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A ‘My Quality Time” visit to Churchill Downs & The Kentucky Derby Museum ( FELLOW BLOGGERS SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND TO COMMENT LATELY)
The Kentucky Derby Museum first opened its doors in April 1985. The Museum sits adjacent to historic Churchill Downs Racetrack.
Linda and I enjoyed; Historic Walking Tour (included with admission) & The Behind the Scenes Walking Tour
F.Y.I.:: Hoverboards are the only 2016 addition to Churchill Downs' list of security “do's and don'ts” for the Oaks and Derby, set for Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, respectively, Read More
Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that, in 1973, became the first U.S. Triple Crown winner in 25 years. He set race records in all three events in the series – the Kentucky Derby (1:592⁄5), the Preakness Stakes (1:53), and the Belmont Stakes (2:24) – records that still stand today. He is considered to be one of the greatest Thoroughbreds of all time. Read More
Whirlaway won the U.S. Triple Crown in 1941. Whirlaway was widely known as "Mr. Longtail" because his tail was especially long and thick and it would blow far out behind him during races, flowing dramatically in the wind.
As many as 120,000 mint juleps will be downed at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.
The mint julep as we now know it became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1938. By then, Kentucky bourbon, had replaced its more saccharine cousins as the main spirit in the cocktail.
Did you know:: “Mint juleps were served in pewter julep cups with crushed or shaved ice for a specific reason: The purpose of the cups isn't immediately clear to most drinkers because they are holding them wrong. Julep cups should only be held by the top or the bottom so that the crushed ice inside them can create a frost on the outside.”
“Hold on to your Derby hats for a thrilling new, “The Greatest Race™” - ten years in the making and projected larger-than-life in one of the world’s only 360°, 4K theaters. An immersive sound and visual experience that will send your heart racing and emotions soaring - only at the Kentucky Derby Museum where every day is Derby Day.” This theater is really neat……………………….
Moving on…
Note: World's Largest 4K Video Board at Churchill Downs…. The 171-foot wide by 90-foot tall video board will sit 80-feet above the ground and will top out at 170-feet in height so that fans throughout the racetrack will be able to view crystal clear racing content. Read More..
Heads Up:: If you get to the first or second Behind the Scenes Walking Tour you will probably get to see some of the horses “working out”.
That horse wants to be going a lot faster,but the rider is holding him back… notice the position of the horses head. (says the tour guide)
Look at the depth of that sand… That is finer sand than a lot of golf courses I play at. “The track surface plays a vital role in safety. Experts have long considered Churchill Downs’ dirt track to be one of the safest surfaces in horse racing. The one-mile oval stretches 80 feet in width and has a unique 12-inch resilient clay base on top of a 25-foot sandy loam sub-base. Eight inches of carefully sifted and mixed materials sit atop the clay base: a blend of 75% round river sand, 23% silt and 2% clay. The silt and clay function as a bind for the sand. The top three inches are fluffed and act as a cushion for the horse, while the compacted, resilient five-inch cushion underneath protects the horse from ever reaching the sturdy base. Churchill Downs’ stretch is one of the longest in horse racing, with a distance of 1,234½ feet from the turn for home to the finish line.” Read More
The twin spires atop the grandstands are the most recognizable architectural feature of Churchill Downs and are used as a symbol of the track and the Derby. They were designed by architect Joseph Dominic Baldez and built in 1895.
“The horse owner typically pays a monthly retainer or, in North America, a "day rate" to his or her trainer, together with fees for use of the training center or gallops (if the horse is not stabled at a race track), veterinarian and farrier (horseshoer) fees and other expenses such as mortality insurance premiums, stakes entry fees and jockeys' fees. The typical cost of owning a race horse in training for one year is in the order of £15,000 in the United Kingdom and as much as $35,000 at major race tracks in North America.”
Where the money is::: “It's that time of year again. With each passing day, more and more little ones are running through the fields here in Lexington, Kentucky with their proud moms. From now until June, more than 20,000 Thoroughbred foals will be born in North America. Of the foals born this year, only 20 of them will make it to the starting gate in the 2018 Kentucky Derby. A great deal of work goes into producing a healthy, thriving munchkin. The process begins long before a thoroughbred racehorse is ever born.” Read More.. What is the “covering process?” Did you know stallions are quirky and may balk at certain types of mares (some stallions will not cover grey mares for instance).
These are the top 250 Active Jockeys in North America. Check the ratings ..how many are women?.. Has a woman jockey ever won the Kentucky Derby?
Owners & Trainers 
“Every Kentucky Derby winner since 1938 has been led to the infield presentation area to be honored. Since 1944, the winner's circle has included a landscaped horseshoe floral arrangement that the winning horse is led into for photographs.”
According to Chris Goodlett, Curator of Collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, KY, the mint julep has been part of the Kentucky racing tradition since the 19th century. You might try the Henry Clay Mint Julep..
For all you ladies:: “When selecting your dress for the Kentucky Derby the recommended practice is to keep it simple, so it doesn't take away from your hat.
AND THE WINNER IS:::
We hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of The Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs. Louisville, Kentucky is a great city to visit and spend some time, especially if you like museums and horses…
“It took us 12 years to genetically engineer him. We are going to make millions.”
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