Crowd of 45,000 expected at Kentucky Derby as horse racing’s Triple Crown returns to Louisville

Medina Spirit stormed to victory in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday to deliver trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh win in the Run for the Roses.

Under jockey John Velazquez, Medina Spirit jumped to an early lead and fended off challenges down the stretch to cross the line first in front of 51,838 fans in the largest U.S. sporting event since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The win was Hall of Fame jockey Velazquez’s fourth in the Triple Crown race, which returned to its usual first Saturday in May spot on the sporting calendar having been pushed to September last year due to the pandemic.

Medina Spirit #8, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, (R) crosses the finish line to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby 

Medina Spirit #8, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, (R) crosses the finish line to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby ahead of Mandaloun #7, ridden by Florent Geroux, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky

John Velazquez rides Medina Spirit to victory in the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday

Medina Spirit #8, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, (R) crosses the finish line to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby ahead of Mandaloun #7, ridden by Florent Geroux, and Hot Rod Charlie #9 ridden by Flavien Prat, at Churchill Downs 

Medina Spirit #8, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, leads the field around the first bend

Some 51,800 attended – around 100,000 less than usual, and there are safety protocols in place

Medina Spirit held off Mandaloun in the final stretch of the fastest two minutes in horse racing

John Velazquez rides Medina Spirit, right, leads Florent Geroux on Mandaloun, Flavien Prat riding Hot Rod Charlie and Luis Saez on Essential Quality to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday in Louisville

Pictures from Louisville’s Churchill Downs shows the bourbon to be flowing again, flowery hats back on heads and people back on the scene together with 19 horses. 

The 147th edition race came less than eight months after it was run without spectators last September because of COVID-19, making it the shortest time between Derbies in history.

‘I was hoping to enjoy my Derby win a little longer,’ joked trainer Bob Baffert, who earned his sixth last year with Authentic.

The eerie silence that settled over Churchill Downs last year when no spectators were allowed is being replaced by attendance of about 45,000 – some 100,000 less than usual. Masks are required. Food and drinks are all-inclusive to lessen long lines and separate payments for every transaction.

With the Derby restored to its usual day, last year’s upside down Triple Crown has been righted. The Preakness follows on May 15 and the Belmont, which kicked off the series a year ago, concludes it on June 5. 

Two women wear bright dresses with plunging necklines along with wide-brimmed sunhats and face masks to complete their Kentucky Derby look 

A maskless attendee makes her way to the highly anticipated Kentucky Derby in a simple white outfit with matching white hat 

A fashion-forward spectator matches her color-block outfit with her bedazzled purse as she makes her way to the Kentucky Derby

A spectator keeps it chicwith a black face mask to go with her outfit as she makes her way to watch the horse race at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday

A spectator keeps it simple with a yellow hat with a pink flower to go with her large multi-colored necklace for the highly anticipated Kentucky Derby

A Kentucky Derby attendee donning a large brim pink hat with her aviator shades wont have any problems with the sun getting in her eyes as she watches the horse race

A woman makes a serious fashion statement with her all white outfit with a matching white mask and hat at the Kentucky Derby 

Florals was the theme of this well-dressed couple’s outfit as they attend the Kentucky Derby one year after the horse race was disrupted by the pandemic

An attendee shines bright in her yellow getup with matching headwear for the 147th Kentucky Derby this weekend

A spectator is sure to standout in the crowd with her large white floral headpiece at the 147th Kentucky Derby

A racegoer shows of her love of horses with a floral and feather hat featuring a horse figure right at the center to compete her Kentucky Derby look

One spectator goes all out in a homemade, uniquely decorated hat as she carries two stuffed horses to watch the 147th Kentucky Derby 

A spectator stays in theme with a red beard that goes with his rose suit and top hat featuring a horse figurine with a rose in its mouth 

A woman wears a flashy green and pink hat with flowers to the 147th Kentucky Derby at Louisville, Kentucky 

Three dapper gentlemen wear their brightest suits to the Kentucky Derby, an event that is known bringing out the pageantry among spectators

One woman takes a picture with her cellphone as she dons a pink, feathery hat as she attends the Kentucky Oaks race at Churchill Downs

An attendee at the Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky wears a horse-themed hat to go with his rose facemask 

 A racegoer at the 147th Kentucky Derby wears a matching mask featuring a lipstick mark to go with her red and black outfit 

Essential Quality, trained by Brad Cox, was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-olds. Post time is 6:57pm ET.  

A son of Tapit, Essential Quality made it 5-for-5 in his career when he won the Blue Grass Stakes by a neck on April 3.

Luis Saez will ride Essential Quality, who will break from the No. 14 post position. Cox also will send 15-1 Mandaloun to the No. 7 post under jockey Florent Geroux.

Cox, in his first Derby, will try to become the first Louisville native to win the 147th Run for the Roses.  

Essential Quality is owned and bred by Godolphin Racing, the stable of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum, who is 0-for-11 in his decades-long quest to win America’s greatest race. 

A victory by Essential Quality would bring extra scrutiny of human rights issues involving the sheikh, who won’t be among the limited fans in attendance.

Attendees will be required to wear mask to enter Churchill Downs for the  147th Kentucky Derby due to COVID concerns 

A woman accessorizes her flowery hat with a matching pink mas and pink tinted shades at Churchill Downs for the 147th Kentucky Derby 

Attendees in their best outfits form a line as they make their way to enter Churchill Downs on Saturday for the 147th Kentucky Derby 

Horse race fans pose for the cameras as they sport marching horse-themed outfits  at Churchill Downs on Friday

An overhead shot of a woman making her way to the Kentucky Derby in her best hat to match her simple black outfit

A spectator wears a bedazzled mask to go with her wide brim white hat to the 147th Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky 

A woman wears a black and gold mask to go with her teal hat as she makes her way to watch the races at the Kentucky Derby 

A group of fashionable ladies kept up with Kentucky Derby tradition and wore their best outfits with matching headwear 

Three men put their best foot forward and show off their bright and colorful footwear to go with their funky outfits for the 47th Kentucky Derby 

A spectator makes sure she get the shot on her cellphone while she wears a large, white floral headpiece to the 147th Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission received a complaint this week from a group of human rights attorneys and students at the University of Louisville seeking to have Sheikh Mohammed banned from the Derby over alleged human rights abuses. A judge in England ruled that he orchestrated the abductions of two of his adult daughters.

Essential Quality’s jockey, Luis Saez, is seeking his first Derby win after crossing the finish line first aboard Maximum Security in 2019 only to have his colt disqualified.

‘Essential Quality is a deserving favorite,’ trainer Todd Pletcher said, ‘but I think it’s a wide-open race.’

Pletcher, a two-time Derby winner, saddles four starters, led by 6-1 shot Known Agenda. His others are listed at double-digit odds: 20-1 Dynamic One, 30-1 Bourbonic and 50-1 Sainthood.

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