“The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”
It’s the longest running sporting event in United States history and a staple of Southern Culture. That’s right - the Kentucky Derby is almost here! Since 1875, over 150,000 people have been attending the Kentucky Derby to drink Mint Juleps, wear huge hats, and sing "My Old Kentucky Home" at the top of their lungs. Here's how to do the Kentucky Derby in Indianapolis.
KENTUCKY DERBY PARTIES
This 1 1/4 mile long horse race turns into hours of preparation and partying! From the food and drinks, to the hats and betting on the horse with the best name, there's so much to learn before the big day.
Woodford Reserve and Do317 are hosting the only official Kentucky Derby party around that has been endorsed by the Churchill Downs! It'll be full of Mint Juleps, hat making station, a cigar lounge, giveaways and MORE!
Head up to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino for their annual Derby party. Live horse racing, betting, free gifts and a buffet await.
Indy's newest distillery West Fork Whiskey Co. is throwing their own Derby viewing party featuring their signature mint julep. Dress to impress, because the best dressed takes home a bottle of their whiskey!
There's plenty of other ways to celebrate Derby Day in Indianapolis. Check out all the parties happening in the Circle City above and find the perfect one for you.
KENTUCKY DERBY DO'S AND DON'T'S
From the special food and drinks, to the hats and betting, there's so much to learn before Derby Day. Here are some quick pointers so you don't go in unprepared!
DO: Drink a Mint Julep.
The traditional beverage of choice at Churchill is none other than the Mint Julep, a mix of bourbon, water, sugar and mint that perfectly encapsulates the Kentucky atmosphere. After more than a century of being the drink of choice, this year’s Derby weekend will see over 120,000 Mint Juleps served at the “Run for the Roses”.
DON'T: Forget about the food.
Louisville has two words for you, pimento cheese. Nothing screams southern comfort food like some pimento style mac n’ cheese. You can even pimento cheese as a dip the whole party can enjoy. Try it with deviled eggs or make some classic cheese grits for a true Derby feel.
DO: Dress up.
What would the Derby be without the pastel-colors, the hats, and the classic Derby attire! A long-standing tradition, wearing hats to the Derby is believed to bring good luck. Hats don the heads of nearly all the spectators at Churchill and range from the elegant wide-brimmed “Southern belle” style to creative homemade expressions. Oh, and you can’t forget to bring color to ring in the spring season. Doing the Derby right means donning bright green, pink, or blue pants to go along with bold, tropical colored blazers and jackets.
DON'T: Perfectly match your hat, dress and shoes.
Unless you're a member of The Royal Family, sporting the same pattern on your dress and accessories will certainly draw attention, albeit not the kind you're looking for.
DO: Learn the words to "My Old Kentucky Home".
You're bound to hear it on Derby Day. Might as well be able to join in, right?
DON'T: Mess up the lingo.
Betting on horses is a BIG part of what The Kentucky Derby is all about. Participate in the fun, but make sure you know what you're talking about!
- Across [The Board]: a wager on one horse to win, place and show.
- Exacta: a wager in which the player attempts to pick the 1st and 2nd place horse.
- Furlong: an eighth of a mile on the racetrack.
- Hand: the unit of measure of the height of a horse; one hand equals four inches.
- The Paddock: the area of the racetrack where the horses are saddled before the race.
- Purse: the total prize money that can be won in a race.
- Show: a wager on one horse to finish anywhere in the top three runners.
- Superfecta: a wager in which the player selects the order of the first four finishers in a race.
- Trifecta: a wager in which the player selects the first three horses in a race in the order they finish.
DO: Have fun!
The race might only be two minutes long, but it's sure to provide memories that will last a lifetime. Make sure you do it right this weekend!
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