Crowd of 45,000 expected at Kentucky Derby as horse racing's Triple Crown returns to Louisville


Crowd of 45,000 begins to descend on Kentucky Derby as the Triple Crown returns to Louisville

  • Attendees have begun arriving in their flashy hats and outfits to watch the Triple Crown 
  • 45,000 people are expected to attend the horse race held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky  
  • Race was run last year without paying spectators and after being delayed due to the pandemic

Advertisement

The Kentucky Derby makes its triumphant return with an expected crowd of 45,000 after being sidetracked by COVID last year, as scores of attendees make their way to Churchill Downs to place their bets.

Attendees showed off their flashy hats and outfits – with matching face masks – on Saturday as they made their way to watch the races in Louisville, Kentucky. 

The race was run last year without paying spectators and after being delayed until Labor Day weekend due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

America’s longest continuously held sporting event returns to its traditional spot on the calendar — the first Saturday in May. 

The 147th edition comes less than eight months after it was run without spectators last September because of COVID-19, making it the shortest time between Derbies in history.

Keeping in line with COVID-era regulations, face masks are mandated and food and drinks are all-inclusive to lessen long lines and separate payments for every transaction. 

An attendee at the Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky wears a horse-themed hat

An attendee at the Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky wears a horse-themed hat 

One woman takes a picture with her cellphone as she dons a pink, feathery hat as she attends the Kentucky Oaks race at Churchill Downs

One woman takes a picture with her cellphone as she dons a pink, feathery hat as she attends the Kentucky Oaks race at Churchill Downs

A racegoer at the 147th Kentucky Derby wears a matching mask featuring a lipstick mark to go with her red and black outfit

 A racegoer at the 147th Kentucky Derby wears a matching mask featuring a lipstick mark to go with her red and black outfit 

The Derby is back to its original schedule of being held on the first Saturday of May, followed by the Preakness on May 15 and the Belmont, which kicked off the series a year ago, concludes it on June 5.

Essential Quality, trained by Brad Cox, was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-olds. Post time is 6:57pm ET.  

A son of Tapit, Essential Quality made it 5-for-5 in his career when he won the Blue Grass Stakes by a neck on April 3.

Luis Saez will ride Essential Quality, who will break from the No. 14 post position. Cox also will send 15-1 Mandaloun to the No. 7 post under jockey Florent Geroux.

Cox, in his first Derby, will try to become the first Louisville native to win the 147th Run for the Roses.  

Essential Quality is owned and bred by Godolphin Racing, the stable of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum, who is 0-for-11 in his decades-long quest to win America’s greatest race. A victory by Essential Quality would bring extra scrutiny of human rights issues involving the sheikh, who won’t be among the limited fans in attendance.

Attendees will be required to wear mask to enter Churchill Downs for the  147th Kentucky Derby due to COVID concerns

Attendees will be required to wear mask to enter Churchill Downs for the  147th Kentucky Derby due to COVID concerns 

A woman accessorizes her flowery hat with a matching pink mas and pink tinted shades at Churchill Downs for the 147th Kentucky Derby

A woman accessorizes her flowery hat with a matching pink mas and pink tinted shades at Churchill Downs for the 147th Kentucky Derby 

Attendees in their best outfits form a line as they make their way to enter Churchill Downs on Saturday for the 147th Kentucky Derby

Attendees in their best outfits form a line as they make their way to enter Churchill Downs on Saturday for the 147th Kentucky Derby 

Horse race fans pose for the cameras as they sport marching horse-themed outfits  at Churchill Downs on Friday

Horse race fans pose for the cameras as they sport marching horse-themed outfits  at Churchill Downs on Friday

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission received a complaint this week from a group of human rights attorneys and students at the University of Louisville seeking to have Sheikh Mohammed banned from the Derby over alleged human rights abuses. A judge in England ruled that he orchestrated the abductions of two of his adult daughters.

Essential Quality’s jockey, Luis Saez, is seeking his first Derby win after crossing the finish line first aboard Maximum Security in 2019 only to have his colt disqualified.

“Essential Quality is a deserving favorite,” trainer Todd Pletcher said, “but I think it’s a wide-open race.”

Pletcher, a two-time Derby winner, saddles four starters, led by 6-1 shot Known Agenda. His others are listed at double-digit odds: 20-1 Dynamic One, 30-1 Bourbonic and 50-1 Sainthood.

Advertisement

Leave a Reply