The Kentucky Derby has always been the grand event that brought in people from outside of Kentuckiana.  It’s the event that most people know about.  The Friday before the Derby, is a race for three-year old fillies (female horses) that’s just about as big as the Derby — the Kentucky Oaks, but being on Friday, it was always been considered the “Local’s Derby day”, a time for the locals to have the same pomp and circumstance as for the visitors on Saturday.  Just as the Derby has run 139 times in the past, so has the Oaks.

But over the past few years, the visitors have spilled over to have two days of racing and the Oaks, while not getting the national coverage, draws crowds nearly as large as the Derby itself.  Now, Churchill Downs is trying to brand Thursday as the day for the locals with Thurby.

We had a light day scheduled and considered adding another day at the track, we decided to keep things for family time.  First up was a niece’s pre-school adaptation of the Pegasus Parade.  With their home-made floats, costumes, etc. that mirrored popular derby themes.

Next we took care of some shopping and then it was off to a nephew’s middle school soccer game which despite the very cool weather, they won 3-2.  But we had to fit in at least one Derby related event.

Each year, the blanket of roses that is draped on the Derby winner is hand-made at a Kroger florist and people can stop in and see this blanket made.  This is done on the Friday night before the Derby.  However on Thursday night, a garland of lilies is made for the fillies for their Kentucky Oaks run.  Our last trip, to the Derby, we took in the blanket of roses being made.   This year we went out on Thursday night to see it being made.

Dinner at White Castle’s and we called it a night.