The Kentucky Derby tickets you want are your connection to a rich tapestry of meaning and suchness that has been created and maintained by equestrian enthusiasts and horse racing fans since 1875. The Derby is one of the oldest Thoroughbred horse races in the United States and its traditions tell a tale all their own. Kentucky derby traditions include the manner in which the winner is marked and celebrated, the type of alcoholic drink consumed by “those in the know” (which for a famous horse race like this includes everybody), the twin spires of Churchill Downs and the golden Derby trophy itself. Join us in a tour of the Kentucky Derby traditions that have captivated and attracted Kentucky Derby tickets buyers for generations.

The Kentucky Derby Song
Like all important thoroughbred horse races, the Kentucky Derby has a special song sung by those lucky enough to buy Kentucky Derby tickets and be there for the pomp and ceremony of the big day (and the mass of peripheral events that surround it).

There are few songs that can inspire emotion and pride like the moment “My Old Kentucky Home” is struck up by the Churchill Downs band the thoroughbreds are on the track waiting to run the race of their lives. Kentuckians have horse racing in the blood, and the choice of this song as the Derby Day traditional song is pure romance and poetry – a beautiful blend of sentimentality and prose that has the hairs bristling on the neck. The song was written by Stephen Foster and it is the perfect accompaniment to the sight of handsome horses making their way from the paddock to the starter’s gate. In many ways it represents the time to stand up and recognize that you’re in the presence of greatness, there in the heart of bluegrass country, where the stone walls run for miles and well-bred horses rule peoples’ lives. The first verse of “My Old Kentucky Home” goes as follows:

The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,
Tis summer, the people are gay;
The corn-top’s ripe and the meadow’s in the bloom
While the birds make music all the day.

Wonderful!

Mint Juleps and The Infield
If you know anything about the Kentucky Derby it’s that people drink mint juleps and mill around in the infield enjoying themselves and generally loving life. According to the people who run the Derby, 120,000 Mint Juleps are consumed over the two days in which the Kentucky Oaks and Derby are held at Churchill Downs. The iconic beverage, which is made with Kentucky whisky, sprigs of fresh mint, sugar, water and crushed ice, is made and refrigerated overnight for the best flavor. Juleps aren’t compulsory though; most any drink is consumed in the Infield, where one of the biggest parties in America bar none is lived out. The Kentucky Derby Infield has been compared to everything from Bourbon Street at Mardi Gras to the Calgary Stampede. “Gonzo” journalist Hunter S. Thompson wrote a famous Playboy article entitled “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved”, which actually did wonders to attract a younger party crowd to the massive event! So buy a Kentucky Derby mint julep and kick back for some major people watching!

People watching is one thing but make sure you enjoy yourself with those amazing days at Churchill Downs. If you buy Kentucky Derby tickets you will be expected to participate. This means everything from singing the Derby song, to drinking mint juleps, to enjoying the sight of the winner being decked in a garland of roses – which brings us to the next tradition.

Garland of Roses
For many the rose is the true symbol of the Kentucky Derby. The rose is indeed the official flower of the Derby, and the image of the flower, together with the the fabled Twin Spires, frames the mood effortlessly. The Governor of Kentucky presents the winning jockey with a bouquet of 60 long stemmed roses wrapped in 10 yards of ribbon, and at one time the owners of the winners actually received a silk replica of the garland. Nowadays they freeze-dry the garland, and some creative winners have even preserved a rose from the garland by dipping it in silver!

The garland itself is composed of over 400 red roses sewn on a green satin backing bearing the seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky showing the Twin Spires. Each garland is topped by a “crown” of roses, ribbons and fern. The ensemble represents the competitive spirit and resolve required to make it to the pinnacle of thoroughbred horseracing – the Kentucky Derby Winner’s Circle. The chief focus for many Derby attendees is to watch while the winner is crowned with roses and the wonderful roar of aprpeciation goes up from the wildest crowd in horseracing!

The Twin Spires
The Twin Spires of Churchill Downs are one of the most recognized symbols in sports – and certainly the most recognized in thoroughbred racing. The Kentucky Derby, more than any other race, has become inextricably associated with the spires, and many a lucky Kentucky Derby tickets owner has spent part of their time gazing fondly at the famous landmarks.

The Twin Spires were built in 1895, designed by Joseph Dominic Baldez, aged just 24 at the time. Commissioned to design a new grandstand for the racecourse, Baldez wanted to include something eye-catching somewhere in the structure, and his hexagonal spires certainly achieved this. The twin spires Churchill Downs’ trademark. Since Baldez designed them and they were raised in 1895, the spires have looked down unmoved as numerous renovations have been made to the track and surroundings. The entire Churchill Downs complex occupies an area greater than 147 acres and the main dirt oval is itself a mile long. When the grandstand and clubhouse were renovated in 2005, the twin spires were also refurbished. It is said that the Twin Spires will stand above the roof of the Kentucky grandstand forever, and we see no reason why that won’t come to pass!

Traditional Silks
Back in the early days of horse racing, it was determined that the best way to keep track of the different horses during a race was to color-code the jockeys’ garments. Racing silks, made in a variety of distinctive colors and patterns, proved remarkably effective in keeping tabs on your horse of interest and are still a huge part of racing today. These days, with track announcers and television, we are able to easily follow the progress of a horse, but back then it was a massive boon for horse racing fans to be able to track their steeds.

The tradition of the silks remains strong at Churchill Downs today as at many racecourses. The jockeys sport the colors that represent the owners, and a huge variety of designed silks exist to broadcast the identity of rider and horse. Back in the age of King Charles II, racing silks were very basic; red represented a duke, with black representing a second duke, etc. The Churchill Downs jockeys’ room boasts a collection – numbering in the hundreds – of silks, each one designated for its specific jockey. You can see a sampling each racing day by watching the jockeys as they enter the paddock ready to meet their mounts. Check out this website where you can design your own racing silks!

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most historic and esteemed horse races in the world. Together with its sister race, the Kentucky Oaks (run the day before), the Kentucky race meeting at Churchill Downs never fails to live up to expectations. Buy Kentucky Derby tickets today and participate in this wonderful pageant. It’s the best thing you can do when it comes to the Sport of Kings.