Kentucky derby how long is the race

Changes this year: From celebrities to a packed infield, here are 5 things we'll miss at Kentucky Derby Photo gallery: Bright colors and florals the top Kentucky Derby fashion trends. Churchill Downs has a regular capacity of ,, including general admission tickets. About 55, to 60, tickets are reserved seats.

So altogether, about 45, or so fans could be in attendance Saturday. The average high for May 1 is 73 degrees and a low of 53, with rainfall 0. The Derby was the wettest ever recorded, and rain drenched the track again in Justify won the race with a time of Secretariat owns the Kentucky Derby record for the fastest time at Years of preparation go into the Kentucky Derby as race teams aim to make the historic race at Churchill Downs.

It only takes two minutes for dreams to be reached or for the majority of hopes to be dashed. For many of the horses competing at the Kentucky Derby, it is the longest race that they have competed in up until this point. The length combined with an environment unlike any other is why the race is so difficult to win.

Trainer Bill Mott spoke about bringing the right horses to Churchill Downs. Watch the th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 from 12 to p. ET on NBC. Full coverage is also available on NBCSports. We and our partners use cookies on this site to provide a better experience with content, analytics, ads and to help improve security on our site.

To accept cookies, close this box or continue to use our site, otherwise please do not use this website. The weather in Louisville in May is typically warm with average highs in the 70s. To see the historical weather for the Kentucky Derby, dating back to , click here. Louisville offers a number of attractions for visitors to explore while in town for the Derby.

In addition to the Derby week festivities , the city offers a number of museums including the Louisville Slugger Museum and Muhammad Ali Center, some great restaurants, and plenty of tours to horse country and bourbon country. For more ideas, check out our Louisville Travel Guide , which is full of our favorite things about this exciting destination. Kentucky Derby Winners since When available, it can be viewed here.

The Mint Julep has long been a Derby staple. Each year, Churchill Downs serves up close to , of the drinks during the Kentucky Derby weekend.

The popular drink is made with bourbon, simple syrup and fresh mint leaves. One of the highlights of Derby week is the fashion. So what should you wear to the Kentucky Derby? There is no dress code but typically attendees dress up in elaborate spring outfits.

For women, the focus is on the hats. For men, the traditional seersucker suit is always popular, though in recent years pastel-toned suits and bold color palettes are prominent as well. Kentucky Derby weekend is known to draw plenty of A-list celebrities every year. In , celebrities in attendance Derby weekend included:.

Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, has twin spires on its roof. Each year, the winner of the Kentucky Derby is presented with a garland of red roses as part of the victory ceremony. The garland contains over red roses and was introduced at the race.