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Fear not party fanatics - even if the Royal Wedding is over, you have another occasion to don your favorite hat and celebrate this weekend. The countdown is on for the biggest day in horseracing of the year.
The 137th Kentucky Derby takes place Saturday, May 7, marking the first leg of the annual Triple Crown. Every year, the Churchill Downs race track plays host to horses, celebs, big hats and boozy minted concoctions called juleps.The race is known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the lush blanket of red roses draped over the winner.The Derby is an annual tradition, rich in history for Louisville, but as much as it is about tradition, it's also about watching the world's most athletic horses and jockeys peel around the famous track.
Past Derby winners such as Secretariat and Barbaro have storied pasts. This year's top contenders include Uncle Mo, Dialed In, Nehro and Archarcharch. Other horses in the race such as Midnight Interlude and Pants on Fire, have won the Santa Anita Derby and Louisiana Derby respectively and have a legitimate shot. Make sure to pick up some racing form guides so you can assess each horse's chances. ESPN also has a horse racing hub with plenty of lead-up coverage and analysis. It's more fun if you read up on the jockeys and their colorfully named equestrian counterparts in advance of the big day.
Women at the Race Track: Keep an eye out for jockey Rosie Napravnik who believes her mount, Pants on Fire, is a Triple Crown threat. Napravnik can become the first female jockey to triumph in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday if she and Pants on Fire can repeat their rousing victory in the Louisiana Derby. Napravnik will be the first woman to compete in the 'Run for the Roses' since Rosemary Homeister Jr. was up the track in 13th with Supah Blitz in 2003. The quest began with Diane Crump, who came home 15th aboard Fathom in 1970. No matter what happens on Saturday, trainer Kathy Ritvo is a winner. Three years ago she was watching the Kentucky Derby on TV from a hospital bed waiting for a heart transplant. This year she is saddling her first Derby horse, Mucho Macho Man listed as a 15-1 shot.
Derby Day: A lot of people don't realize that Derby Day is really no different from any other race day at Churchill Downs, except for the fact that one of the races in the regular schedule is the most watched, and most wagered on horse race in the world. There are 10 races being run before the Kentucky Derby race is ran, and two more races take place after the Derby.
If you can't actually make it to Louisville -- you can still sip mint juleps, snack on derby pie and wear a big hat at a Derby viewing party. It's kinda like a Superbowl bash except the headline event is over in the blink of an eye. Still, it's a great excuse for some traditional Derby vittles and libations. Whether you're in it for the high fashion, the time-honored tradition, or the athleticism, here's how to add a few unique touches and make the most of the event.
Costume: A distinct flavor of Southern style lends an air of authenticity and if you're in doubt what to wear, Southern Living has a guide to traditional attire for aspiring Derby dames. A best hat contest can be a fun side event that helps fill the time waiting for the big race.
The Jackpot: Everyone likes to win something so if you don't get the best hat award perhaps you can gamble on the ponies instead. At most Derby parties, a jackpot is collected for the featured race with each guest putting in a set dollar amount and randomly drawing a horse's name from a hat. There are variations on the rules so, for example, the guest with the winning horse may take the entire jackpot, or there may be a payout for first, second, third, or last place (or some other pre-determined payout) A variation on the jackpot allows guests to determine their own fate by picking a horse to win. In this version, guests buy a horse and share the overall pool gathered for that race with all others
