Every year, on the first Saturday of May, is the first race of the coveted Triple Crown: The Kentucky Derby. Held in Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, the race draws a crowd of 155,000 people, with 16 million people watching worldwide. The Run for the Roses proves to have something for everybody, as the longest continuously running sporting event, the first being in 1875.
The Triple Crown is a series of 3 horse races: The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and The Belmont Stakes. A three-year-old thoroughbred must win all three races in one racing season to win the Triple Crown. To be able to compete in the Kentucky Derby, a horse must race 35 times around the US and the world. In these 35 races, points are awarded to the horses that place in the top 4 at each race, and the 20 horses with the most points earn a spot in the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby. In the 144 years since the beginning of the Kentucky Derby, only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown, including the horse Secretariat, whose story made it to the big screen in 2010.
One big draw of ‘The most exciting two minutes in sports’ is the betting. Those with enough money can place bets on which horse will win and whether they will be under or over the record time. The ‘Kentucky Derby Superfecta’ is a bet placed on the horses that will be in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The Kentucky Derby draws 233 million dollars in bet money alone. Fitting the lucrative theme, the victors of the race win 1.86 million dollars, a six-pound gold trophy, and the symbolic rose garland.
The traditions are a big part of the Kentucky Derby, from the song “My Old Kentucky Home” to the signature drink, The Mint Julep. Before every race, along with the National Anthem, the song “My Old Kentucky Home” plays. The song was written by John Prine and has been played before the race since 1936. The Kentucky Derby is also, somewhat of a fashion event, where women wear avant-garde derby hats and the men wear bowler hats. In the heart of spring, guests wear pastel colors, and spring themes such as stripes and flowers.
Leading up to the race is Derby Festival, which is a two-week-long celebration with events including The Pegasus Parade, the hot air balloon race, the steamboat race, The Derby Marathon, and The Oaks. The Oaks is the American premier and most lucrative race for 3-year-old fillies as the highest level derby for female horses. It too has a signature drink -The Lily. Locals love the race so much that the Friday before the race is a holiday for schools in Louisville. Along with the celebration, fans can visit the Kentucky Derby History Museum, where an exhibit on Secretariat is taking place for the 50th anniversary of the horse’s win at the Derby.
This year’s race took place on May 6th. The winner of the 149th Kentucky Derby was Mage, taking home the roses and cup by tying with the record, set by Secretariat, running the 1-and-a-quarter mile track in 1 minute and 59 seconds. 5 horses were scratched, including the favorite to win, Forte, who beat Mage in the Florida Derby, but did not compete due to a bruised foot. Angel of Empire, who placed third, was the next in line to win, but Mage defied the 15-1 odds. The win means a lot for the country of Venezuela, as the first time a Venezuelan horse, trainer, and jockey have won the Derby. Javier Castellano, jockey of Mage, states, “He’s a little horse with a big heart. It was the dream trip for any jockey.”. Castellano has tried to win the race 16 times, finally winning this year.
Next year will be the 150th race, and people around the world will gather around their TV to watch the 2 minutes where history will be made, to see who will win the Race for the Roses.