The Kentucky Derby is this weekend and I’m definitely going to be watching! My brother Steve is a huge Derby fan and so is our executive vice president Marty Weissman who owns a couple of horses himself. One of my highlights at the Derby is seeing all the beautiful and intricate hats women wear and with the recent royal wedding in London, where hats were a requirement for attendees there is no doubt the ladies at the Kentucky Derby this year will be embracing this trend even more. The Kentucky Derby is filled with tradition and there’s a little bit of everything for everyone! Here are some of the Kentucky Derby’s traditions and history on the grandest social engagement of the year!
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.
The Mint Julep: “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 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
The Barn stable Brown gala: The Barn stable 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.
The Mint Jubilee Gala: Founded in 1996, The Mint Jubilee Gala is another Derby Eve party that carries prestige among party goers. 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.
