Hats, Horses, and Bets: The History of the Kentucky Derby

Did you know that every year, people consume more than one hundred and twenty thousand mint juleps at the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is one of the world’s most unique sporting events. Those who attend it often embrace age-old traditions, such as wearing traditional ornate hats. Unfortunately, the majority of those who enjoy watching the event have no idea about its fascinating history. 

To help you develop a greater appreciation for the United States’ oldest continuous sporting event, we’ve written an article that explains the history of the Kentucky Derby. Keep reading, and we’ll tell you what you need to know. 

The First Kentucky Derby Took Place in 1872

People give credit to a man named Meriwether Lewis Clark for starting the Kentucky Derby. As the grandson of the famous William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Meriwether Lewis Clark knew that he had big shoes to fill. 

While visiting England, he happened to attend the Epson Derby. Since it has been in existence since 1780, the Epsom Derby was one of Europe’s most popular races. Clark enjoyed watching the race so much that it was all that he talked about when he returned to the United States. 

He made use of his family’s connections to get the land he needed for building what would become the United States’ first horse racetrack. A group of people who were fans of the race started calling it the Louisville Jockey Club. The club opened its doors to host the first-ever Kentucky Derby in May of eighteen seventy-five. 

There were fifteen horses that competed in the first race, and only around ten thousand people showed up to watch it.

The winner of the first race was named Aristides. People draped the horse in roses to celebrate his victory. This became a race tradition, which is why people often refer to the Kentucky Derby as “The Run for the Roses.” 

A Race that Evolved Over the Years

It’s not easy to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. It’s necessary for horses to perform well at various prep races that take place in the months that lead up to the big event. 

Those who finish within the top four spots in each of these races are awarded a certain number of points. The twenty finishers who have the most points qualify to race at the Kentucky Derby. 

In the race’s early days, most of the riders were African Americans. In 1901 and 1902 one of the famous Derby racers named Jimmy Winklefield became the last African American jockey to win the race. Around this time, people started becoming more racist towards jockeys who were not white. 

In the late eighteen hundreds, race organizers decided to shorten the track from a mile and a half to a mile and a quarter. Their goal was to make the race shorter and more exciting. 

It wasn’t until the nineteen twenties that people started covering the event on live radio. It proved to be a widely popular event for people to listen to. This is why it started being broadcasted on national television in the early nineteen fifties. It has been broadcasted on live television every year since nineteen fifty-two. 

In the nineteen fifties, the winning racers would earn around one hundred thousand dollars. Racers now earn around three million dollars if they win. 

Kentucky Derby Traditions

The drink of choice for those who attend the Kentucky Derby is the mint julep. The most popular meal is called burgoo. This stew contains beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables. 

The race has more seating options than it did in the past. Along with infield general admission, there is an area known as “Millionaire’s Row.” These expensive box seats get taken by those who are wealthy and have lots of connections. 

Most women who attend the event choose to wear hats that are similar to what women wore in the early days of the race. Some of the hats that women wear were handed down to them by their great grandmothers. 

Another race tradition relates to music. Every year, the University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band plays the same “My Old Kentucky Home.” The song was first played in nineteen twenty-one. 

Famous Derby Racers

Those who set their sights on winning the infamous Triple Crown need to start by winning the Kentucky Derby. To earn the Triple Crown, you need to win three consecutive races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. 

There have only been three horses to earn this reward. The first winner was Sir Barton (1919), and the most recent winner was Justify (2018). 

Most people say that the best racehorse to ever live was named Secretariat. Even though the horse only raced for a total of sixteen months, it broke numerous records. He only lost twenty-one races and was one of the few horses to break the two-minute mark at the Kentucky Derby. 

The Kentucky Derby in 2022

The 2022 Kentucky Derby was the one hundred and forty-eighth time that the race has been run. The winner was Rich Strike, an American thoroughbred racehorse. Since the horse had eighty to one odds of winning the race, it was the second-biggest longshot to ever win the Kentucky Derby. 

If you want to find out more about this year’s derby, visit the Doc’s Sports Service website. 

The History of the Kentucky Derby: An American Tradition

If you’re interested in the history of the Kentucky Derby, it’s important to know that the race was started in eighteen seventy-two by Meriwether Lewis Clark, who was the grandson of William Clark. Even though the race has changed over the years, there are many traditions that race attendees continue to embrace. 

If you’re interested in finding out more about the world’s top races, be sure to visit the Entertainment section of our website.