FReeper Canteen ~ It's Kentucky Derby Time!! ~ 01 May 09

Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World!! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ It’s Kentucky Derby Time!! ~

KENTUCKY DERBY TROPHY

Since the 50th running of the Kentucky Derby in 1924, Churchill Downs has annually presented a gold trophy to the winning owner of the famed "Run for the Roses."

History is unclear if a trophy was presented in 1875 to the winner of the first Kentucky Derby, and trophy presentations were sporadically made in following years. Finally, in 1924, legendary Churchill Downs President Matt Winn commissioned that a standard design be developed for the "Golden Anniversary" of the Derby.

Outside of the jeweled embellishments that were added to note special Derby anniversaries in 1949 (75th), 1974 (100th), and 1999 (125th), only one change has been made to the original design. For the 125th Kentucky Derby in 1999, Churchill Downs officials decided to defer to racing lore and change the direction of the decorative horseshoe displayed on the 14-karat gold trophy.

More on the Kentucky Derby Trophy

Kate Smith ~ My Old Kentucky Home

Canteen Mission Statement

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

HISTORY OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY

Founded as the Louisville Jockey Club in 1874, the original Churchill Downs was built by Col. M. Lewis Clark, the grandson of the famed explorer. Inspired by England’s Epsom Derby, Churchill Downs hosted the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.

Named for the original owners of the property, Churchill Downs is known for its famous twin spires, built in 1895.

In 2004, the facility underwent a $120 million modernization, replacing much of the mammoth Victorian-era grandstand with luxury suites.

Seats on Millionaire’s Row cost $50,000 (and up) for a table for eight. Suites are priced at $259,000 to $305,000 for two days, including Friday’s Kentucky Oaks program. Reserved clubhouse seats (including lunch and open bar) fetch $1,776 per person (also for two days). General admission (infield, Derby day only) is $40.

Of 133 Derby winners, 100 were born in Kentucky, followed by Florida (six) and Virginia (four). California has produced three Derby winners: Morvich (1922), Swaps (1955) and Decidedly (1962). Three fillies have won: Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988).

More Derby History

Elvis ~ Kentucky Rain

Neil Diamond ~ Kentucky Woman

Red Foley ~ Kentucky Fox Chase

Loretta Lynn ~ Blue Kentucky Girl

Everly Brothers ~ Old Kentucky River

KENTUCKY DERBY FASHIONS

The Derby is not just about horse racing and drinking Mint Juleps. . . In the Clubhouse and Paddock, women of grace and taste sport classy, fashionable styles. In the infield, you will see many homemade hats that are more comical. Or, as Hunter S. Thompson might say, freakish.

Click to see some more hats…

Dolly Parton ~ Kentucky Gambler

Julie Ingram ~ Gone To Kentucky

Ricky Skaggs ~ Kentucky Thunder

Skeeter Davis ~ Bus Fare To Kentucky

Hank Hankins ~ My Old Kentucky Home Rock

SILKS

The average race fan is able to follow a horse's progress through the use of the program, television monitors, the number on the saddlecloth and the track announcer's call.

But when horse racing first began in the early 18th century, there were no such things as program numbers, public address systems or closed circuit television. So when King Charles II first assembled race meets on the plains of Hempstead, the dukes and the barons had trouble figuring out which horse was which. So, they adopted racing silks - or colors - to distinguish their jockeys for easier viewing.

During the time of King Charles II, the silks were simple -- red for one duke, black for another duke, orange for one earl, white for another earl, and so on.

The tradition of the silks remains today as jockeys wear the colors of the horse owners, but because there are so many owners, they have become even more colorful. Some of the most famous silks are the devil's red and blue of Calumet Farm, worn by the jockeys of Kentucky Derby winners Citation and Ponder and Allen Paulson's star-spangled red-white-and-blue colors, carried by the champion racehorse Cigar.

The jockeys' room at Churchill Downs houses hundreds of silks which are hung on pegs in the order of each jockey's races for that day.

Click to check out the Contenders and their silks!!

Please remember that The Canteen is here to support
and entertain our troops and veterans and their families,
and is family friendly.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, unique!

Johnny Bond ~ Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabam

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, unique!

Larry Sparks ~ Kentucky Girl

[38special]

Box all the gray horses. I think the favorite I Want Revenge is a gray as is Dunkirk. Good luck, anything can happen.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hurrah for Friday...good evening, TS...I am so glad the weekend has finally gotten here. Any exciting outings on tap?

[Tanniker Smith]

Nope. I’ll be up early to drive my daughter to school to take the SATs. After that, a whole lot of grading papers that I haven’t been up to looking at. Marking period ends Friday.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, unique!

Louvin Brothers ~ Kentucky

[ConorMacNessa]

Hi Kathy!

*HUGS*

Thanks again for Taps - I'm using it in several new graphics.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, unique!

Ralph Stanley ~ Kentucky Shine

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac...my pleasure.....still looking for the other. I think I need an American piper because other countries use other songs. You gonna get to play in the dirt this weekend? *HUGS*

[ConorMacNessa]

Not this weekend - tomorrow I'm grouting and Sunday I'm driving up to Philly to get my daughter's stuff from college.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Grading papers? Part of the job, but doesn’t sound like fun. Did you get the extra credit requests?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Grouting....that is close to the final step of a project.

[ConorMacNessa]

Doing repair grouting on our kitchen countertop. :)

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, MasonGal....thanks for sharing some local color.

[jpsb]

I Want Revenge is scratched?????

[38special]

Afraid so.