Children and teenagers darted back and forth into South Fourth Street with homemade neon signs, $25 for premium parking on their lawns.

An amateur salesman tried to double his investment on bulk water bottles and sodas as the herd made its way to the gates, the smell of sunscreen following the pack.

Street preachers called to spectators across the street from Gate 3 as they entered the infield of Churchill Downs.

Down Central Avenue, spectators in flamboyant pink and pastel ensembles were greeted with a quick bag search before they entered through the bright white gates.

Their accessories included an assortment of whiskeys and mixed drinks, programs for fanning away the heat and, of course, garish hats adorned with what people would find inside their grandmother’s craft closet.

As they sardined themselves into their seats in the grandstands, two twin spires towered above, sentinels of the jovial thousands of Kentucky horse racing fans. 

And so Derby weekend began. 

Kentucky natives and Hollywood celebrities congregated this weekend for the 142^nd running of the Kentucky Derby. As a first-timer at the Derby, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but turns out it’s basically a fancier take on a typical Kentucky tailgate. 

Celebrities who made appearances at the prologue to the Derby, the Longines Kentucky Oaks, included recently engaged, long-time horse racing fan Kate Upton, and recent winner of the voice from Harlan county Jordan Smith, who sang the national anthem. 

Even more appeared on Derby day such as Jon Voight, Josh Duhamel, Stephen Amell, and country singer J.D. Shelburne who proposed to his girlfriend, Amy Whitham, on the red carpet. 

But the real “pink carpet” celebrities of the day were the breast and ovarian cancer survivors who walked in a parade around the racetrack.

There had to be at least one morally redeeming event for the weekend, and I’m happy that all of the money spent on Oaks lilies, a vodka cranberry with a sweet twist, went to these brave women’s fights.

The Oaks’ partnered with non-profit Bright Pink to raise money for the fight against breast and ovarian cancer in young women, and encouraged attendees to dress in pink to raise awareness of prevention methods.

A day at the Oaks begins as early as 10 a.m. right before the first post, but the main race didn’t begin until just before 6 p.m. In the meantime, spectators enjoyed the short bursts of action, betting with copious amounts of lilies and a fashion show.

In the infield, spectators enjoy anything they can sneak inside to avoid jacked-up beer and food prices. The aroma of cigar smoke and onion rings hung over the field of lawn chairs corralled by a chain link fence.

Over the weekend the younger more casual crowd of the infield participated in quite a bit of debauchery, from random lap dances in the walkway to the occasional fan hunched over behind a Port-a-potty, emptying the contents of their stomach.

A few feet away, families enjoyed picnics on the lawn in front of the big screens.

For Derby Day, guests take it to the next level with even higher attendance, even more consumption and even more raucous behavior. 

But a few scrapped knees, spilled mint juleps, stray droplets of vomit on suede loafers and even some heavy rain were not enough to ruin a day at the races for these dedicated fans.

At the call of a bugle, the crowd of spectators rushed back to their seats, trying not to be left out in the back of the aisles as bodies packed against the grandstand fences. They stood on dripping wet folding chairs and erupted in cheers as the imposing horses strutted to the gates. 

The weekend’s unofficial close came after the fastest two minutes in sports, when Derby favorite Nyquist secured the blanket of roses ahead of Exaggerator and Gun Runner.

As the favorite to win, many spectators enjoyed the spoils of his victory when they cashed in their bets, and the city of Louisville took in enough revenue to sustain it until it becomes relevant to the rest of the world again next Derby weekend.

All in all, a weekend in Louisville for the Derby is a clear indication to the rest of the world that no one celebrates for sporting events better (or at the very least as classy) as Kentuckians.

As many students recovered before their graduation on Sunday or headed to work on Monday, they’ll keep their fond memories of the exciting and hectic atmosphere close, until they all head back to the races.  

Marjorie Kirk is the editor-in-chief of the Kentucky Kernel. 

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