Why is the Kentucky Derby a Big Deal?

by:Nick Roush•05/02/24•

RoushKSR

Why is the Kentucky Derby such a Big Deal?

It’s a question I never thought to consider until 2008, my first Kentucky Derby. I was not a guest, but a security guard stationed next to an MP from Ft. Knox. A northeast native, he did not understand all of the hubbub behind the two-minute race around the track. That weekend he asked the question to anybody willing to respond.

Why is the Kentucky Derby such a Big Deal?

At only 16 years old, I did not have a good answer to the question. The Kentucky Derby was just a part of life. Shutting down a city for a fireworks show to celebrate a 2-minute horse race made sense. Why wouldn’t you get a day off of school for Derby? It was a holiday where my house turned into a hostel for my parents’ friends to hit the racetrack every year.

The Kentucky Derby is a big deal and 16 years later on its 150th anniversary, I’m finally able to understand why.

I’m a fanatic. Drew Franklin often refers to this as my Super Bowl. Over the last few weeks, Steven Peake used his creative genius to help me share this love letter to my favorite event on the calendar year.

We spoke to a historian who told the origin story of Churchill Downs and its premiere race. The track fell on hard times, but there was a crucial turning point about 100 years ago that helped make this the main event in North American thoroughbred horse racing.

There’s plenty of pomp and circumstance surrounding the event, one that is highlighted by celebrity appearances and luxurious accommodations rarely seen in the state of Kentucky. That’s not what makes this special for me. Allow me to share how one sporting event became a family affair that will always hold a special place in my heart.

I hope you get to share this delightful experience, and if you want some company, don’t be a stranger. You’ll find me having the time of my life in the Infield’s first turn celebrating all weekend long.