13 Kentucky Derby Facts, Including The Right Way to Drink a Mint Julep

The Kentucky Derby

Every May, 20 horses run for two minutes that change lives forever. But the Kentucky Derby isn’t just the fastest two minutes in sports.

It’s mint juleps in silver cups, outrageous hats, and 150 years of Kentucky tradition where thoroughbred racing meets Southern pageantry.

Here’s the stuff they leave out of the fancy brochures.

1. The Race Distance Changed After 20 Years

When it started, horses ran a longer 1.5-mile course, but in 1896, officials shortened it to the current 1.25 miles.

They realized the longer distance was too tough on three-year-old horses so early in the spring season.

Since 1931, the race has been permanently scheduled for the first Saturday in May, with only two exceptions: during a 1945 wartime racing suspension and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

2. African American Jockeys Won Most Early Kentucky Derby Races

In the very first race in 1875, 13 of the 15 jockeys were African American, including Oliver Lewis who rode Aristides to victory.

Black jockeys won an incredible 15 of the first 28 Kentucky Derbys between 1875 and 1902, showing amazing skill during a challenging era in American history.

3. Iconic Kentucky Derby Stats

Only three fillies (female horses) have ever won the Derby: Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980), and Winning Colors (1988). The smallest field ever? Just three horses in 1892 competed for the prize.

The legendary Secretariat still holds the Derby course record from 1973, finishing in 1:59 2/5 – a time that remains unbeaten.

Four horses share the record for largest margin of victory at eight lengths: Old Rosebud (1914), Johnstown (1939), Whirlaway (1941), and Assault (1946).

If you’re looking for the biggest upset, that belongs to Donerail, who won at 91-1 odds in 1913 and paid a jaw-dropping $184.90 for a $2 bet.

And if you’re wondering about the most successful jockeys, look no further than Bill Hartack and Eddie Arcaro, who each won five Derby races during their careers.

4. The Twin Spires Have Become the Symbol of Churchill Downs

You’ll spot the famous Twin Spires from almost anywhere at Churchill Downs.

These iconic pointed rooftops were designed in 1895 by 24-year-old draftsman Joseph Dominic Baldez, who simply added them to the blueprint to make the grandstand look more impressive.

They appear on official Derby merchandise worldwide, including the official mint julep cups for the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

5. The Correct Way to Drink Your Mint Julep

Each Derby weekend, fans consume more than 125,000 mint juleps, requiring over 10,000 bottles of Kentucky bourbon, 2,250 pounds of fresh mint, and 475,000 pounds of ice.

The official recipe uses Old Forester bourbon, simple syrup, and mint leaves over crushed ice.

For the best flavor, bartenders recommend slapping the mint between your palms before garnishing and placing your straw near the mint so you get the aroma with each sip.

Fun Fact:

The mint julep was first documented in 1784 as a medicine for stomach problems.

6. How Roses Became the Champion’s Coveted Prize

The Kentucky Derby wasn’t always known as “The Run for the Roses.”

It all began in 1883 when roses were given to women at fashionable Derby parties, impressing Churchill Downs President Colonel Lewis Clark enough to make it official for the 1884 race.

In 1925, New York sports columnist Bill Corum dubbed it “The Run for the Roses,” a nickname that’s now lasted nearly a century.

Each garland contains 426 roses in the blanket plus a “crown” with a rose for each horse in the race, weighing about 40 pounds when finished.

Since 1996, owners can have their horse’s rose garland freeze-dried and preserved for display, whereas before they only received a silk replica.

7. University of Louisville is a Kentucky Derby Institution

One of the most emotional moments of Derby Day happens when you hear “My Old Kentucky Home” played as the horses parade to the starting gate.

Since 1936, with very few exceptions, the University of Louisville Marching Band has performed this song as horses make their way from the paddock to the starting gate.

This tradition dates back to at least 1921, when the Louisville Courier-Journal reported fans expressing their delight to the song during the victory of Kentucky-bred horse Behave Yourself.

8. Derby Hats and Fashion Have Become as Important as the Horses

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, hats showed your social status at the Derby. While hats became less common in everyday life over the decades, they remained central to Derby tradition.

The trend of wearing elaborate hats really took off in the 1960s, partly because of television cameras at the Derby that encouraged attendees to show off increasingly fancy headwear.

This fashion focus goes back to Derby founder Clark, who wanted to improve the image of American racetracks and attract upscale crowds.

For the 2025 Derby, Churchill Downs has released its second annual Style Guide featuring soft pastels, jewel tones, embellishments, and dramatic silhouettes.

9. The Kentucky Derby Was Inspired by European Races

Founder Meriwether Lewis Clark modeled his event after the Epsom Derby in England and visited the French Jockey Club before creating the American classic.

By 1932, during the Great Depression, the Derby was broadcast internationally, reaching listeners as far away as England.

10. The Elusive Triple Crown

In 1919, Sir Barton became the first horse to win what later became known as the Triple Crown, taking the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Withers Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in just 32 days.

Throughout racing history, only 13 horses have achieved this elusive Triple Crown, showing how incredibly difficult it is to win all three races.

The 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2025, will officially begin the Triple Crown season, followed by the Preakness Stakes in mid-May and the Belmont Stakes in early June.

11. You Can Buy $1,000 Mint Julep Cups This Year

The first official Derby mint julep glass was produced in 1938, starting what became one of sports’ most enduring souvenir traditions.

This actually began after Churchill Downs administrators noticed people were taking water glasses as unofficial souvenirs from the clubhouse, so they created official glasses that have become highly collectible.

Today, you can purchase a $1,000 extra-premium mint julep served in gold-plated cups with silver straws containing Woodford Reserve bourbon.

For the 151st Kentucky Derby in 2025, premium julep cups will continue to be available for both serious collectors and charitable purposes.

Woodford Reserve creates special julep cups each year that benefit local charities, with recent proceeds supporting the Backside Learning Center for racetrack workers and their families.

12. Historic Louisville Hotels Have Hosted Derby Celebrations Since the Early 1900s

You can experience the Derby while staying in hotels that have hosted race-goers for over a century. The Seelbach Hotel opened on May 1, 1905, just in time for that year’s Kentucky Derby.

It featured 150 rooms with marble from Italy, Germany, and France, plus wood from the West Indies and Europe. When it opened, it was advertised as “the only fireproof hotel in the city” and drew 25,000 visitors to its 5-hour public inspection.

The Brown Hotel, which opened in 1923, has welcomed famous Derby guests including The Duke of Windsor, Harry Truman, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Crawford, Gene Autry, and Muhammad Ali.

The Oakroom at The Seelbach Hotel, one of Louisville’s oldest restaurants, continues to provide an exclusive fine dining experience, carrying on a tradition that started when the hotel opened in 1905.

13. The Infield vs the Grandstands Experience

While the rich and famous watch from the grandstands, a totally different Derby experience happens at the more affordable infield section.

Traditionally, you couldn’t see much of the race from there, though that improved when they installed a giant jumbotron in 2014.

Rather than focusing on the horses, many infield visitors come primarily to party, creating a festival atmosphere that contrasts with the formal sections.

Access to the infield got better in 1938 when a tunnel was built under the racetrack connecting the grandstand to the field inside.

For the 151st Kentucky Derby in 2025, Churchill Downs will unveil a transformed infield with new permanent infrastructure, offering improved comfort, better views, and enhanced hospitality.

The 2025 infield will feature one of the world’s largest 4K video boards, plenty of food and drink options, betting windows, and a dedicated entrance through the Infield Gate.