The Kentucky Derby is called “the most exciting two minutes in sports” for good reason. The world’s most famous horse race features elite equine athletes, a rich sporting tradition, and plenty of dapper horse racing fans sipping mint juleps.
And you don’t even have to attend the race to get in on the hottest Kentucky Derby betting action. Download the MaximBet Play app now from the App Store or Google Play Store, make your Derby predictions before the race and if you’re right, you could have a chance to win a $50,000 jackpot. Entry is free and limited to one entry per person.
Here, a few key takeaways to know about the Kentucky Derby:
History Of The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby was first run on May 17, 1875, and – incredibly – it has run uninterrupted every year since. The race owes its existence to Col. Meriwether Clark Jr., grandson of William Clark of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition.
After a trip to England to catch the Epsom Derby and then to France, Clark Jr. was inspired by the French Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris. At the time, it was the greatest race in France. Upon his return to Kentucky, Clark organized the Louisville Jockey Club to raise money for what would eventually become Churchill Downs. That fabled track is where the Kentucky Derby is run every year.
The Kentucky Derby Today
Today, the race is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, with the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes rounding out the trio of races. It is almost always on the first Saturday in May (except in 2020 when it was rescheduled for September due to the Covid pandemic), capping a two-week Kentucky Derby Festival.
The race itself features three-year-old thoroughbred horses running a distance of one and a quarter miles. But this is more than a horse race. It’s one of the biggest social events of the year.
Kentucky Derby Traditions
Sure, folks love the excitement of the race. But for a lot of spectators, it’s all about the many Derby traditions. Like, the Garland of Roses. This was first introduced as white and pink roses in 1896, and then evolved to a red arrangement in 1904.
There’s also Kentucky Derby Fashion. Trying to emulate the prestige of attending the horse races in Europe, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr’s dress-code was strictly “morning dress.” And no, that doesn’t mean a bathrobe. Think tails and waistcoats for men, and Victorian-era gowns for women. Interestingly, the tradition of women in hats didn’t make an appearance until the 1960s. Now for some, the Kentucky Derby hat parade is the main event.
And of course, there’s the Mint Julep. For almost 100 years, the Mint Julep has held its place as the drink of choice at the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, with the events now going through over 10,000 bottles of Old Forester Mint Julep every year.
Whether you’re an expert in the Derby or have only stumbled across it today, everyone can have a go at making their predictions with a chance to win the MaximBet Play $50,000 jackpot.
Guess which horse is going to win and by how many lengths, how fast the first half-mile will be won by, and more.
Simply download the MaximBet Play app, mix yourself a mint julep and get those predictions in now!
