5 Kentucky Derby Facts That You Didn’t Know
The first Saturday in May is here once again and the world’s attention will be captured by “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports”.
The Kentucky Derby is the longest running sporting event in the United States (debuting in 1875) and it is the first leg of the coveted American Triple Crown in horse racing. Over 170,000 people pack into Churchill Downs to attend this event, which is more than the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, and World Series combined.
You may be familiar with the flamboyant hats and mint juleps (popular Bourbon drinks served with simple syrup, crushed ice and mint leaves) as they are the iconic staples of the world’s most prevalent horse race. However, here are 5 interesting facts about the Kentucky Derby that you might not know:
1. The Garland of Roses. In addition to the $1.42 million dollars the 2018 Kentucky Derby Champion will earn, they are also adorned with a blanket of red roses in the Winner’s Circle. The night before the Derby, a team of floral designers from Kroger sews together over 400 red roses during a 12 hour period to make the famous garland. It weighs nearly 40 pounds! The first garland appeared in 1896 and the Kentucky Derby was aptly nicknamed “The Run for the Roses” in 1925.
2. ‘Playing the Ponies’. During the 2017 Kentucky Derby, the total wagers equaled a recording-setting $209.2 Million Dollars (increasing 9% from 2016). This dollar figure includes on-track wagers at Churchill Downs as well as wagers during the Derby simulcast at all North American race tracks and Las Vegas.
Another interesting thing about Churchill Downs is that wagers are CASH ONLY (no credit cards). If you win big, they will take the taxes out for you and send you away with a check, money order, or suitcase of cash… your choice!
3. The Derby Festival. The exhilarating two minutes of the Kentucky Derby horse race is just the finale of the two week long Derby Festival. The Derby Festival boasts 70 unique events including concerts, sporting events, and parades. It has been deemed the Best Overall Festival five times by the International Festivals and Events Association.
The most anticipated event of Derby Festival is called Thunder over Louisville, which is the largest fireworks show in North America. Over 500,000 people attend to see the 30 minute fireworks show shooting off over more than 60,000+ shells. Here is a YouTube video of the whole show:
4. A Famous Founder. The Kentucky Derby was founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. Name ring a bell? It might sound familiar because he is the grandson of famous explorer William Clark (as in, The Lewis and Clark Expedition).
Clark was inspired by horse racetracks in England and borrowed the land from his uncles to found the Louisville Jockey Club. Clark threw lavish parties on the grounds and soon the city’s wealthiest families were attending. Shortly after raising enough money, Churchill Downs was constructed and 10,000 people attended the first Kentucky Derby on May 17, 1875.
5. Food, Drinks, and Trash… Oh my. Adequately serving 170,000+ people is a staggering task. Here are some numbers from the Kentucky Derby that will boggle your mind:
- 522,000 cans of beer consumed
- 120,000 mint juleps served
- 60,000 pounds of ice shipped in for drinks
- 163,000 hotdogs cooked
- 30,000 cookies baked
- 180 tons of trash produced
Most of these numbers are ridiculous to think about, but it is all worth it to the locals! The total economic impact of the Kentucky Derby for Louisville is around 400 million dollars annually.
So this Saturday, grab yourself a mint julep (or two), a funny hat, and cheer on your favorite horse with the rest of the world for “The Fastest Two Minutes In Sports”!
Want to read other USA City reviews – CLICK HERE
**Source
