Kentucky Derby
May 1, 2027
About Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is the most famous horse race in the United States, run over one and a quarter miles at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May each year. In 2027 the 153rd running falls on Saturday 1 May. Often called “the most exciting two minutes in sports”, the race draws around 150,000 spectators to the track and a global television audience of many millions.
The Story Behind the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby owes its existence to Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of the explorer William Clark. After travelling through Europe in the early 1870s, Clark was inspired by the Epsom Derby in England and the Grand Prix de Paris in France. He returned to Louisville determined to create a showcase race for the American thoroughbred breeding industry, and helped found the Louisville Jockey Club to raise the funds needed to build a permanent racetrack.
That track, later named Churchill Downs after the relatives who supplied the land, opened its gates in 1875. On 17 May that year, a chestnut colt named Aristides won the inaugural Kentucky Derby in front of a crowd of roughly 10,000 people. The race has been run every year since, making it the longest continuously held major sporting event in the United States, a streak unbroken even through two world wars.
The early Derby was run over one and a half miles, mirroring the Epsom original, but in 1896 the distance was shortened to its present one and a quarter miles. Over the following century the race grew from a regional fixture into a national institution, helped by the rise of the railways, radio broadcasting and, eventually, colour television, which carried the spectacle into homes far beyond Kentucky.
Today the Derby is the opening leg of American horse racing’s Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Only a handful of horses have ever won all three in a single season, and a Triple Crown campaign that begins with victory at Churchill Downs remains one of the hardest achievements in the sport.
When and Where is the Kentucky Derby Celebrated?
The Kentucky Derby is always held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Because the date shifts each year, it is worth checking ahead. The next few runnings fall as follows:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Saturday, 1 May |
| 2028 | Saturday, 6 May |
| 2029 | Saturday, 5 May |
| 2030 | Saturday, 4 May |
| 2031 | Saturday, 3 May |
The Derby itself is the climax of a fortnight of festivities across Louisville, including the Kentucky Oaks for fillies on the preceding Friday, parades, a steamboat race on the Ohio River and a fireworks display known as Thunder Over Louisville.
Traditions and Customs
- The garland of roses. The winning horse is draped in a blanket of more than 400 red roses, which is why the Derby is nicknamed “the Run for the Roses”.
- The mint julep. The official drink of the Derby is the mint julep, made with bourbon, sugar, water and fresh mint, with well over 100,000 served across the weekend. It even has its own observance, National Mint Julep Day.
- “My Old Kentucky Home”. As the horses parade to the post, the crowd traditionally sings Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home”, a moment many regard as the emotional heart of the day.
- Derby hats. Extravagant, often enormous hats and fascinators are a defining feature of the spectator dress code, a tradition stretching back to the race’s early society days.
- Millionaires Row and the infield. The grandstand seating and the famous twin spires draw the well-heeled, while the lively infield offers a more boisterous, affordable experience.
Ways to Celebrate the Kentucky Derby
- Host a Derby party with friends, complete with mint juleps and a sweepstake on the runners.
- Wear your most elaborate hat or fascinator in keeping with the day’s dress traditions.
- Cook a Kentucky-inspired spread, such as Hot Brown sandwiches, Derby pie and pimento cheese.
- Study the form and pick a horse, even if you are not placing a wager, to add to the excitement of the two-minute race.
- Watch the build-up and the post parade so you can join in singing “My Old Kentucky Home”.
- If you can travel, experience Derby week in Louisville, from the Kentucky Oaks to Thunder Over Louisville.
Facts and Figures
- The first Kentucky Derby was won by Aristides in 1875, and the race has run every year since.
- The Derby is run over one and a quarter miles, a distance set in 1896 and unchanged ever since.
- Secretariat holds the track record, completing the 1973 Derby in 1 minute 59.4 seconds, the only sub-two-minute Derby for decades.
- Only three trainers and a small group of jockeys have ever guided multiple Derby winners across more than a century of racing.
- The winning connections receive a share of a purse that now runs into millions of dollars, alongside the coveted garland of roses.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Kentucky Derby in 2027?
The 153rd Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday 1 May 2027 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Why is the Kentucky Derby always on the first Saturday in May?
The race has been scheduled for early May since its founding, and the first Saturday in May was formally adopted to give the event a fixed, predictable slot at the start of the racing season. As a result the calendar date changes from year to year.
Why is the Kentucky Derby called “the Run for the Roses”?
The nickname comes from the garland of more than 400 red roses placed over the winning horse, a tradition that has been associated with the race since the early twentieth century.
Spread the Word
Help others discover the Kentucky Derby by sharing this page and using the hashtags #KentuckyDerby, #RunForTheRoses and #KyDerby2027 on social media. Whether you are hosting a party, picking a horse or simply tuning in for the most exciting two minutes in sport, the more people who join in, the better the day becomes.
Related Awareness Days
Links
- Official website: KentuckyDerby.com
- More awareness days and events: Awareness Days
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