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Beautiful Spring Weather Expected for Derby Day


Published: 04.29.2021

Derby Day at The Stables
Saturday, May 1 – 4-6:45pm
The Stables at Russell Crossroads

Call it what you like—“The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports”—either way, it’s a fun time and should be a beautiful afternoon!

This year, we will hold Derby Day on the north lawn of The Stables. We’ll have music from The Southern Gentlemen, some finger foods and drinks, and we’ll raise some money for Children’s Harbor (50/50 Drawing), so bring some cash!

The current favorite is Essential Quality. He is undefeated and, at the time of this writing, at 2-to-1 odds. However, he drew the 14th post position. In Derby history, the last horse to win from Number 14 was Carry Back in 1961. Apart from post position 17, which has never produced a winner, Number 14 has the longest current drought. Plus, the last horse to place or show from Number 14 was Impeachment in 2000.

About those hats…

Where did the big hat tradition at the Derby come from? Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the man who helped to establish the Derby and founded Churchill Downs, and his wife, Mary, traveled abroad in the years right before the 1875 inaugural Kentucky Derby and noticed how people at these racing events were well-dressed. Back in Louisville, Mary rode around town dressed to the nines and in an open carriage to sway others to attend the event and look dapper at the same time. Since that time, the Derby’s fashion tradition has developed quite naturally—wearing a stylish hat in timing with the Kentucky Derby has become a celebratory event. Owners of horses racing in the Derby will add colored silk fabric to their Derby hats. And in Derby lore, the bigger the hat, the bigger the luck! That’s where the big brims came into play, and it just stuck.

Post time is scheduled for about 5:57pm, but Derby history always has the start running a tad late. On-time or late, we’ll gather around the big screens and cheer on our favorite horses! There are some great prizes for the way you’re dressed—hats for the ladies and most dapper guys—and the luck of the draw! Come join your friends for Derby Day at The Stables!

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