150th Kentucky Derby: Celebrating the World’s Most Famous Race

Several weeks ago, Scottie Scheffler donned the green jacket for a second time, the treasured sartorial prize awarded the Master of Augusta National.

On Saturday, the victorious colt in the Kentucky Derby (G1) will be draped in a garland of roses, the traditional garb reserved for the winner of the world’s most famous race.

Saturday marks the 150th Kentucky Derby

Clothes make the man, so they say.

There is some historical dispute as to when roses became synonymous with the Derby. There is no challenging this fact: this will be the 150^th edition of “The Run for the Roses”.

From a humble beginning, the Kentucky Derby has blossomed into the defining event of the racing season. Just as everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is a horseplayer on Kentucky Derby Day.

The Derby, and its companion event the Kentucky Oaks (G1) for fillies, are the oldest continually run major sports events in the U.S.

The Derby has persevered through the Great Depression, two World Wars and a pair of pandemics. It is the event that put Louisville and Churchill Downs on the map.

The sesquicentennial Kentucky Derby is expected to draw over 150,000 fans to show off their fancy hats, sip mint juleps and shed a tear during the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home”.  It is down-home nostalgia centered on the race dubbed “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.”

Kentucky Derby History: From Its Inception to Global Phenomenon

The first Kentucky Derby was contested before an estimated crowd of 10,000 at a distance of 1 1/2 miles, emulating Britain’s Epsom Derby. In 1896, it was shortened to the current 1 1/4 miles.

Aristides captured the first Kentucky Derby with Oliver Lewis aboard. Owner H.P. McGrath took home first-prize money of $2,850. The winner this Saturday banks $3 million.

The race really took off early in the 20^th century under the guidance of Col. Matt Winn, a master promoter. Then came radio, and later television, to bring the race into every home. Major newspapers and wire services pumped out the coverage. Step by step, the Derby grew into the international phenomenon it is today.

In the final analysis, it always comes down to the horses, the ultimate stars of the show. The list of Kentucky Derby winners contains many of the sport’s immortals, names like Secretariat, Whirlaway, Citation, Assault, Northern Dancer, Barbaro and Winning Colors.

The next winner, and the first chapter of the next 150 years, arrives on Saturday.