Our great nation has an abundance of popular, historic spectator events in which innumerable people attend such as the Super Bowl, World Series, and the US Open. Explicitly, on the first weekend in May, Louisville, Kentucky hosts one of the most traditional events in history. Dating back to 1875, the Kentucky Derby brings in about 170,000 people a year. This past year, I had the privilege of being one of those 170,000 people at Churchill Downs attending the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. My family and I landed in Louisville, Kentucky on Thursday, May 2016. When we arrived at The Brown Hotel, we were just moments from spectating the traditional Pegasus Parade right outside our window. The Pegasus Parade, one of
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Citizens living near Churchill Downs rent out their yard for five dollars, allowing people to park their cars on their lawn while home owners near the track would also make their own BBQ, popcorn, or any snack that could be sold in the arena and sell it cheaper. Arriving at Churchill Downs, we were escorted to the same floor we were at the previous day. Again, the buffet was filled with a plethora of derby food, including my favorite, derby pie. One of the many traditions the Kentucky Derby bestows is its famous mint julep which is just fancy bourbon with mint leaves. Ultimately, the whole day is long and if you wear heels, the day seems way longer. Similar to the previous day, there were multiple races leading up to the 142nd annual Kentucky Derby. For the most part, the races leading up to the derby were small therefore, I was determined to place a wager. Deciding that I had a better prospect on collecting money if I waged on a horse to show, I did just that. Overall, I made a profit of $30 which, considering my betting experience, was a success. The Kentucky Derby has many traditions and customs before the race, such as the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home” and the national anthem, which is customarily sung by someone famous and this year, Lady Antebellum sang both of the historic songs. Consequently, the balcony was congested with people, crammed shoulder to shoulder. Thankfully, my family and I were smart enough to get out on the balcony thirty minutes before the big race to ensure front row seats. The Kentucky Derby is a 1.25-mile race that only thoroughbred, male horses can run. Favored winners of the Kentucky Derby included Gun Runner, Nyquist, Classic Empire, and Destin (Lintiner, n.p). After the 142nd Kentucky Derby, Nyquist was crowned the winner, with 3-1 odds (Lintiner, n.p). Nyquist, his jockey, and owners won the grand prize of
Citizens living near Churchill Downs rent out their yard for five dollars, allowing people to park their cars on their lawn while home owners near the track would also make their own BBQ, popcorn, or any snack that could be sold in the arena and sell it cheaper. Arriving at Churchill Downs, we were escorted to the same floor we were at the previous day. Again, the buffet was filled with a plethora of derby food, including my favorite, derby pie. One of the many traditions the Kentucky Derby bestows is its famous mint julep which is just fancy bourbon with mint leaves. Ultimately, the whole day is long and if you wear heels, the day seems way longer. Similar to the previous day, there were multiple races leading up to the 142nd annual Kentucky Derby. For the most part, the races leading up to the derby were small therefore, I was determined to place a wager. Deciding that I had a better prospect on collecting money if I waged on a horse to show, I did just that. Overall, I made a profit of $30 which, considering my betting experience, was a success. The Kentucky Derby has many traditions and customs before the race, such as the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home” and the national anthem, which is customarily sung by someone famous and this year, Lady Antebellum sang both of the historic songs. Consequently, the balcony was congested with people, crammed shoulder to shoulder. Thankfully, my family and I were smart enough to get out on the balcony thirty minutes before the big race to ensure front row seats. The Kentucky Derby is a 1.25-mile race that only thoroughbred, male horses can run. Favored winners of the Kentucky Derby included Gun Runner, Nyquist, Classic Empire, and Destin (Lintiner, n.p). After the 142nd Kentucky Derby, Nyquist was crowned the winner, with 3-1 odds (Lintiner, n.p). Nyquist, his jockey, and owners won the grand prize of