Good Saturday, May 2nd, 2015 be one of the biggest betting days ever in sports? It just might when we get to watch the Kentucky Derby during the day, and then the Mayweather Pacquiao fight later on at night. To prep you for the Kentucky Derby we will go over some of the rules to follow when attending the Kentucky Derby. Although the Kentucky Derby is a great event, it’s also one that comes with a lot of rules to make sure everyone stays as safe, happy, and healthy as possible. Before you head down to Churchill Downs, the following are just some of the rules to keep in mind to ensure you avoid any potential problems.
Know what you can bring
There’s quite a few items you’re allowed to bring, but many of them have restrictions attached. For example, you can bring a purse, but it has to be smaller than 12”, and you can bring sunscreen, but it can only be in plastic containers. Chairs are allowed only at Gate 3, and blankets are allowed only at Gates 1 and 3. Review the list to ensure everything you’re bringing will get the green light.
Know what you can’t bring
Just like there’s a list of things you can bring, there’s a list of things you can’t. For example, you can’t bring coolers, cans, thermoses, umbrellas, or backpacks. Check out the list of banned items on the official site.
Adhere to the dress code
The ladies and men in attendance typically sport their best looks for Derby day, but those who are going to be on the infield area tend to dress much more casual. In certain areas, such as Millionaire’s Row, Aristides Room, and the Turf Club, there is a strict dress code that involves no denim, shorts, sneakers, and various other pieces of casual clothing. Read the restrictions for what you can and cannot wear before you pack your bags.
Know the admission rules
To make sure everything stays organized, there’s quite a few rules as far as where you can enter. For example, if you’re going to be spending the day on the infield, you’ll have to enter via Gates 1 or 3, but if you have reserved clubhouse seating, you’ll enter at Gates 10 or 17. Know ahead of time where you’re going to be sitting, and read the site so you’ll know where you’re supposed to enter. Gates open at Churchill Downs at 8am with the post time for the Kentucky Derby at 6:24pm.
The Kentucky Derby may be the reason that everyone will gather at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2015, but there are also plenty of other events to attend. In addition to private parties held in smaller settings, the following are the four primary official Kentucky Derby events taking place during and around that weekend.
Taste of Derby
On April 30, 2015, the sixth annual Taste of Derby will take place at the North Wing Lobby of the Kentucky Exposition Center from 7pm to 11:30pm. The night is all about showcasing fabulous food and wine from horse racing destinations across the United States, such as Houston, New York, and New Orleans, all in an effort to raise funds for hunger relief organizations.
Unbridled Eve Gala
The Unbridled Eve Gala will take place on May 1, 2015 in the Grant Ballroom at the Galt House Hotel at 7pm. Dance only admittance starts at 10pm. It’s a black-tie optional event. Ticket and tables are available, and you can also make a donation to the Unbridled Charitable Foundation.
Hermitage Grand Gala
Also on May 1, 2015 is the Hermitage Grand Gala, which will take place at Hermitage Farm in Goshen. Celebrities to perform at the event are Julie Atlas, Ne-Yo, DJ Cassidy, and Darius Rucker. Proceeds from ticket and table sales will go to benefit The University of Louisville Autism Center, Cardinal Covenant Scholarship at the University of Louisville, Kosair Children’s Hospital through the Children’s Hospital Foundation, The West End School, and the Kentucky School of Art at Spalding University.
Barnstable Brown Party
Another event to take place on May 1, 2015 is the Barnstable Brown Party at the home of Patricia Barnstable Brown in Louisville. The black-tie affair is known to draw in celebrities as performers as well as guests. Those who were on the guest list for the 2014 event included Kings of Leon, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Salt-n-Pepa, Lee Ann Womack, and Boyz II Men. Proceeds will benefit the University of Kentucky’s Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center.
With all the fabulous official Kentucky Derby Events, it can be almost impossible to decide which one to attend so the best thing to do is grab a drink and see where the weekend takes you.
On May 17, 1875, the first Kentucky Derby took place, setting the line for over a hundred more years of them to follow with an equal amount of winners. The first horse ever to cross the finish line and make history was one by the name of Aristides. Foaled in 1872, the chestnut colt, who was owned by H.P. McGrath, won with a time of 2:37 3/4 in front of a crowd of 10,000. He earned a purse of $2,850.
Aristides was sired by Leamington (bred in England), while his dam was Sarong. His grandsire was Faugh-a-Ballagh (who was foaled in Ireland), and his damsire was Lexington.
Both the trainer and the jockey of Aristides were African-American: Ansel Williamson as the trainer, and Oliver Lewis as the jockey. Williamson, who was a trainer and breeder, had much success working with horses, including with Tom Bowling, who had a record of 14 wins out of the 17 races he ran. Lewis was only 19-years-old when he won the Derby, and although he was never in another Kentucky Derby, he was still successful the rest of his life.
In 1874 when Aristides was 2-years-old, he had nine starts and finished first in three of them as well as second in another three, including at the Thespian Stakes. In 1875, he not only won the Kentucky Derby, but also the Jerome Stakes, Withers Stakes, and Breckenridge Stakes. He came in second at the Ocean Hotel Stakes and Belmont Stakes and finished third at the Travers Stakes. That year netted him $15,700 and making it his biggest winning year. The following year, he had two starts and finished first in both of them. In 1878 when he was 6, he had one start and didn’t place. All together in his career, he had 21 starts, finished first in 9 of them, finished second in 5 of them, and finished third in 1 of them.
To honor the horse who won the first Kentucky Derby, there’s a lifesize statue bearing his likeness at the Chuchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.
If you’ve ever been to the Kentucky Derby or watched it on TV, you’ll notice a common theme – red roses. Even their logo features a red rose at its center. So how exactly did this beautiful flower become a symbol of one of the greatest horse racing events in the world?
It’s said that it all started because of a party back in the 19th century. Reportedly, E. Berry Wall, a gamester and socialite out of New York, hosted a party in Louisville after the Kentucky Derby and gave all the ladies roses. The founder of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, Col. M. Lewis Clark, liked the idea and the attention that it brought so much that he incorporated the rose the following year into the 1884 Kentucky Derby and made it the official flower, and the rest is history.
Over the years, roses have been incorporated more and more into the Kentucky Derby. In 1896, when the horse, Ben Brush, won the Kentucky Derby, he was outfitted with a collar of pink and white roses, and eventually a horseshoe shaped arrangement became the standard way to honor the horses who won the race. A New York sports columnist by the name of Bill Corum referred to the race in 1925 as the “Run for the Roses” and it’s stuck ever since.
The first instance of the Garland of Roses, as it’s referred to today, was in 1932 when Samuel Culbertson, an official at Churchill Downs, requested that Grace Walker, the owner of a flower shop in Louisville, make a new design. She came up with the design, stitched hundreds of red roses onto a blanket, and mixed in greenery, and it was worn by the Kentucky Derby winner that year – Burgoo King. Her daughter eventually took over the flower shop after her mom retired, and then later sold the flower shop in 1984. The Kroger Co. is the official florist of the Kentucky Derby, and many fans of the Kentucky Derby turn out each year to watch the garland being made.
The garland measures 22 inches wide, 122 inches long, and weighs 40+ pounds. The green moiré bengaline lining has the Churchill Downs’ event mark on one end and the Commonwealth of Kentucky seal on the other. There are 554 Freedom roses put into individual vials of water and placed on a layer of thornless sprengeri. Camellia, Boxwood, and Coffee leaves outline the roses, and ribbons are added. At the center is a crown of roses, one for each horse in the Kentucky Derby, and a special rose is added at the center of that arrangement.
While the winning horse gets adored with the Garland of Roses, the jockey receives the Jockey’s Bouquet, which consists of 60 long stemmed roses. There has only been 1 Kentucky Derby winner over the past 30 years that has not received roses.
Yes, the Kentucky Derby is about the horses, but it’s also about so much more than that, such as fashion. Since the first race on May 17, 1875, fashion has been a major focus for both men and women. Before you head out to the Kentucky Derby ladies, keep in mind the following tips while you’re packing your bags.
Ring in spring
The color scheme at the Kentucky Derby is primarily pastels. You’ll find ladies in ensembles that are of pale yellow, blue, lavender, or pink hues. Although dresses are the more popular option for the day, suits and separates are also an option.
Let your hat be your statement piece
Hats are everything at the Kentucky Derby. While you usually wouldn’t see a large hat while you’re walking down the street in your hometown, they’re on all the ladies at the Kentucky Derby, so make sure to bring your favorite with you for the occasion.
Wear comfortable fabrics
The 2015 Kentucky Derby takes place on May 2, and while the weather is likely to shift a bit before then, it’s predicted that it’s going to be 68 degrees. This means that the more comfortable and breathable the fabrics, the better, so your beautiful outfit doesn’t feel heavy and make you sweat profusely.
Keep it classy
The Kentucky Derby is not the time or place to sport nightclub apparel or something you would wear to the beach. There are restrictions as to what you can wear, especially depending on what area you’ll be in, so make sure to check out the dress code before you head over.
Pack comfortable shoes
Yes, heels are fashionable and look great with a dress, but after standing for a good portion of the day, your feet aren’t going to feel so wonderful. Your best bet is to bring comfortable shoes to change into just in case, especially if you’re going to have to walk back to the car.
If you need inspiration for what to wear, there are plenty of photos on the Internet that showcase past Kentucky Derby attendees.
The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs has been around since the 19th century, and while many watch the event either in person or from a television, not all are aware of how the race started. Interested? Keep reading for a brief history of how “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” got its start.
Like many great things, the Kentucky Derby started as a hope and an idea, one that a 26-year-old Col. M. Lewis Clark had while traveling in Europe in 1872. After meeting with several of those in the industry, such as Vicompte Darn, the Vice President of the French Jockey Club, he brought his dream back to the states. Horses were already big in Kentucky, and what better place to make the base for the new track than in Louisville?
To raise funds, he sold off memberships to the track at $100 a piece. After selling 320 of them, his results were $32,000 and he was able to get his track underway. Clark leased land from his two uncles – Henry and John Churchill – and the 80 acres became the site of Churchill Downs.
On May 17, 1875, the track opened. The Kentucky Derby – along with the Clark Handicap and the Kentucky Oaks – was one of three inaugural races that were an homage to three races Clark saw in England, and they’ve been a part of Churchill Downs ever since. The first race was, indeed, a momentous occasion in and of itself. Aristides, who was a 3-year-old chestnut colt owned by H.P. McGrath, became the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby, in huge part thanks to his two African-American trainers and riders – Ansel Williamson as the trainer, and Oliver Lewis as the jockey. Now that you know how did the Kentucky Derby start you should click here for information on how to bet on the Kentucky Derby online for the upcoming Kentucky Derby 2015 racing event.
Over 10,000 people watched Aristides beat out 14 other horses during the first Kentucky Derby as they ran around the then 1.5 mile track. The track was later shortened in 1896 to 1.25 miles. The race has come a long way since then. Today, more than 100,000 people attend the Kentucky Derby every year, and in 2012 alone, there were 165,307 in attendance, more than in any year before. Clearly, the Kentucky Derby is growing in size year after year as we make our way towards Kentucky Derby 2015.
Chances are you’ve heard the song, “My Old Kentucky Home,” at some point, especially if you live in the state considering it’s the official song of Kentucky. The song’s name even appears on the state’s quarter. It’s performed at the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs every year by the University of Louisville Marching Band as the horses make their way onto the track. Everyone seems to know the words as they are today, but there’s actually some words missing from the original version.
The song was originally written in 1853 by songwriter, Stephen Foster, and was inspired by the famous anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was published in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The original name of the song is said to be “Poor Uncle Tom, Good Night.”
It’s believed that the song became a part of the long list of traditions at the Kentucky Derby in 1921, and there’s a mention in the May 8, 1921 edition of the Louisville Courier-Journal that states, “To the strains of ‘My Old Kentucky Home,’ Kentuckians gave vent their delight. For Kentucky triumphed in the Derby.” reportedly in a story that referenced the horse, Behave Yourself. The horse won the 47th Kentucky Derby that same year and was Kentucky owned and bred. No one is quite sure when it was first played as the horses were coming onto the track, but many believe it was in 1929.
In 1986, a law was passed by the Kentucky General Assembly that removed the words “darkies” and “darky” and instead used the word “people.” Today, the “My Old Kentucky Home” is often sung in a shortened version which you can listen to here.
Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, has a long and rich history that dates back over 100 years. Before you head to the track to watch the race in person or you tune in on TV, keep reading for just a short brief of the history of Churchill Downs so you’ll know how the historic racetrack came to be.
The vision
During 1872, Col. M. Lewis Clark, who was just 26-years-old at the time, got the idea for a Louisville Jockey Club, so he did his research by visiting with those already prominent in the industry, and his vision started to take shape. Once he returned, he started working on establishing the track that would eventually be known as Churchill Downs in an area that already had a love of horses – Louisville, Kentucky.
The initial funding
There were some in 1874 who took issue with the idea of the track because another one by the Falls City Racing Association had already been proposed. However, Clark and his group powered through with plans. In order to raise money to build the track, Clark sold 320 memberships to the track at $100 each which gave him $32,000 to work with. He was able to lease 80 acres of land from his uncles – Henry and John Churchill – where he would set up what today is one of the best horse tracks in the world.
The opening
The track officially opened on May 17, 1875 to a crowd of almost 10,000 people. The Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, and the Clark Handicap actually started in 1875 as the inaugural race meet at Churchill Downs. All were designed after three major races in England and still continue today. There were four races on opening day, one of which was the Kentucky Derby, and the first ever winner was a 3-year-old chestnut colt named Aristides who was owned by H.P. McGrath and beat out 14 other horses for the title. The horse was trained and ridden by two African-Americans: Ansel Williamson as the trainer, and Oliver Lewis as the jockey. The course initially started as 1.5 miles, but was shorted in 1896 to 1.25 miles. It wasn’t until 1952 that the Kentucky Derby was televised for the first time.
Financial issues
Churchill Downs faced some financial issues over the years which resulted in several shifts in management as well as having renovations done to try to draw in more crowds. It wasn’t until 1903 when the track started to make a profit for the first time since its opening 28-years before. The Louisville Racing Association was formed in 1907 in an effort to establish a more structured way of doing things by incorporating policies and setting up race dates. The holding company, the Kentucky Jockey Club, was formed later on in 1919.
The renovations
There have been an exorbitant amount of renovations done over the years, including a $25 million renovation in the 1980s that involved installing a $3.2 million Matt Winn Turf Course among other changes and improvements. It was those changes that brought the Breeders’ Cup to the track not once or twice, but six times. Starting in 2002, more renovations started with improvements that included more luxury areas, box seats, and meeting areas, a new media center, and new dining and entertainment areas in addition to several other major changes.
The Kentucky Derby betting odds at Churchill Downs have never been postponed or canceled due to inclement weather, so every year you’ll have a chance to see “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” while you drink a mint julep and wait for the winner to have the garland of 554 roses draped over it. It’s truly an amazing event.
Have you ever wondered what all the fuss is with the Kentucky Derby and wanted to bet yourself but didn’t know where to begin? Do you find yourself and co-workers talking about the big race and all the celebrities in attendance the weekend after? Why not add to the conversation with news of your big long-shot win from the weekend.
When first looking into the options for Kentucky Derby online betting, it is common to be a little overwhelmed. Horse racing wagering has a language all its own, and a beginner might think that it will take too long to learn everything that goes into a smart wager. The good news, however, is that it actually doesn’t take long at all. If you want to be ready to do some online betting for the Kentucky Derby 2015, simply do a little reading ahead of time and you should have no trouble getting in on the action.
The first thing you should do is just read a horse wagering guide that covers the basic terms and bits of information that you will need to know. It isn’t important, or even helpful, to get into the complex or advanced wagering techniques at first. Simply learn the rules of the game and how to read a wagering form, and you will be ready for Kentucky Derby online betting before you know it. Of course, you don’t have to stop with Kentucky Derby 2015, as you can take what you learned on to the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes during the rest of the Triple Crown series.
The only way to get experience with Kentucky Derby online betting is to try it out for yourself after doing a little bit of homework on what is involved. There are plenty of sources available online today so you shouldn’t have any trouble learning about the horses or the jockeys involved in the race. Pick out your Kentucky Derby favorites and get ready for another exciting Run for the Roses!
Horse racing has a dedicated following of supporters – those who purely love the sport, as well as those who love the wagering element – but it is not on the same level as other major sports like baseball or football. However, each spring, the chase for the Triple Crown captures attention and the running of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes becomes a big event. Media coverage for horse racing peaks each year at the Triple Crown stops, so clearly the pursuit of this elusive title is something that draws plenty of interest.
Beyond the simple beauty and power of horse racing, the sheer difficulty of this quest is what makes it so intriguing to watch. No horse has won the Triple Crown since 1978, so it will be a momentous occasion should it happen again. Each year there are winners of the championships in each of the major sports, but no horse has been a Triple Crown winner in more than 30 years. That alone makes it an event worth watching.
Beginning with the Kentucky Derby 2015, the Triple Crown chase will be on once again. Immediately, the chase will be down to just one horse, as only the Kentucky Derby champion will have the opportunity to claim the prize. If that horse is able to successfully grab the Preakness Stakes, the attention will greatly increase as the horse heads to the Belmont Stakes for the final leg. Several horses in recent years have managed to secure the first two wins, only to fall short in New York. If the winner of the Kentucky Derby 2015 is able to make it all the way through and take the Triple Crown, it will surely be one of the highlights of the sports year.
