UK’s Little Kentucky Derby brings fun and games to campus

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By Roy York

There may not be a horse track on campus, but UK has its own set of springtime traditions leading up to Derby season.

            Four years ago the Student Activities Board revived the Little Kentucky Derby, a program that started in the 1950s as a scholarship fundraiser. Once called the greatest college weekend in the south, the festival was canceled in 1993 due to four consecutive years of bad weather, but the SAB has re-designed the new Little Kentucky Derby to bring the spirit of competition and fun to the UK campus through food, races and live music.

            “We are going to try and make it more like it used to be,” said Lizzie Roelker, SAB Director of Traditions and organizer of the Little Kentucky Derby.

            The Little Derby will begin on Wednesday at noon with the Ping Pong Ball Drop. More than 3,000 ping pong balls will be dropped from the roof of Patterson Office Tower to the plaza below. Students who find balls marked with special logos will receive prizes ranging from t-shirts and tickets to the sold-out Jason Mraz concert on April 26. Food and games will also be provided to kick off the celebration

            On Thursday students can participate in the Run for the Roses, a small-scale, campus version of the CBS series The Amazing Race. Starting at the Student Center Great Hall, the competition will task students in teams of four to race campus while performing physical tasks and solving clues in an effort to be crowned champion and receive a grand prize. Students interested in participating can register online at the SAB website.

            Roelker said racing is an important tradition in the Little Kentucky Derby and said that different races will be added next year.

            On Friday the festival ends with the Balloon Glow Field Party at 7 p.m. at the Good Barn Field across from Commonwealth Stadium. At the party 15 hot-air balloons will be grounded and illuminated amid games, inflatable toys, crafts, food and live music. The carnival style celebration boasts fun and games for all ages and a cookout serving hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks for only $3.

            Students who plan to attend all three events will be given a raffle ticket on Wednesday to be signed at each event by SAB staff. The completed ticket will be entered into a raffle on Friday night for a chance to meet Jason Mraz on April 26 and a chance to win a VIP pass for all SAB events next year.

            Students planning to attend any of the events should bring their UK student ID for free admission and game play. For more information on Little Kentucky Derby events visit SAB’s Web site at www.uky.edu/sab.