THE KENTUCKY DERBY

| BY JARONE ASHKENAZI

The 2023 Kentucky Derby will run on May 6, 2023, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival at the historic Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby combines pomp and circumstance, speed, and is one of the year’s most coveted sporting tickets. Earning nicknames of “The Run for the Roses,” “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” or “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports,” it is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes, and then the Belmont Stakes.

The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby will see 20 three-year-old thoroughbreds run at a distance of one and a quarter miles (10 furlongs or 2.0 km), wowing spectators at the grounds and watching worldwide. Following the Call to the Post, which sees the horses parade before the audience, Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home” is played before the ‘Riders Up!’ command from the Paddock Judge. It is then when jockeys mount their horses and prepare to race down the dirt track for the crown.

A trip to Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby weekend offers an unforgettable experience as several traditions play a significant role in the Derby atmosphere. First is fashion, which showcases the finest in spring fashions, with women typically wearing pastel-colored spring dresses or suits. But what truly separates the fashion for women is the bold hats, which come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Men complement their female counterparts with bright pastel, tropical colors, bold stripes, or a classic navy or seersucker blazer.

Tradition also plays its part in the food and drink offered at the event. The traditional beverage of the race is the mint julep, an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint, and sugar syrup, which cools off spectators under the Kentucky sun. Served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup, patrons enjoy their drinks and often pair them with burgoo, a thick stew that is also a popular dish.

With a crowd of more than 150,000 people, it is one of the largest and most popular sporting events in the United States, and as such, tickets are a hot commodity. The infield, a spectator area inside the track, offers general admission, while “Millionaire’s Row” is an exclusive interior dining room with scenic racetrack views. 

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