Those who have been to Louisville's Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May know that the Kentucky Derby is the "most exciting two minutes in sports."

Many of the Bluegrass traditions that relate to the Kentucky Derby - such as horse farm tours and the Kentucky Horse Park - can be enjoyed throughout the year. The race itself, of course, happens just once a year, always on the first Saturday in May.
If you're planning to attend the race in Louisville, keep in mind that on Derby Day, Louisville's Churchill Downs is packed from the infield to the rafters with an eclectic mass of humanity - usually about 140,000 people.
Enjoy the Derby the Bluegrass way.
As an alternative to battling the throngs at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, many locals enjoy attending races earlier in Derby week, and then find a more civilized vantage point for the Run for the Roses.
The world's largest Derby party is at Lexington's famous Keeneland Race Course and has become a tradition itself. The track's pastoral setting and relaxed atmosphere is a perfect place to enjoy the race. The betting windows are open, and official souvenir mint julep glasses are available. You can view all the races of the day on TV monitors indoors, or super large-screen TVs outside. Of course, you won't see any live horses thunder past, but then, neither do a lot of the people at that other track on the first Saturday in May.
Derby Day isn't the only time to see a Derby winner. Just as Hollywood has its "homes of the stars," the Bluegrass has the homes of the champions. Most of the living Kentucky Derby winners are stabled at the beautiful farms surrounding Lexington.