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Friday, May 2, 2025 | 2 a.m.
Editor’s note: “Behind the News“ is the product of Sun staff assisted by the Sun’s AI lab, which includes a variety of tools such as Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity AI, Google Gemini and ChatGPT.
Each first Saturday in May, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., plays host to “The most exciting two minutes in sports.” The Kentucky Derby, running for the 151st time Saturday, remains America’s oldest continuously held major sporting event.[1,2]
Origins
In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of famed explorer William Clark, visited England’s Epsom Derby and returned inspired to create an American equivalent.[5,12] He formed the Louisville Jockey Club and acquired land from his uncles, John and Henry Churchill, establishing Churchill Downs. The inaugural Kentucky Derby took place May 17, 1875, with jockey Oliver Lewis riding Aristides to victory before 10,000 spectators. In 1896, the race was shortened from 1.5 miles to today’s 1.25-mile distance.[8]
Growth
Initially regional, the Derby gained national prominence when first televised in 1952, reaching an estimated 10 million-15 million viewers.[2,5] Today, crowds exceeding 150,000 attend annually, with millions more watching worldwide. The 2017 attendance of 158,070 set records with $209.2 million in total wagers.[2,6]
Traditions
The garland of roses
The nickname “Run for the Roses” originated in 1883 when E. Berry Wall presented roses at a post-Derby party.[8] Today’s winner receives a garland of more than 500 red roses on green satin backing, weighing 40 pounds. It features a “crown” rose pointing upward, symbolizing the struggle required to reach the Winner’s Circle.[8,9,14]
Mint juleps
This bourbon, mint and sugar syrup drink has been the official beverage for nearly a century. While traditionally served in silver julep cups, most spectators enjoy theirs from commemorative glasses first introduced in 1938.[8,13] Derby weekend at Churchill Downs sees consumption of 125,000+ mint juleps requiring 10,000 bourbon bottles and 2,250 pounds of mint.[8]
Derby fashion
The Derby remains a showcase for elaborate headwear. Clark and his wife established it as a high-society affair where the wealthy could display their finest attire.[7] As hats faded from everyday fashion, they became Derby day staples, ranging from elegant to outlandish.[7,8]
“My Old Kentucky Home”
The University of Louisville marching band annually plays Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home.” The song plays as the field of Derby horses are led onto the track for the post parade to the gate, a tradition dating to around 1921. That year, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported celebratory reactions to the song following Kentucky-bred Behave Yourself’s victory.[8]
Historic moments
Secretariat, largely regarded as the greatest thoroughbred of all time, set the still-standing speed record for the race (1:59.4) in 1973. Four horses share the largest margin of victory (eight lengths): Old Rosebud, in 1914; Johnstown, in 1939; Whirlaway,
[2,5]in 1941;and Assault, in 1946.
Diane Crump became the first female jockey in the Derby in 1970.[13] No woman has won the race, with Rosie Napravnik’s fifth-place finish in 2013 being the best finish for a female jockey.[14]
The smallest field consisted of just three horses in 1892, contrasting with today’s crowded races.[9,14]
The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby
The 2025 Derby takes place Saturday with post time scheduled for 3:57 p.m.[1,4] NBC and USA Network will broadcast from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with FanDuel TV beginning at 7:30 a.m. Streaming options include NBC Sports app, NBCSports.com and Peacock.[3,4,6]
For nearly 150 years, the Kentucky Derby has captivated Americans by combining sporting excellence with traditions celebrating both thoroughbred horse racing and Southern culture.[5,8,11]
Sources
[1] http://www.kentuckyderby.com/
[2] The Louisville Courier Journal, “150 Years of the Kentucky Derby,” 2024
[3] http://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/how-to-watch-the-2025-kentucky-derby
[4] http://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-kentucky-derby-2025/
[5] http://www.kentuckyderby.com/history/kentucky-derby-history
[6] http://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/everything-to-know-about-the-2025-kentucky-derby
[7] http://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/kentucky-derby-hats-history-celebration
[8] http://www.kentuckyderby.com/about/
[9] http://www.roadtrips.com/luxury-travel-guides/kentucky-derby-tips-for-first-timers/
[10] http://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/press-releases/journalism-reports-as-the-151st-kentucky-derby-favorite-as-nbc-sports-presents-the-run-for-the-roses-this-saturday-may-3-at-2-30-p-m-et-on-nbc-and-peacock
[11] http://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/the-history-of-the-kentucky-derby
[12] http://www.derbymuseum.org/derby150.html
[13] http://history.ky.gov/news/women-at-the-kentucky-derby
[14] http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275723/by-the-numbers-look-at-150-years-of-the-kentucky-derby
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