Two minutes. Twenty horses. More than 160,000 fans.
On May 7, 2016, the 142nd Kentucky Derby will take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Many TV viewers and sports fans tend to overlook this famous horse race. But with this large of a crowd gathering in the venue for a two-minute competition, it’s impossible to ignore it. Now that March Madness is over, here’s the sport that should be on your screens.
If you’re a fan of betting, then you’re able to bet right from home
It’s true: you don’t have to be at the Derby in order to place bets. TwinSpires sponsors a website and app that lets you pay for three types of bets at the Derby: Win-Place-Show, Exacta and Trifecta. Though, at the Derby, you have to pay cash to bet, you are free to use credit cards and PayPal on the website and the app. So, whether you know the cogs and screws of betting, or if you’re new to the scene, it’s easy for everyone to be included. A minimum of $2 is required to place a bet for the race.
The race literally lasts two minutes
Let’s face it: a two-hour sporting event can draw on and bore you very quickly. The Kentucky Derby is two minutes long, so there’s just enough excitement without having to change the channel. Fans live to see records broken.
The amount of celebrities that attend, or have attended, the Derby
Many celebrities, including seven presidents and a few royal family members, have attended this annual event. Among the crowd include musicians like Luke Bryan, Usher and Miranda Lambert; actors and actresses like Ashton Kutcher, Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Walsh, Lauren Conrad and Brook Shields; football stars like Tom Brady and Eli Manning; and other Hollywood icons like Steven Spielberg and Hugh Hefner. You can watch and see if your favorite celebrity will be at the Derby this year.
The mint julep
Ah, the drink of all drinks for more than 140 years. More than 120,000 mint juleps are sold at the race every year. Bartenders use at least 10,000 bottles of Old Forester Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 1,000 pounds of harvested mint leaves and 60,000 pounds of ice. This refreshing drink is made with bourbon, water, sugar and mint. Served over ice in a frosted silver julep cup. Cheers!
The Winner’s Circle ceremony
The ceremony to celebrate the winning horse and rider is so classy that you’ll feel like you’re attending a coronation instead. Four hundred red roses are used to make the garland that is draped around the horse and the trophy that is solid gold with a jade base is presented to the rider. Talk about a chance to shine for the celebrities! This is also the time when people can collect the cash from their winning bets.
The fashion
This is perhaps the only time of the year where your best suit or dress and landscape-sized sun hat are absolutely crucial. Since the 1960s, society lost its traditional, conservative attire and gained a lust for brighter colors, higher hemlines and bolder hats. Men and women are given the chance to show off the new spring trends and spare no expense. The brighter the suit and the bigger the hat, the better.
Surprisingly, the price
If you’re thinking about going to the Kentucky Derby, then there are two locations you can be when at the race: the infield and the venue. The infield is where you want to aim for. Tickets start at only $20 if you order online and can be a little more expensive if you buy at the door. If you happen to have more than $200 in spending money, then you’re able to sit in the actual venue. The good news, however, is that are unlimited tickets sold for the infield, so you don’t need to worry about the “first-come-first-serve” rule. Churchill Downs is very close to the University of Louisville campus, so the staff understands that it’s necessary to be flexible with college students.
