Derby Day!
![]()
Racing Museum Hall of Fame
It's Derby Time!
The famous horse race is always on the first Saturday in May, so this year it's on May 3, 2014.
The famous horse race is always on the first Saturday in May, so this year it's on May 3, 2014.
Here's just a taste of Kentucky Derby history and lore. There's tons more info online. Get all the details:
There's more to it than just beautiful horses. There are beautiful hats, interesting traditions (including an official drink), and lots of memorabilia and collectibles.
Check out the Kentucky Derby Museum website.
See the Kentucky Derby Museum's photo albums.
The Kentucky Derby Museum
New for 2014, at the Kentucky Derby Museum, a vintage horse race toy exhibit. Here are some photos, followed by their press release.
Kentucky Derby Museum shows fun side of Derby with new Horse Play Exhibit
- Opening April 14th, Horse Play will highlight the playful side of the Kentucky Derby featuring nearly 60 historic equine toys, digital interactives and music created exclusively for the museum.
- Drawing from over 140 years of history, Horse Play uses artifacts, games, photographs and videos to capture the engaging, curious and exciting event the Derby is today through the use of toys.
- Created as a hands-on game experience, Horse Play will explore the sense of play that is a true part of the world’s greatest racing event. Visitors will activate the sights and sounds around them progressing from a history of horse toys and games to oversized versions of the artifacts themselves. As a ‘you can touch’ museum, guests are invited to engage their senses and play in the space while listening to the original music compositions created by the local musicians of Whistle Peak.
- The museum has purchased a circa-1970’s, coin-operated, Kentucky Derby-themed carousel ride to become a permanent mainstay of the museum for this exhibit.
- Additional artifacts displayed in the exhibit range from bobbleheads, dolls and racing games to wooden horses and board games. Many of the featured items are on loan from collaborating partners including the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the Ken Grayson Collection. Additional digital displays are contributed by KET and The Courier-Journal.
- The exhibit is included in general admission and will be open to the public every day from Monday, April 14th through December 31, 2014 on the museum’s second floor in the Matt Winn Gallery.
- Media images can be found here courtesy of Kentucky Derby Museum:
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/77780824@N08/sets/72157642950705793/
Mint Julep ![]()
The Mint Julep has been the traditional beverage of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century. Early Times Kentucky Whisky has been privileged and honored to be a part of that tradition. The Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail has been "The Official Mint Julep of the Kentucky Derby" for more than 18 years.
How to Make a mint julep ›
Click to enlarge the pic.
From 'A Taste of Kentucky': "While the concept of serving mint juleps was not new, the development of the Mint Julep Glass came later.
Many people think that Kentucky Derby Mint Julep glasses started in 1938, but although the confusion is understandable, they did not. What happened in 1938 is that instead of serving their mint juleps in paper cups, Churchill Downs served them in tall water glasses and people kept stealing them!
So the following year in 1939 Churchill Downs created a promotional piece — the birth of the Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Glass — that people could purchase and keep as a souvenir of their visit to the Kentucky Derby.
Over the years mint julep glasses have gone through many designs and styles."
- Collecting Derby Glasses
- The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection - Derby glasses
- Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs
It's a fun tradition for ladies to wear big-brimmed flower and ribbon trimmed hats at the Kentucky Derby.
Some designers specialize in over-the-top toppers. Read "Crowning Glory: The Art of Kentucky Derby Hats".
Believe it or not, this hat's relatively conservative.
Ladie's hats have been fanciful for decades (at least). Here's an illustration from 1902 from the Edwardian Clothing fashion history blog:
HORSE RACING BOOKS & DERBY HISTORY
- Read Horse Racing History Books from Arcadia Publishing
[Note: This post was updated for the 2014 race, so the race date in the photo up above is wrong.]
__________________________
Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com