The Kentucky Derby was run today and there are many things about it that are interesting and important. California Chrome won the race. While the Derby is over, it is the history of the race that is important.

The Derby is a race for three-year-old thoroughbreds that is held every year. The race is one and a quarter miles. It is known as “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” because the race lasts about that approximately two minutes.

As a native Kentuckian, the Derby and horse racing is very important to me. Childhood memories of eating burgoo and making my own Derby hat are always brought to mind for the first weekend in May. While I know how important the Derby is for those in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, it is equally as interesting for those across the nation and the world.

Horses in the Derby are not only from Kentucky or the United States, there are horses from other nations that run for the roses. In 2007, the Queen of England came all the way to Kentucky to watch her horse run. The race has brought the Queen to Kentucky four times in the history of the race.

The Kentucky Derby is very traditional and special. There are things about it that are the same every year. Between the state song and the mint julep, every aspect of the Derby has a place. Here are ten interesting facts about The Kentucky Derby.

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10. ”My Old Kentucky Home” is sung before the big race

For an average Kentuckian, “My Old Kentucky Home” could bring tears, pride and memories of wonderful times. For those on the outside, “My Old Kentucky Home” is simply a song. Stephen Foster wrote the lyrics to the song while visiting his cousin in Bardstown, Kentucky.

At the Derby, the University of Louisville Marching Band plays the song while the lyrics flash on the screens. Drunken people in the infield as well as those in the grand stands sing along to the traditional song.

While the song tells the story of a day on a slave plantation, it is Kentucky’s official song. Universities across the commonwealth play it before every basketball and football game. Children learn it in elementary school. It is an important song to Kentuckians and to the history of the Derby.

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9. The winning horse gets draped in roses

It seems rather obvious that the horses would be draped in roses in the “run for the roses” but these roses are special. Each winning horse is draped in roses. The current governor, Steve gives them the award while the jockey gets a trophy.

The roses are put together by Kroger and weigh about 40 pounds. While the Derby began in the 1800s, the red rose didn’t become the official flower of the Derby until 1904. In 1932, the first official garland of roses was designed. It is always designed the day before the Derby.

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8. The traditional drink is the Mint Julep

A Derby party isn’t complete without a mint julep. The drink, which is made with mint, bourbon and sugar, is a tradition for the Derby. And for a Kentuckian, you can make them incorrectly.

The mint julep dates back to the 19th century and it continues to be made the same way. No blenders or powdered mixes are acceptable. It is an easy to make and delicious cocktail. There are no twists acceptable for any Kentuckian. The julep is meant to be pure and the same. A great recipe can be found here. While it is best to use Woodford Reserve, most bourbons are acceptable.

The Derby takes the julep so seriously that there is an option to buy a $1000 mint julep and even a $2000 one. The Woodford Reserve logo is place on a sterling silver glass to serve the $1000 one. The $2000 is sterling silver but plated in 24 karat gold. Each of the two is made with double the ingredients and uses the richest bourbon.

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7. There is a race for the female horses too

The day before the Derby, there is The Oaks. The Oaks is for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. The winner of that race is given lilies, giving the race the name “Lilies for the Fillies. “

A filly is a young female horse. While they are allowed into the Derby, normally the female

The first Oaks race was in 1975. The winner for 2014 was Untapable, who was ridden by Rosie Napravnik. Napravnik is also a jockey in the Derby this year. If she were to win this year, she would be the first female jockey to win the Derby.

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6. Celebrities attend

While Kentucky isn’t exactly party central for celebrities, the Derby brings them to the commonwealth. Celebrities can’t wait to bet on their favorite horses and cheer in the grand stands.

Before the Derby, there is an elite party for the brightest of stars. It is the Barnstable Brown party. For the 2014 party, the gala brought stars like Miranda Lambert and Kris Humphries. Lambert performed.

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5. It is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky

Louis-ville, Loueville, Looaville, Looeyville, Looavul, Luhvul; however you pronounce it, the Derby is held in Louisville, Kentucky. Specifically, it is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Churchill Downs is one of the many horseracing locations in Kentucky. There is also Keeneland, which is located in Lexington. Churchill Downs officially opened in 1875 and was named after the men whose land the racetrack is built on.

Churchill Downs is the official Derby location and the race has never been held anywhere else. It is one of the most popular horse racing tracks and one of the most important.

Louisville not only has the bragging rights to the Derby but there are also many important people who were born there. Tom Cruise, Maggie Lawson, Jennifer Lawrence and Muhammad Ali were all born in Louisville.

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4. It is the first leg in the triple crown

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg in the triple crown. This means that there are three major horse races for thoroughbred. There is the Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. If a horse wins all three, they become a triple crown winner.

There have been 11 winners in the history of the triple crown. One memorable winner is Secretariat, a horse who was such an inspiration that Disney made a movie about him. The most recent triple crown winner was in 1978 but in 2012, I’ll Have Another almost won. He was scratched from the Belmont Stakes due to tendonitis.

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3. Hats are a big deal

As sad as it is, one major aspect of the derby is what people wear on their heads. Derby hats are a big deal. The crazier the hat, the better. The price of derby hats can range from $10-$20 all the way up to hundreds of dollars for the most glamorous of hats.

Derby hats are very unique in that you can either buy one from a hat shop or store or you can even make one of your own. They can come in any shape or size. There are tall hats, flowered hats and really, really ugly ones.
Wearing a Derby hat is supposed to be good luck. Typically the hats are wide brimmed and colorful with big flowers. They are supposed to be southern belle inspired.


Image Courtesy of Amazon.

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2. The Derby has a rich history

The Derby has a very rich history. The first race was in 1875 and it has continued all the way until today. The Derby was started due to Meriwether Clark, Jr. After Clark visited Europe and saw the horse racing, he came back to Kentucky and created the Louisville Jockey Club to raise money to build a racetrack. He then bought land from the Churchill brothers, John and Henry.

In 1925, the Derby was broadcasted live on the radio for the first time. In 1949, it was on television for the first time. In 1952, it was the first time that there was national coverage.

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1. There are 19 horses in this year’s race

There are 19 horses running this year. While there were originally 21 running, two horses were scratched, meaning that they were pulled from the race. There is one female jockey, Rosie Napranik, who is running on Vicar’s In Trouble who is in the first post.

In horse racing, it is better to be a higher number on the post. When a horse is on the outside of the rest, it has the chance to go around while the ones closest to the rail are trapped inside and have trouble getting loose to run ahead.

The favorite to win was California Chrome who has a 2-1 odds of winning the race. He won the race. Vicar's in Trouble was in last place.