"The greatest two minutes in sports,” this thrilling horse race is a revered Kentucky tradition. Since 1875, Churchill Downs has been the hallowed site of this 1.25-mile competition on the first Saturday in May. The race is one of the crowning achievements in the fabled Triple Crown. However, thoroughbreds are not the only attraction, because fashionable outfits are everywhere you look, especially a brilliant display of theatrical hats. Mint juleps, the Derby's official drink made with local bourbon, fuel the fun-loving crowd of over 50,000."The greatest two minutes in sports”, this thrilling horse race is a revered Kentucky tradition. Since 1875, Churchill Downs has been the hallowed site of this 1.25-mile competition on the first Saturday in May. The race is one of the crowning achievements in the fabled Triple Crown. However, thoroughbreds are not the only attraction, because fashionable outfits are everywhere you look, especially a brilliant display of theatrical hats. Mint juleps, the Derby's official drink, made with local bourbon, fuel the fun-loving crowd of over 50,000.