Everyone who has watched the Kentucky Derby has heard about the “Garland of Roses” that adorns the winner of the “Fastest two minutes in sports”. But what people may not know about is the day before the Derby, on the first Friday in May, another high-stakes horse race takes place, known as the Kentucky Oaks.

Drawing a crowd nearly the size of the Kentucky Derby and with as much pomp and circumstance as the big show on Saturday, this is an opportunity for the fillies (female horses) to showcase their star athletes. It’s also a huge fund-raiser for breast cancer research and everyone of course shows up in pink!

The winner of the Kentucky Oaks gets her own blanket… A Garland of Lillies.

On Thursday afternoon, the flower artists from the Kroger floral department at the Kroger in Middletown, Kentucky (a suburb of Louisville) begin construction of the Garland of Lillies. The same team will start on Friday building the Garland of Roses for the big show on Saturday.

Patrons and fans. young and old. show up to see these two famous blankets being created. To add to the excitement, the Kentucky Derby Festival added a new feature to go along with the blanket creation. 20 tons of sand was dropped into the parking lot and sand sculpting artist Damon Farmer from Versailles, Kentucky has been working tirelessly since Tuesday creating a Derby themed sand sculpture. He expects to finish it sometime on Friday.