Kentucky Derby Do’s and Don’ts

DO try a Mint Julep

For no other reason than to experience the official drink of the Derby, buy one of these overly-priced beverages. Why? It is the iconic Derby drink. Nearly 120,000 Mint Juleps are served at the racetrack on Derby weekend. Also, though they are $14 a pop, they are served in glass cups and you get to keep those so be sure to snag one as a souvenir. They are also refreshing and served sooooo cold, which is great on a hot race day. I love the smell of mint that hits me in the face as I take a swig.

Mint Julep:

. 2 cups sugar

. 2 cups water

. Sprigs of fresh mint

. Crushed ice

. Old Forester Straight Bourbon Whisky

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water. Place in a container with several sprigs of mint, cool overnight. Build Mint Julep by filling your cup with ice, then add one tablespoon of your mint syrup and two ounces of Bourbon. Stir rapidly and garnish with mint.

I am a Bourbon fan, so that aides in my likeness to this drink but if we are talking amazing beverages, the official drink of the Kentucky Oaks, which takes place the Friday before the Derby, is a sweet and sour treasure and it is my favorite. The Lily is so tasty that it was our signature cocktail at our wedding. Fun fact: the mix for the lilies served at our wedding was the official mix from Churchill Downs. It is not only pretty to look at with its hot pink hue, but tasty, too. Yes it is a little girly but men, don’t let that dissuade you because my goodness is it easy to drink on a hot afternoon at the racetrack. Thankfully, you can get Lilies on Derby Day too in their festive round cups. They’re also $14, but the cup and blackberry garnish is yours. The Spire is a delicious option as well- Bourbon, lemonade, cranberry juice, and lemon. Yum.

SKIP the long betting lines by placing your bets early. Start placing bets for the actual Derby far sooner (like in the morning) and you can save yourself from waiting in the hectic lines at the betting windows. Now, odds change throughout the day, but if you’re like me and betting is more for fun than for a prize, you can relax the rest of the afternoon and evening if you bet early when the lines are slow.

DO visit the paddock to watch the horses parade out before a race. If you gather in the paddock area at the right time, you can watch the horses head out to the racetrack. This is so neat, as you can see them up close and fully appreciate their beauty and their amazing muscles.

SKIP the highest heels. It was a rainy day last year and I was thankful to be in wedges. Daniel and I like to walk around a lot so I want to be comfortable. Also, the weather can be unpredictable and heels could lead to a slippery fall on a wet day. I have witnessed ladies falling down in the uneven bricks and in the grandstand because of their heels. Hanging out in the infield? Heels probably won’t last a minute before sinking into the soft grass and, on a rainy day, soppy mud.

DO bring or buy a bag. Those $14 glass cups? I like keeping a few of those and I certainly don’t want to hold them all day, so I usually buy something from the merchandise store and then use that plastic bag as a place to store the glasses. Dump the ice, rinse them in the bathroom sink, and dry them off. Then, wrap them in paper towel and stick them up in your bag.

SKIP using your credit card. Vendors come around all day with drinks and they don’t take cards. Bring cash for beverages and betting, unless you want to stand in lines every time you want a snack or drink.

DO keep track of your tickets. Someone I know (Daniel, cough cough) won $100 on a midday race last year and when we went to cash it in, he couldn’t find the ticket anywhere. He looked on the ground, in every suit pocket, at our seats, everything. He never found the ticket. Don’t lose your tickets.

SKIP looking a fool when you bet. Speaking of tickets, it can be quite intimidating to walk up to a counter and place a bet if you don’t know how. If you are only betting on one horse (versus a trifecta, exacta, etc.) you simply say the race number, the money amount, and the horse number to win. “Race three, $2 on number 4 to win.” It is that easy. Now, there are ways you can make it much more complicated if you want to make boxes and bet on multiple horses and races, but one bet at a time is great for newcomers.

DO know a bit of history about the Run for the Roses. John and Henry Churchill provided the land for the racetrack, which is why it is called Churchill Downs. The Derby is always held the first Saturday in May, and horses must be three years old to run. The race was first televised in 1952, and in 2018, the most recent coveted Triple Crown victory went to Justify.

DO have a blast under the spires and may the odds be in your favor on your next race day adventure!