Lifestyle Celebrate the Derby at Home April 28, 2025 Celebrating the Derby is a quintessential Kentucky tradition, even if you don’t have tickets to the big race! Derby Week is an exciting time to connect with Kentucky’s signature equine industry, from visiting a horse farm to watching the races and cheering on your favorite horses. We’ve pulled together some of our favorite ways to get in the Derby Week spirit! Prepare a tasty spread for your Derby Day Party Locally sourced and inspired bites are a must-have for your Derby Day party. Get the day started with a snack board featuring ham & pimento cheese sandwiches, beer cheese and some locally-made caramel corn, as recommended here by Ande Day, the Tour & Hospitality Manager at Lane’s End Farm. Mill Ridge Farm’s Spicy Pepper Jelly is a great addition to any snack or charcuterie board, thanks to this recipe from Beth Bell. No Kentucky Derby party is complete without a signature cocktail, whether you’re more of an Oaks Lily fan or a Mint Julep aficionado. Pick your Derby Horse Picking your Derby Horse is a right of passage each spring. You might not always be right, but it’s always fun to choose your favorite horse and root them on as they run for the roses! We recommend studying up before the big day, whether you pick your favorite based on past performances, pedigree or just the horse with your favorite name. Keeneland will be open for wagering on Derby Day, or you can place your bets digitally on your favorite wagering app. If you’re hosting a Derby Party, consider having a prize for whoever picks the winner (be sure to check out Keeneland’s gift shop for some great horse racing goodies)! Immerse yourself in Kentucky’s equine industry on a horse farm tour There’s no better way to get in the Derby spirit than connecting with Kentucky’s equine residents firsthand! Get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to breed, raise, train and care for some of Kentucky’s most famous athletes and experience the Kentucky Derby traditions of Horse Country firsthand. Tours are available each day of Derby Week, including Derby Day! Farms offering tours on the First Saturday in May include BraveHearts Equine Center, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Jonabell Farm, Keeneland Racecourse, Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, Mill Ridge Farm, Second Stride, Taylor Made Farm and TRF at Chestnut Hall. Tune in to the races The Kentucky Derby may be the headlining race of the weekend at Churchill Downs, but there are a variety of other great races taking place throughout the weekend. There is, of course, the Kentucky Oaks, which is the filly-equivalent of the Kentucky Derby and takes place on the first Friday in May each year. Both Oaks and Derby Days are loaded with stakes action of all varieties, and some of the best horses in each division. Plus, NBC will be honoring American Pharoah’s Kentucky Derby win with a look at his current home, and how you can visit! The races will be broadcast on FanDuel TV, Peacock, USA Network and NBC. Click here for more information on where to watch the races.
