Who will have the most amazing hat?

The grounds are almost ready, the flowers are being planted, the ponies are arriving, the odds are settling in, the big day is only 11 days away, but do you have your hat yet?  The 140th Kentucky Derby is set to begin on May 3-4 and the excitement is building in Louisville Kentucky.

ChurchillDowns

 

The gardens are taking shape

The gardens are taking shape

We took a behind the scenes look at the grounds and got to see some of the work that goes on year round to prepare the horses to be ready for race season.

The Paddock where the horses and their jockey meet before the race

The Paddock where the horses and their jockey meet before the race

The Kentucky will have more than 150,000 people attend and it only seats a little more than 50,000.  That means 100,000 people have no seat and most will be in the infield where you can’t even see the track.  This year they have installed a 9 story TV so that even those people can see the race.  The Derby only lasts about 2 minutes, so 1 horse out of the 30,000 Thoroughbreds born during 2011 will sit in the winners circle and then probably retire!

A trainer to be works a young pony

A trainer to be works a young pony

 

Practice riders work the horses

Practice riders work the horses

 

Full out practice race on the inner track

Full out practice race on the inner track

The Derby is a very short event but the excitement created by the tradition is contagious.  I almost bought a fancy hat!

 

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