Since the first run of the Kentucky Derby in 1875, the race has evolved throughout the years into one of the grandest society events – steeped with many unique traditions and customs. The Derby is the showcase for lavishly feminine hats, sugar-soaked Mint Juleps, countless displays of red roses, decadent local cuisine, and extravagant parties on the Eve of the Derby. This resource provides a basic overview of the popular traditions and cultural novelties that surround what is termed, “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.”
Femininity is in Fashion: Derby Hats and Elegant Dresses. From its’ inception, the Derby was envisioned to be a luxurious event in American Thoroughbred Racing. Beginning in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, affluent women arrived at the race wearing fashionable hats, gloves, and stylish dresses. Throughout the years, the tradition of Derby hats and feminine couture has endured, and perhaps, grown more colorful and expensive with each new season. Today, women wear many styles of glamorous hats, along with a wide variety of dresses and suits. The feminine pageantry surrounding the race has become nearly as iconic as the horses on the field.
One Sweet Day: The Mint Julep. The Bourbon-charged “Mint Julep” is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby and is composed of sugar syrup, fresh mint, crushed ice, and Kentucky bourbon. On race day, vendors weave through the crowds with fresh “Mint Juleps,” served in the commemorative annual Kentucky Derby glass. The famed “Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep” is also available through auction prior to Derby day, with the proceeds benefitting charity.
Although the mixing ingredients have varied in the past few years, the lavish drink remains served in a 24-karat Gold Cup and is made with Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon. In 2006, the “Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep” benefitted retired horses and jockeys through donating the proceeds to the Thoroughbred Charities of America, That year, the Mint was imported from Morocco, the ice was obtained from the Arctic Circle, and the sugar was acquired from the South Pacific. Upon announcement, our blog will feature the 2010 ingredients and auction link for the “Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep.”
The Traditional Song: “My Old Kentucky Home.” As the Derby contenders are paraded before the crowd prior to the race, “My Old Kentucky Home” is played by the University of Louisville Marching Band. There are no words to describe this mesmerizing moment. For new Derby attendees, the words to the song are inscribed in the racing program. Many Kentuckians know the tune by heart and it is considered a moment of pride when the song is being sung throughout the crowd.
The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Garland of Roses. The Garland of Roses that cloak the winning Derby horse hold an interesting history. Roses first appeared on the radar when they were presented to all the ladies attending a glamorous Louisville Derby party, held by a New York socialite and attended by the President of Churchill Downs, Colonel Lewis Clark. The roses were such a phenomenon that Clark adopted the rose as the race’s official flower. The rose garland first appeared at the Derby in the 1896 when the winner received a floral arrangement of pink and white roses. In 1904, the red rose was chosen as the official flower of the Kentucky Derby.
Each year, a garland of more than 400 red roses is sewn into a green satin backing with the seal of the Commonwealth on one side and the twin spires and number of the running on the other end of the garland. Each garland is also adorned with a “Crown” of roses, ribbon and green fern. The “Crown,” is a single rose pointing upward in the center of the garland, to symbolize the struggle and heart necessary to reach the winners’ circle.
The Gold Standard: The Kentucky Derby Trophy. The Kentucky Derby Gold Cup is awarded each year to the winning horse’s owner. The trophy is made from a combination of 20 and 14-karat gold and weighs more than 100 ounces. A sterling version of the trophy is awarded to the winning trainer, jockey, and breeder. The Gold Cup trophy takes over three months to produce and is one of the few solid gold trophies awarded in any American sporting event.
The Society Pages: The Derby Eve Galas. All throughout the nation, Derby parties are hosted on an annual basis. However, in Louisville, there are a few lavish society parties that honor the Eve of the Derby with unparalleled pageantry and style. The most sought-after tickets in Louisville on Derby Eve are to the Barnstable Brown Gala and the Mint Jubilee.
The Barnstable Brown Sisters (the former “Doublemint Twins”) have been hosting the most exclusive party for two decades in celebration of the Derby on the night before the race. Celebrities and guests are given access by invitation only to the event comprised of 1,200 attendees.
Founded in 1996, The Mint Jubilee Gala is another Derby Eve party that carries prestige among partygoers. Tickets to this 1,000 person event cost approximately $500.00 per individual in 2009. The event is attended by political figures, celebrities, and ticketed guests.
Derby Pie: Decades of Decadence. On Derby Day, Churchill Downs will sell more than 25,000 slices of Derby Pie to track attendees. At off-track parties, many Derby events order the pie from Louisville and have it shipped to their home for dessert. The Derby Pie, a trademarked name, is made by Kern’s Kitchen with custard, chocolate chips, and walnuts – all baked into a 9-inch crust. The recipe is highly coveted – only three people know the actual recipe. All employees of Kern’s Kitchen are required to sign an agreement not to divulge any of the Derby Pie secrets. The Derby Pie can be ordered by visiting the company website at http://www.derbypie.com.
Horse Racing has long been called the “Sport of Kings,” with the players paying a fortune to have a share of the alluring social pageantry, luxury lifestyle and electrifying experience of racehorse ownership. This is a sport where money competes for prestige on the track and in society. Millions can be spent on a single horse, a thousand dollars for a single drink, and hundreds on the lavish traditions that accompany the culture.
Let’s face it. We can’t all be millionaires and royalty. But this sport is made of more than money. Some of the greatest racehorses were bought at rock bottom prices and built a legacy through relentless spirit and an inexplicable drive toward perfection. Likewise, enthusiasts of the sport are drawn from all socioeconomic backgrounds and celebrate with the same fervor and passion as the affluent players in the field.
At the finish line, this sport reaches far beyond kings. It is infused with business people, celebrities, country dwellers, media, families, socialites, cowboys, middle-class investors, and college kids camped throughout the infields. With a hundred dollar budget, nearly anyone can experience many of the luxurious traditions of the sport in the age of the internet and industry promotions. Try it – you might enjoy the view from the beyond the velvet wire.
Enjoy a Mint Julep and Donate to a Racing Charity. (Estimated Cost: $30) With the Kentucky Derby prep race season in motion, I can’t think of a more decadent way to watch the races on a Saturday afternoon than to sip on a Mint Julep, the official drink of the Kentucky Derby.
On Derby day, Brown-Forman, the company that owns the Woodford Reserve Bourbon and Early Times Whisky Brands, dominates the Derby festivities by serving nearly 120,000 Mint Juleps to Churchill Downs attendees over the two-day period covering the Kentucky Oaks and Derby.
For philanthropists and affluent guests, the company has created “The Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep,” with proceeds benefitting selected horseracing charities. Aside from the inclusion of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, the other carefully-selected ingredients are determined on an annual basis by the company, and the drink is purchased via advance auction on the Woodford Reserve Website. The winners are served this extravagant drink at the Derby upon presenting proof of purchase. In 2006, the luxurious Mint Julep was served in a limited-edition 24 carat gold-plated julep cup, accompanied by sterling silver sipping straws, and infused with mint from Morocco, ice from the Arctic Circle, and sugar from the South Pacific.
So… How can you show your philanthropic spirit while enjoying a hand-crafted Mint Julep? Easy. First, you’ll need the “Official Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Recipe” and the ingredients.
The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
Sprigs of Fresh Mint
Crushed Ice
Early Times Kentucky Whisky
Instructions: Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six to eight sprigs of fresh mint. Refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by placing a few sprigs of mint at the bottom of a glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon and two ounces of Early Times Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
To maintain your “social” budget, the estimated cost of a 1.75 ml bottle of Early Times Whiskey is roughly fifteen dollars. The remaining five dollars can be used to purchase sugar and mint. While the simple syrup is cooling overnight, you can pick the racing charity of your choice and donate the remaining ten dollars in your budget. A few selected charities appear below.
Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA). Thoroughbred Charities of America’s sole mission is to raise money for distribution to more than 200 charitable organizations in Thoroughbred rescue, retirement, retraining, research, education, and therapeutic riding programs.
Riding with Barbaro. The Riding with Barbaro Memorial Fund provides funding for equine health and safety research.
The Race for Education (RFE). The Race For Education (RFE) enables financially-qualifying young people of equine industry families, as well as those who want to pursue an equine-related or agricultural career, to obtain a college degree by providing tuition support, financial literacy training to help students minimize their debt load, mentoring services to provide students with emotional support, and permanent jobs upon graduation.
Research the Featured Prep Races and Open an Online Betting Account. (Estimated Cost: $70) If you are new to horse racing, most dedicated handicappers read the biographies of the horses, research bloodlines, watch video footage of past performances, follow handicapping blogs, and read recent articles surrounding the races prior to betting. There are many excellent free internet resources to obtain knowledge about horses and races prior to betting. In order to get started, you can visit the following resources:
National Thoroughbred Racing Association. http://www.ntra.com/
The Bloodhorse Magazine. http://www.bloodhorse.com
The Daily Racing Form. http://www.drf.com
After picking your race and horses, you can avoid off-track betting sites by opting to bet online, subject to the legality in your State. A great online resource to wager is TVG. In order to set up a TVG account, you will need to deposit a fifty dollar minimum and can bet from your home computer. To set up an account with TVG, visit their website at http://www.tvg.com. As an initial deposit, I recommend depositing at least seventy dollars to cover your potential wagers for your first chosen race to bet online.
Make a Bet. (Estimated Cost: $18) Once you’ve set up your online wagering, place some bets for your Derby prep race. I recommend a budget of $18.00 for your first race ($12 for a trifecta box, $4 for an exacta box, and $2 to wager on your pick for the winning horse).
Invite Friends to your Home, Serve Some Mint Juleps, and Watch the Race. Now that your simple syrup is chilled, why not invite over a few friends and watch the race together? Serve the mint juleps and enjoy watching your horse compete against other Derby hopefuls.
Experience Virtual Ownership of a Thoroughbred. (Estimated Cost: Free!) Although the ideal dream is to truly own a thoroughbred racehorse, Woodford Reserve presents the next best thing through its’ free membership in “The Woodford Reserve Thoroughbred Society.” Members have no actual equity or earnings stake in the horses, but the society provides a wonderful blog on the activities of the horses in its’ stable, as well as bios that include detailed facts – including fun stories like the favorite luxury food of one of the stable horses, “Angel’s Share” is peppermints. The Society also details the biographies of the trainers and upcoming activities. Overall, if you can’t afford to open your wallet to purchase a horse, this society gives you a great experience of feeling like a player in the field. To join the Woodford Reserve Thoroughbred Society, visit the Woodford Reserve Website.
Even with a hundred bucks, you can enjoy the luxury lifestyle of the “Sport of Kings.” I hope you are sitting among friends, drinking a mint julep, enjoying the races, and reading about the adventures of your horses in the Woodford Reserve Stables. Welcome to the elite society.
Femininity is in Fashion: Derby Hats and Elegant Dresses. From its’ inception, the Derby was envisioned to be a luxurious event in American Thoroughbred Racing. Beginning in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, affluent women arrived at the race wearing fashionable hats, gloves, and stylish dresses. Throughout the years, the tradition of Derby hats and feminine couture has endured, and perhaps, grown more colorful and expensive with each new season. Today, women wear many styles of glamorous hats, along with a wide variety of dresses and suits. The feminine pageantry surrounding the race has become nearly as iconic as the horses on the field. 
One Sweet Day: The Mint Julep. The Bourbon-charged “Mint Julep” is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby and is composed of sugar syrup, fresh mint, crushed ice, and Kentucky bourbon. On race day, vendors weave through the crowds with fresh “Mint Juleps,” served in the commemorative annual Kentucky Derby glass. The famed “Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep” is also available through auction prior to Derby day, with the proceeds benefitting charity. 
The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Garland of Roses. The Garland of Roses that cloak the winning Derby horse hold an interesting history. Roses first appeared on the radar when they were presented to all the ladies attending a glamorous Louisville Derby party, held by a New York socialite and attended by the President of Churchill Downs, Colonel Lewis Clark. The roses were such a phenomenon that Clark adopted the rose as the race’s official flower. The rose garland first appeared at the Derby in the 1896 when the winner received a floral arrangement of pink and white roses. In 1904, the red rose was chosen as the official flower of the Kentucky Derby. 
The Gold Standard: The Kentucky Derby Trophy. The Kentucky Derby Gold Cup is awarded each year to the winning horse’s owner. The trophy is made from a combination of 20 and 14-karat gold and weighs more than 100 ounces. A sterling version of the trophy is awarded to the winning trainer, jockey, and breeder. The Gold Cup trophy takes over three months to produce and is one of the few solid gold trophies awarded in any American sporting event.
The Society Pages: The Derby Eve Galas. All throughout the nation, Derby parties are hosted on an annual basis. However, in Louisville, there are a few lavish society parties that honor the Eve of the Derby with unparalleled pageantry and style. The most sought-after tickets in Louisville on Derby Eve are to the Barnstable Brown Gala and the Mint Jubilee. 
Derby Pie: Decades of Decadence. On Derby Day, Churchill Downs will sell more than 25,000 slices of Derby Pie to track attendees. At off-track parties, many Derby events order the pie from Louisville and have it shipped to their home for dessert. The Derby Pie, a trademarked name, is made by Kern’s Kitchen with custard, chocolate chips, and walnuts – all baked into a 9-inch crust. The recipe is highly coveted – only three people know the actual recipe. All employees of Kern’s Kitchen are required to sign an agreement not to divulge any of the Derby Pie secrets. The Derby Pie can be ordered by visiting the company website at http://www.derbypie.com.
