Kentucky Derby

Location: Louisville, KY
Venue: Churchill Downs
Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012

The 2012 Kentucky Derby, otherwise known as “The Run for the Roses”, will be held at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

Louisville Package

Includes deluxe hotel accommodations in Louisville, reserved grandstand tickets to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, event transfers, gifts and more.

Lexington Package

Includes deluxe hotel accommodations in Lexington, reserved grandstand tickets to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, event transfers, gifts and more.

Local Package

Includes reserved grandstand tickets to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, event transfers, gifts and more.

Event History

The Kentucky Derby is a stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter miles at Churchill Downs.

The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is followed by the Preakness Stakes then the Belmont Stakes.

In addition to the race itself, a number of traditions play a large role in the Derby atmosphere. The Mint Julep, an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint and a sugar syrup is the traditional beverage of the race. Also, burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby.