![]() ![]() Horse injuries and deaths occur when horses are pushed beyond their physical limits, given drugs to enhance their performance, or a track is not properly maintained – none of that is ethical, and it’s not OK. The biggest change is implementation of the Horse Racing Safety & Integrity Act – here is a helpful article which breaks it all down. The horse racing industry is facing well-deserved criticism and pressure to improve their requirements, and in the last couple of years, several new regulations have gone into effect with the goal of protecting the horses. We firmly believe the racing industry needs more regulations in place to keep horses safe.Īnd while horse racing has long been a tradition here in Kentucky, we are currently at a pivotal moment in the history of the sport. The easiest and quickest answer I can give you is that it depends – treatment of racehorses depends mostly on their owners, trainers and jockeys, and unfortunately, not all of the bigger players in horse racing are invested in their horses’ health and safety. I don’t have a quick answer for that, though I do recommend reading this incredibly detailed article in the New Yorker which looks at this question from all angles. We’re hopeful that the stricter regulations recently put in place will move the horse racing industry in the right direction. In a perfect world, only horses in perfect health and at appropriate ages would be allowed to race. The Derby also has a higher attendance than the World Series or even the Super Bowl (though the Super Bowl has the most televised viewership… and an awesome halftime show, but whatever, we’re not jealous, we have fun hats).īesides the horse racing, the Derby is known for ultra-ridiculous fashion – think gaudy prints, bright colors, and hats that make you question what a hat really is ( do lawn flamingos on your head constitute a hat?) – and the city-wide Kentucky Derby Festival. Today, the Kentucky Derby hold the distinction of being the longest-running sporting event in the U.S., continuing despite the Great Depression and two World Wars (though it was, understandably, delayed by the pandemic). Naturally, it didn’t hurt his mother was from the Churchill family, one of the “first families” of Kentucky. ![]() The first Derby started in 1875, when a man named Meriwether Lewis Clark (grandson to one-half of the famed duo Lewis and Clark) built Churchill Downs after visiting England and developing a taste for highbrow, pinkies-out kind of hobbies. We know you have questions, such as just how big should my hat be ( very big) and are there ways to save money at the Derby ( yes)? In our ultimate Kentucky Derby guide for first-timers, you’ll find everything you need to know – and maybe a bit extra – about attending the “Run for the Roses!”Ĭheck Ticket Prices on StubHub The most exciting two minutes in sports! What is the History of the Kentucky Derby? And, hopefully, have a blast!īut going to the Kentucky Derby for the first time can be super confusing. With more than 150,000 people packing the stands each year, attending the Kentucky Derby means you’re guaranteed to see some questionable fashion choices, spot a few celebrities, drink a refreshing Mint Julep (or three), and watch very small jockeys in brightly colored silks ride sleek, shiny, fast horses in the “the most exciting two minutes in sports”. (We say that with deep affection: Derby fashion is possibly our favorite part of the entire event!) So break out your biggest hat and your boldest suit, because the Kentucky Derby is the first Saturday in May.īut this is no simple horse race, y’all: the Kentucky Derby is the culmination of the world’s fastest horses paired with some of the world’s richest people in some of the most wonderfully ridiculous outfits you’ve ever seen. Horse racing is SO thrilling, and cheering on your horse with a screaming crowd during the final stretch at the Kentucky Derby is incredibly exciting – even if you only bet $2! There is nothing as heart-poundingly exciting as watching your money sprint away from you down a track.
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