The number 2 comes up a lot when talking about the Kentucky Derby. The horse race covers a distance of two kilometers and is the second oldest sporting event in the country. The course record, set by the Secretariat in 1973, is just under two minutes (1:59 and 2/5 of a second). No horse since Apollo in 1882 has won the race without running at 2 years old. But the many fans who have dubbed it “the most exciting two minutes in sports” will agree that there is nothing second-rate about the Derby.
Due to the rich fields of its Bluegrass region (the same area for which the music is named), Kentucky was known throughout the 19th century for producing excellent racehorses. The idea of a race was born in 1872, when Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., grandson of William Clark, who, with Meriwether Lewis, mapped the Louisiana Purchase, visited races in England and France. Inspired by his travels, he formed the Louisville Jockey Club when he returned home to Kentucky and began raising money for a race track, soon known as Churchill Downs, outside of town.
The first race was held in 1875, making it the oldest continuous sporting event in the US. After a shaky start, the race was taken over by a union of businessmen under the direction of Colonel Matt Winn of Louisville in 1902, and quickly became the most successful thoroughbred horse breed in the United States.
The race became part of the fabric of American culture. With the Preakness Stakes in Pimlico, Maryland, and the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York, it forms the Triple Crown of U.S. Thoroughbred racing. Only 11 horses have won the Triple Crown, and none since 1978. Over the years, the Derby has spawned a number of traditions, including mint juleps, pari-mutuel betting, infield parties (where it’s so hard to see the not much else to do), throwing parties on derby day (if you can’t get into the actual race), the Chocolate Nut Pie Derby (sold by the nearby Melrose Inn), and wearing fancy hats.
The Derby was the site of the invention of “Gonzo journalism,” the influential, expressive, confrontational, and proudly counterfactual style of journalism pioneered by writer Hunter S. Thompson in a 1970 magazine article with the tongue-in-cheek title “The Kentucky Derby It’s decadent and depraved.” Above all, there’s “My Old Kentucky Home,” the Stephen Foster tune played every year by the University of Louisville’s marching band as horses parade through the stands and the proud local crowd weep and sing at the top of their voices. The Derby is so important that it even spawned the state’s largest festival, the Kentucky Derby Festival, which began in 1956 and fills the two weeks leading up to the Derby race with the Pegasus Parade, balloon races and steamboat races. and a marathon, as well as the largest fireworks show in the United States.
Visiting the Kentucky Derby requires some planning ahead. Grandstand seating requires a written request submitted several months in advance (see http://www.kentuckyderby.com for details). Field access is available for $40, as is SRO admission to “the bricks” (paddock gardens near the track). Show up early (7:30am) and bring a blanket. Wear a strange hat. On-site parking is almost nonexistent, and hotels must also be booked several months in advance. The best bet is to try and get a room at a hotel that also offers a shuttle to the Downs on Derby day.
Above all, be sure to read about the procedures. Watching thoroughbred horse races offers a timeless thrill. Whether you’re a fan of horse racing betting or just love the thrill of live horse racing, the sport is full of drama and passion, and sports news sources and advice services they can help you maximize your enjoyment of thoroughbred horse racing. clarifying the details and letting you know who the favorites are.
