If you have never been able to make the Derby because of the May date then this might be your year as the race has been postponed till the first Saturday in September. Contact us to learn about some of the awesome specials that are running including Louisville’s best hotels, tickets to the Kentucky Oaks, an arrival reception and much more!
Churchill Downs will be postponing the 146th Kentucky Derby until Saturday, September 5th. The first Run for the Roses was held in 1875 and is usually held on the first Saturday in May. The race has only been postponed once before, when wartime restrictions forced it to be pushed back by one month, according to the Courier-Journal newspaper. However, due to the current pandemic the world is facing the racetrack advised, “nothing is more important at Churchill Downs Racetrack than the safety and health of our guests, team members, and participants,” the March 14 statement said. “We will continue to be fully transparent with our plans going forward and will be sure to inform our fans, followers, and friends of any updates or changes to our regular operations.”
History of the Derby
There are few American sporting events with the history and popularity of the Kentucky Derby. It’s rich traditions – sipping a mint julep, donning a beautiful hat, and joining fellow race fans in singing “My Old Kentucky Home” – transcend the Kentucky Derby from just a sporting event, making it a celebration of southern culture and a true icon of Americana. The Kentucky Derby is the longest running sporting event in the United States, dating back to 1875. The race is often referred to as “The Run for the Roses®” and has continuously produced “the most exciting two minutes in sports”; uninterrupted, even when coinciding with profound historical events like The Great Depression and World Wars I & II. The Kentucky Derby’s long history began in 1872, when Meriwether Lewis Clark, the grandson of William Clark – of the famed pair Lewis and Clark – traveled to Europe. While there, Clark attended the Epsom Derby in England, a well-known horse race run since 1780, and also fraternized with the French Jockey Club, a group that developed another popular horse race, the Grand Prix de Paris Longchamps. Clark was inspired by his travels and experiences, and, upon his return, was determined to create a spectacle horse racing event in the States. With the help of his uncle’s John & Henry Churchill, who gifted Clark the necessary land to develop a racetrack, and by formally organizing a group of local race fans to be named the Louisville Jockey Club, Clark and his new club raised funds to build a permanent racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. On May 17th, 1875, the racetrack opened its gates and the Louisville Jockey Club sponsored the very first Kentucky Derby. A total of fifteen three-year-old Thoroughbred horses raced one and a half miles in front of a cheering crowd of approximately 10,000 spectators. Aristides was the first winner of the Kentucky Derby.
Just a few other ideas to consider in Louisville, Kentucky. Contact us for a full list. http://www.findingwowtravel.com
The Frazier History Museum is where the world meets Kentucky. Located on Museum Row in the Bourbon District of downtown Louisville, the Frazier documents and reinterprets stories from history using artifacts, gallery talks, and live daily interpretations by a talented staff of costumed actors known as teaching artists. With the opening of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center and The Spirit of Kentucky® exhibit, the Frazier became the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, a project launched in 1999 by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is located on Louisville’s historic “Whiskey Row,” the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience will feature an artisanal distillery, tours, tastings, and more! Celebrating the legacy of Evan Williams, Kentucky’s first distiller, this immersive experience brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit.
Kentucky Derby Museum General Admission includes a 30-minute historic walking tour of Churchill Downs Racetrack and full access to two floors of Museum exhibits where you can see Derby fashions over the years, watch every Derby race dating back to 1918, learn the history of African Americans in horse racing, and see a replica of Churchill Downs’ famous Winner’s Circle.
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