Every year, horse racing fans worldwide gather at the 147-acre Churchill Downs Racetrack at Louisville, Kentucky, United States, to witness the annual Kentucky Derby, also known as the Run for the Roses.
This sports event has the highest attendance of spectators among other similar affairs in the same industry. Moreover, prominent personalities in local politics and show business attend the Run for the Roses, making it one of the US’s most glamorous star-studded sports events.
More than these facts, the Kentucky Derby is celebrated for many other reasons. Let’s explore what the 2023 Run for the Roses offers and what spectators can look forward to in the 149th renewal of the long-awaited-for affair.
The Events at the Kentucky Derby
The Run for the Roses comprises a series of significant events attended by tens of thousands of spectators across the globe. These events are plotted a few days before the first Saturday of May when the field of 20 thoroughbreds will compete for the title.
You can get a hint of the Kentucky derby picks on race day through the FanDuel horse racing guide. But before looking into the participants, let’s identify these events and see if we can participate in all of them.
Thurby
The Thurby, or the Thursday Derby, is also known as the “day for the locals.” It is celebrated on the first Thursday of May at Churchill Downs Track, Kentucky. In this event, you will see a large portion of the Kentucky community convening to celebrate culture and tradition in Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky. Thurby is one of the ultimate horse racing destinations for every horse racing fan. Missing it is ultimately missing a big part of the Kentucky Derby week.
Fans are treated to a grand musical affair, bourbon sipping, local cuisine tasting, and some preliminary races featuring amateur and professional horse races. Thurby has somehow become an unofficial Kentuckian holiday since many locals gather at the venue to introduce their culture to out-of-towners who want to experience Kentucky first-hand.
Oaks
Along with the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks is also one of the longest-running sports events in the country.
The official distance of the race is 1 ⅛ miles. It is annually held at the Churchill Downs Racetrack every first Friday of May. One of the highlights of the Kentucky Oaks is the Race for the Lilies, where the finest three-year-old fillies race against each other in the abovementioned venue. While Kentucky Derby’s official flower is the rose, the Kentucky Oaks has the lilies.
The winner of the annual Kentucky Oaks will be draped with a blanket of lilies, much like the awarding ceremony for the winner of the Kentucky Derby. This has inspired the race’s nickname, “Lillies for the Fillies.”
You can also enjoy the Hat Parade, where you will see the most extraordinary headdresses the guests wear. The iconic mint juleps are also served at the event, so you can take a sip of this traditional drink to complete your Kentucky Oaks experience. Note that the outfit you must wear must have any shade of pink.
The Kentucky Oaks’ primary charitable initiative is to promote breast and ovarian cancer awareness. Approximately 100,000 guests will attend the Kentucky Oaks this year, so make sure you are ready to become part of such a large crowd.
Derby Day
As the main event of the Kentucky Derby Week, the 149th renewal of the Run for the Roses this 2023 is expected to host over 150,00 racing fans in the Churchill Downs Racetrack. With a 1 ¼ -mile race distance, the dirt track will feature a field of twenty three-year-old thoroughbreds who will race against each other for the first leg of the Triple Crown Series.
Every year, except during the pandemic, the crowd and betting volume in the said event has continuously soared, making it one of the most anticipated sports events in the country. At the venue, you can avail of various seating options from Millionaire’s Row to general admission, where you can experience the legendary infield party participated by over 800,000 racegoers.
The Kentucky Derby is also popular for the trophy and garland of roses presented to the race winner. The tradition of awarding the blanket of roses to the winner started in 1883 when Evander Berry Wall offered roses to the ladies at the post-Derby party. Meanwhile, the Kentucky Derby trophy is a highly-coveted award presented by the Kentucky Governor at the awarding ceremony of the race. It is fashioned from 18-karat gold, weighs 56 ounces, and stands 22 inches tall.
It is believed to be the only trophy with solid gold presented to the champion of an American sports event. A half-size replica of the trophy will be given to the jockey and trainer, while the thoroughbred owner receives the bigger version.
Conclusion
The Kentucky Derby week is just around the corner, and spectators of the annual racing event won’t want to miss any significant days of the weeklong celebration. Now that you have an idea of the three main events in the first leg of the Triple Crown Series, we hope you will save the dates and grab the chance to attend all of them this year!
