Jockey Junior Alvarado kisses a rose into a television camera while celebrating his win with racehorse Sovereignty in the winner’s circle after the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
For 151 years (excluding 2020 due to COVID-19) people gather from around the globe for what’s often called the “most exciting two minutes in sports,” the Kentucky Derby. Spectators with exuberant clothing, large, feathered hats and colorful feathers and lace. They gather to watch beautiful creatures race around the track on a moist brown dirt track 1.25-mile track.
Life off the track
Dylan Marshall, left, and Ty Whealy, middle, cheer while the horse they wagered on heads towards the lead while Eli Vondielingen’s chosen horse falls behind during a horse race on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Whealy and Marshall’s horse ended up losing in a photo finish.
Kate McDonald, right, shows her husband, Halley McDonald, her winning ticket after the horse she picked won on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025. It was the couple’s 17th wedding anniversary. They eloped on Derby Day in 2008.
“The only thing better than celebrating my anniversary at the Derby, is being married to my beautiful wife.”
-Halley McDonald
An estimated 147,400 people attended the race with different motives for attending. Some came to enjoy the sport and test their luck while others found joy in adorning themselves in unique outfits.
“It’s the best place in the world for people watching,” said David Pickler of Memphis, Tennessee. “It is an explosion of color and people are having a blast. People coming from all walks of life to celebrate life.”
Spectators gather and take their seats on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
A spectator watches the race on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Myra Sloan, 2, of Shelby County, Ky. makes the most of a thunderstorm that postponed horse races at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025. The races, like the much anticipated Kentucky Oaks Race, resumed later that evening.
Throughout the years, rain often looms over the Derby week festivities. Prior to the Kentucky Oaks race on Friday, a thunderstorm producing high winds and pouring rain drenched spectators while they scrambled for cover. Though the sun peaked out in time for the high-stakes race, spectators prepared for a full day of rain the next day.
Despite the drenching rain, spectators poured through the white arched gates as they opened as they opened to prepare for the first race on Saturday at 11 a.m.
“[I] love it (the rain), you know what, make the most of it,” said Aaron Gumz of Hebron Kentucky.
Others prepared ponchos and rain covers and expressed similar sentiments. Many got innovative and sought shelter in an area where they could still watch the races where they could remain dry.
“It’s fine it’s such an amazing day, a little rain never hurt anybody,” said Sean Kelly of Florida.
Linlee Podkrajac (11), left, Norman Podkrajac, middle, and Preston Podkrajac shelter from the rain while waiting for the next horse race in infield on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Kristi Contris of Ohio, middle, talks to her friends in the 2nd floor clubhouse seats on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Spectators in the infield place wagers on various horse races on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Drew Breese of Ohio smokes a cigar while checking out the Kentucky Oaks official program on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025. Breese came to Churchill Downs on a boys' trip with his friends from around the country.
Daniel Crenshaw, right, talks about information in the Kentucky Oaks official program with his fiancé Grace on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
The rain certainly did not affect spectators’ willingness to wager. According to Churchill Downs, all-sources wagering hit a record of $234 million passing last year’s record by about $20 million dollars.
Going into Saturday, racehorse Journalism was the heavy favorite but was passed by Sovereignty in the final seconds of the race. Sovereignty’s time was 2:02.31. Each racehorse In the Kentucky Derby was the direct descendant of the legendary racehorse Secretariat, according to Churchill Downs.
Jockey Kazushi Kimura congratulates Kopion the horse after they won the 39th running of The Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Horse caretakers cool down a race horse after a race on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Horse caretakers comforts a race horse after a race on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Hats:
A spectator walks around the concourse on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Brian bush of Pennsylvania is adorned with a horse hat he bought online for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Brad Kelly of Nashville, Tenn. walks near the paddock with his hat that he made with 3D printed parts on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Shyna Boyd of Fort Knox wears a hat made by her friend on the day of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Running for the Roses
Jockey Junior Alvarado rides horse Sovereignty to victory while horse Journalism, left, trails behind during the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Journalism was the favorite before the race.
Jockey Junior Alvarado celebrates his win with horse Sovereignty who he rode to victory in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Jockey Junior Alvarado is ponied with horse, Sovereignty, before racing in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
The garland of roses is transported out of the winner's circle after horse Sovereignty claimed victory of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Jockey Luis Saez rides horse Good Cheer to victory in the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Jockey Manuel Franco high-fives a friend to celebrate his win with horse Spirit of St. Louis in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic before 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.