The Kentucky Derby is packed to full capacity after two years of COVID restrictions as glamorous racegoers flood the historic Churchill Downs racing complex.
About 150,000 spectators, dressed to the nines and fortified by mint juleps served in souvenir glasses, donned to the Louisville racetrack to enjoy the 14 races taking place on Saturday, including the 148th Kentucky Derby.
The race, which will see 20 three-year-old thoroughbreds run one and a quarter miles, is set to begin at 6.57pm eastern time.
Zandon, breaking from the No. 10 post, was named the early 3-1 favorite. The dark bay colt is trained by Chad Brown, who is looking for his first Derby win after six losses. It will be ridden by jockey Flavien Prat, who won the 2019 Derby aboard Country House.
Kentucky-bred Epicenter, running out of the No. 3 position, was the second choice in the morning line at 7-2. The horse will be ridden by jockey Joel Rosario, who won the 2013 Run for the Roses aboard Orb.
An Epicenter victory would be monumental for trainer Steve Asmussen who won more horse races than any other trainer in North America, but hasn’t managed to secure a Derby win. His Kentucky Derby record is 0-for-23.
Saturday’s race comes after the past two Derby winners were disqualified. The 2021 winner, Medina Spirit, was posthumously stripped of its victory after the horse tested positive for a steroid, betamethasone, that is legal in Kentucky but banned on race day. Runner-up Mandaloun has since been declared the victor.
In 2019, winner Maximum Security was disqualified for interference and Country House wore the garland of red roses.
Racegoers returned to the Churchill Downs on Saturday, donning their most colorful outfits and head-turning hats.
The festivities, which began Friday, saw attendees showcasing eye-popping accessories as they gear up to watch what has been dubbed ‘the most exciting two minutes in sports.’
Celebrities, politicians and a fan sporting a tyrannosaurus rex costume were among those attending the annual event.
The red carpet saw the likes of Mario Lopez and former members of NSYNC, The Courier Journal reported.
Actor Walter Maxfield Jones was pictured in a gray suit smoking a cigar and double fisting alcohol, with a bottle of champagne in one hand and what appears to be a cocktail in the other.
Unlike Beshear, the t-rex, sporting a name tag that read Rexy, didn’t have much to say as he took its stride down the red carpet.
The dinosaur did, however, shake his head when asked if this was his first Derby.
U.S. Transportation Secretary and former presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg was also seen at the race. He was seen visiting trainer Dale Romans’ barn with his mother.
Former President Donald Trump is also expected to make an appearance at the annual Run for the Roses.
Trump was scheduled to attend a super PAC fundraiser at the complex Saturday, but has yet to be seen.