate, from the owners to the trainers to the grooms, hold their breath and hope their horse will cross the finish line first.
Lindsay Cutler, 38, of Salt Lake City, Utah spent four months hand beading her hat ahead of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Staff set tables overlooking the new $200 million paddock are set at Churchill Downs ahead of the crowds on Saturday.
Crowds entered the gates at Churchill Downs ahead of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
With barely a day to go, horses were bathed after exercising at Churchill Downs on Friday.
Training on Friday meant traversing a soggy track.
Track maintenance is a constant before the Derby.
The party gets started well before the main event: On Friday, a crowd watched a race for fillies, the Kentucky Oaks.
Spectators on Friday dressed mostly in shades of pink to celebrate the fillies.
And, of course, drank mint juleps.
But it’s not all hats and cocktails: Guards sat watch over the horses on Friday.
Under dreary conditions, a Derby horse named Resilience trained the morning before the race.