From a royal robe to the infield 'drunk tank,' 5 pieces of iconic Kentucky Derby history

Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal
·6 min read

The Kentucky Derby isn't just a horse race. Over the past 149 years, the event has picked up its own set of traditions, celebrations, and more than a few bits of cultural lore.

Most people know that the mint julep is the traditional drink of the Derby and Thunder Over Louisville is the Kentucky Derby Festival's official kick-off for the two weeks of festivities leading up to the "Run for the Roses," which is always held the first Saturday in May.

Here are five lesser-known tidbits to help you get into the spirit of Kentucky Derby season.

Are the iconic Twin Spires at Churchill Downs 'shrinking?'

Yuugiri with jockey Florent Geroux up leads the pack into the first turn of the 148th running of the Kentucky Oaks Friday, May 6, 2022 in Louisville Ky.
Yuugiri with jockey Florent Geroux up leads the pack into the first turn of the 148th running of the Kentucky Oaks Friday, May 6, 2022 in Louisville Ky.

Luckily for race fans with the Kentucky Derby on their bucket list, Churchill Downs has expanded seating at the historic racetrack over the past 30 years.

Always held on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby typically draws a crowd of 155,000 people. To accommodate the swelling mass, Churchill Downs has added a lot of additional seating and in doing so, the historic Twin Spires, built-in 1895, may appear, from certain angles, to have been swallowed by the surrounding buildings.

So, why not just move or raise the spires higher than the newer buildings to make them appear more prominent and easier to see?

Well, turns out, that's not allowed. According to Darren Rogers, director of communications at Churchill Downs, the Twin Spires are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks and therefore can not be moved or altered.

The tail of War of Will frames the twin spires of Churchill Downs in the final stretch of Kentucky Derby 145 with jockey Tyler Gaffallione aboard. The horse tangled with Maximum Security in the far turn of the race and eventually finished 6th. Maximum Security was disqualified and Country House became the race winner.
The tail of War of Will frames the twin spires of Churchill Downs in the final stretch of Kentucky Derby 145 with jockey Tyler Gaffallione aboard. The horse tangled with Maximum Security in the far turn of the race and eventually finished 6th. Maximum Security was disqualified and Country House became the race winner.

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But if you are lucky enough to have a ticket to the 149th Kentucky Derby, you are in for a visual treat. A renovation of the Paddock area of the racetrack has made the Twin Spires more visible and added the "wow factor" as you walk through the front gates at Churchill Downs.

The one seat no one wants at the Kentucky Derby. Inside the infield's 'drunk tank'

Drunk sheds used as a place for the "overserved" to sober up. These steps lead "guests" down into one of the drunk bunkers in the Infield at Churchill Downs Racetrack.
Drunk sheds used as a place for the "overserved" to sober up. These steps lead "guests" down into one of the drunk bunkers in the Infield at Churchill Downs Racetrack.

The grassy infield of Churchill Downs Racetrack is known as the place to party with abandon during the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. But for those who take the party to the extreme, you could find yourself inside a dark green dugout where the uber-inebriated are housed until they sober up.

Not many people seem to be aware of these bunkers for the "overserved." That could be due to the fact that they are barely visible unless you know where to look.

We found two "drunk tanks" located at the far end of the infield near the backstretch. For those who don't speak "track talk," that's the south side of the infield facing the horse barns.

If you are "selected" to sober up in one of the three-sided structures, you'll be marched down six cement steps into the underground, non-air-conditioned structure.

The Courier Journal's Kirby Adams points to a bunker used the weekend of the Kentucky Derby to house the "overserved" until they sober up in the Infield at Churchill Downs.
The Courier Journal's Kirby Adams points to a bunker used the weekend of the Kentucky Derby to house the "overserved" until they sober up in the Infield at Churchill Downs.

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With the turf track just feet away from the chainlink barrier separating the inebriated from the thoroughbreds, it does appear that "guests" in the "drunk tank" who are able to stand up will be able to enjoy one of the best up-close views of the races. But only for the few seconds it takes the thoroughbreds to thunder past the dugout.

Why is there a tombstone in The Kentucky Derby Museum?

Issac Murphy, was born enslaved,. He is considered one of the greatest jockeys of all time, winning three Kentucky Derbys and an estimated 44% of his races.
Issac Murphy, was born enslaved,. He is considered one of the greatest jockeys of all time, winning three Kentucky Derbys and an estimated 44% of his races.

Located next to Churchill Downs Racetrack, the Kentucky Derby Museum at 704 Central Ave., celebrates the history and culture of the Kentucky Derby and that includes the jockeys who ride in the Kentucky Derby.

Inside the museum, you'll find the tombstone of the man considered to be one of the greatest jockeys in the history of horse racing. Isaac Murphy was a Kentucky-born Black jockey who won an extremely high percentage of races including three Kentucky Derbys in 1884, 1890, and 1891.

As one of American Thoroughbred horse racing's top riders, Murphy was the first jockey to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at its creation in 1955.

He died of pneumonia at the age of 34 and was buried in Lexington’s African Cemetery Number 2. Over the years, the cemetery was neglected and many of the tombstones were vandalized. Murphy’s unmarked tombstone was lost until the late 1960s when it was discovered by a Kentucky researcher.

The tombstone of one of the greatest jockeys in the history of horse racing, Isaac Murphy, is on display at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Murphy was a Kentucky-born Black jockey who won an extremely high percentage of races including three Kentucky Derbys in 1884, 1890 and 1891.
The tombstone of one of the greatest jockeys in the history of horse racing, Isaac Murphy, is on display at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Murphy was a Kentucky-born Black jockey who won an extremely high percentage of races including three Kentucky Derbys in 1884, 1890 and 1891.

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Today, Murphy is buried at Lexington's Kentucky Horse Park, and his original unmarked tombstone is displayed near the entrance of the Kentucky Derby Museum.

What is the 'Countdown to Thunder' clock?

Wayne Hettinger with his handmade "Countdown to Thunder Clock." Hettinger is the owner of Visual Presentations and the producer of the Kentucky Derby Festival "Thunder Over Louisville."
Wayne Hettinger with his handmade "Countdown to Thunder Clock." Hettinger is the owner of Visual Presentations and the producer of the Kentucky Derby Festival "Thunder Over Louisville."

How does Wayne Hettinger, the long-time producer of the Kentucky Derby Festival's Thunder Over Louisville, keep the airshow and fireworks extravaganza running on time? During the months, days, and minutes leading up to the massive community-wide event, Hettinger keeps a close eye on his trusty handmade "Countdown to Thunder" clock.

"I built this clock over 30 years ago and I keep it running in my office throughout the year counting down to Thunder Over Louisville," Hettinger told The Courier Journal. "A week before Thunder, I put it in the back of my car and drive the clock to the Command Center at the Galt House Hotel, where it continues to count down to the airshow and fireworks."

Wayne Hettinger has produced Thunder Over Louisville for 30 years. He is seen in his office at his home. April 7, 2022
Wayne Hettinger has produced Thunder Over Louisville for 30 years. He is seen in his office at his home. April 7, 2022

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Hettinger, the owner of Visual Presentations, produces many large-scale public events in the Louisville community, but only Thunder Over Louisville requires its own countdown clock, which incidentally is reset for the next year's air and fireworks show the day after Thunder Over Louisville is over.

This year Thunder Over Louisville is on April 22 starting at 3 p.m. Its theme is "Through the Decades."

What's the story behind the Kentucky Derby Festival's queen robe?

A spin of the wheel determines which member of the Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court becomes the queen during the annual FIllies Ball. ONce crowned, the Kentucky Derby Festival queen is drapped in a special robe.
A spin of the wheel determines which member of the Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court becomes the queen during the annual FIllies Ball. ONce crowned, the Kentucky Derby Festival queen is drapped in a special robe.

A spin of the wheel at the Fillies Derby Ball determines which of the five members of the Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court is crowned queen of the princesses. Besides an elegant crown, the queen also wears a custom-made robe at her coronation and on a float in the Zoeller Pump Pegasus Parade.

The queen's red (some may say 'burgundy') and white robe weighs 40 pounds and is embellished with a rose, crown, horseshoe, and a crest with 15 stars representing the addition of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to the United States.

The robe was made in New Orleans by D & D Creations known for its Mardi Gras costumes for the well-known Krewes, any group that bands together to host a Mardi Gras ball, ride on a Mardi Gras parade float, and participate in social events throughout the year.

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The Fillies Inc., the Louisville non-profit that oversees the Derby Princess program, takes special care of the queen's robe, crown and scepter. A representative of the Fillies told the Courier Journal the original queen's robe was commissioned in 1974, weighed 50 pounds, and was made of rabbit fur and Ermine tails. Over time, the original robe began to deteriorate and was retired to a display case in the Kentucky Derby Museum.

(L-R). The 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses Hayley Benson, Lauren Carter, Mahshad Taheri, Mallory Hudson and Valerie Tran at the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Jan. 8, 2023.
(L-R). The 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses Hayley Benson, Lauren Carter, Mahshad Taheri, Mallory Hudson and Valerie Tran at the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Jan. 8, 2023.

The queen's current robe was commissioned in 2018, is not made from animal fur and is carefully packed away at the end of each Kentucky Derby season for safekeeping to be worn by the new queen the following year.

Reach Features Reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby history: 5 pieces of epic KDF, Churchill Downs history