LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On the May 4, tens of thousands of people will fill the stands at Churchill Downs ready to witness history in Kentucky Derby 150.
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People will join together to sing "My Old Kentucky Home." The horses will walk from the paddock, out on the track, past the cheering crowd, to the starting gate. The University of Louisville marching band will be performing the song they've done for almost every year since 1936.
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world.
The Derby field is limited to 3-year-olds and, since 1975, to 20 horses.
This year, a new winner will receive the garland of roses in the winners circle continuing the legacy of the "Greatest Two Minutes in Sports."
Although it's called this, only two horses have finished the race in under two minutes. Secretariat set the course record in 1973, finishing the race in 1 minute and 59 2/5 seconds. Monarchos was the second horse to finish the race in under two minutes. He won the 2001 Derby in a computer-timed 1 minute and 59.97 seconds.
On May 17, 1875, Aristides won the first Kentucky Derby in front of a crowd of 10,000. But it was another 20 years before the iconic twin spires of Churchill Downs welcomes racing fans.
Over the next century, traditions were created, champions were crowned and history was made.
From the garland of roses, to the pageantry of the fashion, to the love of the horses themselves -- the Kentucky Derby is unlike any other race.
This year, the grand race enters rare territory for any sporting event in the world. We will be wondering, on the edge of our seats, who will take home the roses for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.
It truly is the Greatest Two Minutes.
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