Dating back to 1875, the Kentucky Derby is the longest running sport event in the United States, and for what is ultimately a two-minute event, it brings in a bunch of history and traditions with it. Held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, the Kentucky Derby is an American Grade I stakes race, run by thoroughbred three-year-old horses. Covering a distance of 1.25 miles, it’s the first time the horses on the tracks run that kind of distance.
The event is as much a social affair as it is a race and has been uninterrupted throughout its years, running even during some pivotal moments in history, like during The Great Depression and the First and Second World Wars. The history of the derby today is preserved in the Kentucky Derby Museum on the grounds of Churchill Downs, where visitors can take a tour, dive into exhibits and knowledge, prop up at the Bourbon Bar and visit the store.
