What is it about The Derby?

Tomorrow will mark the 136th year of the Kentucky Derby.....yep, that's right, it's been around since 1875!  But what makes the Kentucky Derby one of the most media covered, top sporting events right up there with the Superbowl?


I hope to one day find out.

I have always wanted to attend the Kentucky Derby.  I love horses and the races are exciting but I think the main draw for me might be the attire, more specifically, those fancy hats.

 Photo by Churchill Downs

Photo by Rich Schmitt

Photo by Churchill Downs

Photo by Churchill Downs

Photo by Churchill Downs


Then, of course there's the ~
Early Times Mint Julep

Here's the recipe:


•2 cups sugar

•2 cups water

•Sprigs of fresh mint

•Crushed ice

•Early Times Kentucky Whisky

•Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

 
One of the contenders in this year's derby is  Pady O'Prado........I like him. He's pretty.  And I think he may be irish.  We'll have to see how he does :)
 

Photo by Reed Palmer
 



Some Derby Trivia

1. Which of these famous horses didn't win the Derby?


a) Seattle Slew

b) Whirlaway

c) Gallant Fox

d) Seabiscuit



2. Who is the only foreign-based horse to win the Derby?

a) Canonero II

b) Kauai King

c) Venetian Way

d) Gallahadion



3. In what year were the Derby and Preakness staged on the same day?

a) 1898

b) 1906

c) 1922

d) 1943



4. Who was the oldest jockey at age 54 to win the Derby?

a) Eddie Arcaro

b) Bill Shoemaker

c) Earl Sande

d) Charles Kurtzinger



5. Who was the first woman to ride in the Derby?

a) Patricia Cooksey

b) Julie Krone

c) Diane Crump

d) Rosemary Homeister Jr.



6. Who is the only roan to visit the winner's circle?

a) Winning Colors

b) Decidedly

c) Twenty Grand

d) Real Quiet



7. How many winners went wire-to-wire?

a) 20

b) 22

c) 30

d) 37



8. Who was the only president to attend the Derby while in office?

a) John F. Kennedy

b) Lyndon B. Johnson

c) Richard M. Nixon

d) Franklin D. Roosevelt



9. How many fillies have captured America's Race?

a) 2

b) 3

c) 4

d) 5



10. How many horses finished the 1 ¼ miles under two minutes?

a) 1

b) 2

c) 3

d) 4



11. How many red roses comprise the lush blanket of flowers that have been draped around the winner for more than a century?

a) 456

b) 500

c) 554

d) 575



12. In what year did the largest win payoff of $184.90 occur?

a) 1913

b) 1918

c) 1923

d) 2005



13. How many of the first 28 derbies were captured by African-American jockeys?

a) 10

b) 13

c) 15

d) 16



14. In what year was the Derby first televised?

a) 1948

b) 1950

c) 1951

d) 1952



15. In what year did the largest on-track crowd of 163,628 show up?

a) 1973

b) 1974

c) 1978

d) 1939



Answers to Kentucky Derby trivia questions: 1. d 2. a 3. c 4. b 5. c 6. a 7. b 8. c 9. b 10. c 11. c 12. a 13. c 14. d 15. b


Happy Friday!  Cheers!