Put on your Sunday finest, prepare yourself for a wager or two and get ready for “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports”.  

For 136 years, people from around the world have gathered at Churchill Downs for the annual Kentucky Derby, a horse race surrounded by rich tradition.  Here are just a few according to the official website:

1.) The Garland of Roses

What wakes jockeys up in the morning?  What gets them through the aches and pains of riding a horse day in and day out?  The hope of winning horse racing’s grandest prize—the Garland of Roses.  

The Garland of Roses is traditionally composed of 400 of red roses on a satin backing and is presented to the winner of each year’s race.  The Garland has been draped across the winning horse’s back since 1932.

2.) The Twin Spires

The year was 1895.  Joseph Dominic Baldez looked at his design for the Churchill Downs grandstands and felt they were missing something to make the venue truly special.  He drafted the Twin Spires—two unique structures that very much exemplify the architecture of the day.

Horses, technology, and journalists come and go, but the unique Twin Spires Baldez envisioned are a constant reminder of the event’s rich history.

3.) “My Old Kentucky Home”

It doesn’t matter if you triumph at the world’s most prestigious horse race or fail to cross the finish line.  When you and your horse step out onto the tracks at the official Kentucky Derby, you are greeted with Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home”.  It’s kicked off every race since 1930.

4.) Parties in the Infield

Didn’t get tickets to the official event, or not a seersucker or mint julep kind of person?  Don’t worry.  Every year, tens of thousands of people flock to Churchill Downs to party in “The Infield”.  Grab a ticket and catch up with friends and have a drink or two.  You might even catch a glimpse of the winner.

5.) The “Unlucky” Kentucky Derby Trophy

To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the race in 1999, organizers did something a little crazy.  Horse racing trophies typically feature horseshoes that point down.  In breaking of tradition, Kentucky Derby organizers pointed the horseshoes up, which was considered bad luck.  The unique design has stuck ever since.

6.) Silks

Tracking a horse running 38 miles an hour can be a bit tricky.  The colorful silk jerseys worn by jockeys make it easy to track if your horse is winning or losing.  This horse racing tradition started in the 18th century and has been upheld at the Kentucky Derby since the race’s inception in 1875.

7.) Mint Juleps

This old fashioned drink is still enjoyed at the Derby.  If you can’t make it, here’s their recipe!

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Early Times Kentucky Whisky
• Silver Julep Cups