Kentucky Derby 2024: Scenes from the 150th Run for the Roses
Derby Day 2024 is here. Race fans packed Churchill Downs to celebrate the 150th Run for the Roses. LPM News reporters and editors are on site to bring you the latest from the track.
The run for the roses
The garland of roses and the trophy has arrived.
The 150th Kentucky Derby is getting ready to go and Reporter Justin Hicks is on the dirt track at the finish line.
Homemade hats are high fashion
Decadent hats were a theme at Derby 150.
People piled their heads high with outlandish headgear.
Virginie Meyer designed her husband Keith’s towering hat.
The Meyers said they wanted to go all out for their first time at the Derby.
The hat is the bust of a horse done in moss with a garland of roses that draped down Keith’s back.
It was a head turner of a look.
“We just got and probably had about 500 pictures taken already,” Virginie Meyer said.
Although with the weight of the hat, Keith wasn’t doing too much head movement of his own.
“I don’t know the pounds, but it was very heavy,” Keith said.
The Meyers weren’t the only ones keeping spectacular hats in the family.
Dayton, Ohio resident Erin Miller and her daughter Grace were both wearing hats adorned with flowers.
“Every year I make a hat and it’s the biggest one ever,” Erin said.
She only has one rule for herself: the hat design must include an animal.
This year’s features a fish bowl.
“I liked her one with flamingoes on it 'cause the tails went down,” Grace said.
This is Erin and Grace's 14th and 10th year attending the respectively and every year Erin takes the chance to put her best hat forward.
“This is my thing, this my vacation, this is it. We go all in on the Derby,” Erin said.
As for Grace…
“I just try to keep up with her really,” she said.
Eyes on the infield
Over in the infield, people from all over the world get dressed up in grand outfits, but can end up walking through muck.
In some areas, paying ticket holders had to wait close to 45 minutes for a beer or water, just to be told by an overrun staff that they're out of stock.
The long lines in the in field can be a stark contrast from those in the all inclusive-parts of the track.
Unchained Melody
Gregorio Banuelos who goes as “Mexican Elvis” is back at Churchill Downs on Saturday. He switched up his outfit a little from Friday at the Oaks.
He says he is from Denver and this is his second time at the Derby. He was asked to do some Cinco de Mayo events in Denver this weekend but declined because he says the people at the Derby are more fun.
Proposals and pocket money
The lead up to the 150th Run for the Roses was a life-changing moment for Kentuckian Kyla Yeager.
Her boyfriend, Clinton Phillips popped the question at the front gate of Churchill Downs, and with teary eyes, she said yes.
The crowd gathered around the couple erupted in cheers to their engagement.
Meanwhile, Jeff Sepesi from North Carolina just won $4,300 off a $20 trifecta bet.
If you’re one of his friends, now would be the time to remind him he’s your best buddy.
Fun for all ages
People of all ages came out on Derby Day to enjoy the festivities.
Twelve-year-old Elliana Kennedy is from Louisville and was attending her first Derby.
“I’m really excited. I’ve always wanted to go,” Kennedy said. “Just being here is really cool. I love animals, especially horses.”
Kennedy hadn’t had a chance to check out the new paddock yet, but was excited for a chance to get a closer look at the equine stars of the day.
She explained that horse racing runs in the family. Her grandfather owned the sibling of a past Derby winner. She had her eyes on Fierceness to take home the garland of roses.
But mainly she was looking forward to a good time at the track.
“I think it’s just fun to be able to dress up and then wear a fancy hat or fascinator,” Kennedy said.
Seeing the different outfit people wear is one of the favorite pastimes of Churchill Downs drink vendor Chris Payne.
“It’s the style,” Payne said. “I like the creative dress [and] how they dress up out here.”
Payne has been coming down from Detroit, Michigan, to hand out beers and water at the track for the past 10 years.
“It’s fun,” Payne said. “It’s chill, laid back interacting with different fans.”
Twin Spires
From the fascinators to the fedoras, fancy hats are a Derby tradition.
Chris Lowber’s exceptionally large hat drew inspiration from Churchill Downs' iconic architecture.
Lowber, from Louisville, says he is “slumming it in the infield” Saturday, but he’s slow getting to his gate because everyone wants to take a picture with him.
Richard Reeves from Paducah, Kentucky, watched race six from the infield Satufday as the Kentucky Derby draws nearer. He says his nephew bought the tickets but couldn’t use them so he snapped them up. It’s his first Derby.
Cheers from the stands
Amelia Lingerfelt of Dallas, Texas, and her family cheer on the winner of a race in the lead up to the Kentucky Derby.
Lingerfelt was born in Louisville and has family here. She says she returns every year for the Derby.
Protesters question horses' safety
Outside the track, a couple of animal rights protesters hold signs opposing the horse racing industry.
Last year, a dozen horses died within a month at the track leading to investigations and heightened scrutiny.
As a result, Churchill Downs canceled its season midway through.
You can read more about the investigations and new safety measures in our story.
On the bucket list
Churchill Downs began filling up soon after the gates opened on Saturday morning.
Washington state residents Bill and Allison Brewer were out waiting to get a picture with the track’s statue of the legendary racehorse Secretariat.
Coming to the Derby was a bucket list item for them.
“A group of friends were coming and we decided to tag along,” Bill Brewer said.
The Brewers were excited to experience everything Derby has to offer the food, the drinks and of course the horse racing.
“This is just truly historic. We are at the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby,” Bill Brewer said.
Another large part of the Derby experience is the fashion.
Lauren Hurley traveled from Pennsylvania with a show-stopping Derby hat. She designed it herself.
“I wanted a really, really big large hat,” Hurley said. “I wanted that classy dress look and a hat to be my statement.”
She started off with an orange base and added flowers, feathers, bows and tulle in more hues of orange, blue and white to create a sky-high hat.
Hurley had her whole family in town for the race coming from all over the country. She said experiencing Derby with them was definitely worth the travel.
“[I’m] loving every minute of it,” Hurley said.