The Kentucky Derby’s best-known customs are a mix of documented rituals and present-day race-day practices—not an official checklist of eleven. The rose garland, the “Run for the Roses” nickname, “My Old Kentucky Home,” mint juleps and Derby hats are among the clearest touchstones. Here are eleven ways to recognize the traditions and experiences that give Derby weekend its distinctive character, with a distinction between established history and contemporary custom.
1. The rose garland and “Run for the Roses”
The winning horse receives a garland made with more than 400 red roses sewn onto green satin backing, according to the Kentucky Derby’s traditions page. The official page also identifies the garland as the source of the race’s familiar nickname, “Run for the Roses.” It is the Derby’s most recognizable floral emblem.
2. The Twin Spires
The Twin Spires crown Churchill Downs and are among the track’s defining visual features. The Kentucky Derby’s About page identifies them as the famed Twin Spires. The available official description does not establish their architectural history, so their significance here is as a landmark rather than a dated origin story.
3. “My Old Kentucky Home” before the race
“My Old Kentucky Home,” Stephen Foster’s song, is performed as the horses travel from the paddock toward the starting gate. The Derby says the beginning of this custom is not definitively documented, though it is believed to date to 1921. Since 1936, with a few exceptions, the University of Louisville Marching Band and choir have performed it during the procession, according to the official song page.
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That qualification matters: the song is a familiar part of the ceremony, but its exact first Derby performance is not settled by the official account.
4. The mint julep
The mint julep became the Derby’s official drink during the 1930s, when Churchill Downs began serving it in souvenir cups. The track first ordered those cups in 1937, according to the Kentucky Derby’s mint julep page. The same page reports more than 125,000 juleps enjoyed over the two-day Kentucky Oaks and Derby weekend; it does not specify the year for that figure.
For a home gathering, a julep cup can echo the track’s souvenir-cup custom, but the tradition does not require guests to drink alcohol or use a particular vessel.
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5. Derby hats and race-day fashion
Hats have accompanied the Derby from its first running in 1875, according to the Associated Press’s 2024 account of the tradition. The AP reports that hats became larger and more ornate in the 1960s. Churchill Downs continues to present fashion as a living part of the event, with official style guidance.
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6. The Kentucky Derby Trophy
The Kentucky Derby’s About page includes the Derby Trophy among the event’s traditions. It is a symbol of the race’s prize and prestige, but the official material available here does not provide enough detail to give a reliable account of its history or presentation ceremony.
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7. The Kentucky Oaks and the Oaks Lily
The Oaks Lily is the official drink of the Kentucky Oaks, the race meeting adjacent to the Derby, while the mint julep is associated with the Derby itself, according to the Kentucky Derby’s About page. The two races share Oaks and Derby weekend, which is why the Derby’s julep count covers both days. The Oaks Lily belongs to the Oaks tradition; it should not be mistaken for the Derby’s official drink.
8. The Kentucky Oaks as part of Derby weekend
Derby traditions are often experienced across a weekend rather than in a single race. The Kentucky Oaks is the neighboring event in the schedule and has its own identity, including the Oaks Lily. Thinking of the Oaks and Derby together helps explain why some official figures and customs refer to the full two-day celebration rather than Derby race day alone.
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The procession from paddock to starting gate is a distinct ceremonial moment: it is the setting for the customary performance of “My Old Kentucky Home.” The song page documents that association, while the precise origins of the performance tradition remain uncertain. For viewers, this is one of the moments when the race’s pageantry becomes part of the event rather than just a prelude to the start.
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10. The crowd and shared race-day atmosphere
Churchill Downs describes the Derby as drawing more than 150,000 guests in an excerpt from its race-day experiences material; the year and counting method are not stated there. The scale helps explain why the Derby is experienced as a large public gathering as well as a horse race, but it should not be treated as an annual attendance figure without a specified year.
11. Exploring the place behind the traditions
For a closer look at the race’s setting and history, the Kentucky Derby Museum offers exhibits and tours of Churchill Downs. It is a practical way to connect the familiar emblems—the Spires, garland and trophy—with the track and its broader story.
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