DISCOVER • EXPLORE • EXPERIENCE
For 33 years, the Kentucky Derby Festival has had its formal kickoff with fireworks. Over the years Thunder has grown to include an air show. The free event draws upwards of 800,000 fans to the shores of the Ohio River to take in this afternoon and evening spectacle. For airshows, most of the action happens … Read more
The past six years have put a serious damper on our ability to travel and bring you great stories and photography from the Kentucky Derby Festival. Between cancer, rotator cuff surgery, and then a couple of years of COVID, it’s been a real challenge to “festival”. But we are back for the 2023 Kentucky Derby … Read more
After our successful return to North Carolina after spending two weeks in Louisville, it’s time to look back on the two weeks. While our normal adventure lasts 10 days (Friday thru Sunday spanning the week before the Kentucky Derby), this year, we drove up to Louisville two Friday’s before the Derby to take part in … Read more
The theme of the this year’s Kentucky Derby Festival should have been “Wet and wonderful.” Two balloon races cancelled, a balloon glow postponed. Rain. Rain. Rain. Cold. Cold. Cold. Thurby – rained. Oaks – Rained and the Derby day forecast? Rain and Cold. But the forecast also had rain chances dropping about mid-day and an … Read more
The Kentucky Derby has run for 143 consecutive years and is by all accounts the most prestigious horse race. It’s for three-year old horses who will run 1.25 miles against the best other three-year old’s. But the day before, another race that has run for the same 143 consecutive years on the Friday before the … Read more
The Commonwealth of Kentucky has many things to do that are not tied to the Kentucky Derby, horses and a rather large festival. While you are visiting Kentucky, you should check out Mammoth Cave National Park. Mammoth Cave is large limestone cave system about 90 minutes south of Louisville near the appropriately named Cave City. … Read more
Dawn at the Downs is a chance to get up close to the Derby contenders and watch them work out. Churchill Downs hosts this event the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before the Kentucky Derby as a free event. Show up at Gate 10, walk in and up to the rail. Bring your coffee and breakfast … Read more
The Great Steamboat Race is more than a boat race. It’s about friendship.
One of the more interesting things raced during the Kentucky Derby Festival is beds. That’s right beds. Well sort of. These are more custom-made, four wheel carts with a push bar and optional steering that happens to hold a regular sized bed mattress. A team of five: a driver (frequently just a passenger) and four … Read more
It’s called “Downs after Dark” and it’s one of a hand full of night-racing sessions at Churchill Downs. This event kicks off the racing season and helps get the kinks out before hundreds of thousands of people descend on the track for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. Eleven races pack the schedule between 6pm … Read more