The Kentucky Derby is almost upon us – and attendees at pre-race events are already pulling out all the stops when it comes to their fashion choices.
The annual horse race is set to take place on Saturday, May 7 at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.
Festivities kicked off on Friday and attendees turned up in their derby best, donning their most colorful outfits – and their most head-turning hats.
Racegoers have shown up in droves showcasing some truly eye-popping accessories as they gear up to watch what has been dubbed ‘the most exciting two minutes in sports.’
From enormous floral fascinators to heavy feathered hats, guests of the Kentucky Derby have certainly dressed to impress – and call attention to themselves – at the annual event.
The Kentucky Derby is almost upon us – and guests have pulled out all the stops when it comes to their fashion choices for the event
The annual horse race is set to take place on Saturday, May 7 at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky
The big events kicked off on Friday and attendees have already gone all out with their ensembles
One racegoer was spotted wearing a large, colorful, festive hat, while her friend opted for something a little more simple
This woman had all eyes on her when she attended the event with a hat that had butterflies attached to it
Racegoers have shown up in droves showcasing their most eye-popping accessories as they gear up to watch what has been dubbed ‘the most exciting two minutes in sports’
From enormous, floral headpieces to bright pink, ruffled hats guests of the Kentucky Derby have certainly dressed to impress
The Louisville event has always been a horse race with a healthy side of fashion.
Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. – who established the horse race – and his wife thought that the event would be more appealing to crowds if it they incorporated fashion into it.
Now spectators enjoy dressing up for the event, often sporting flashy hats and decadent dresses, as well as other unique and at times bizarre accessories.
On the racing grounds on Friday, one woman could be seen in a large hot pink feathered headpiece, while another wore a hat made out of studded, multicolored pieces of fabric that seemed to orbit her head.
Another woman’s hat was topped with large butterflies, while one more complimented her black and pink hat with huge sparkly sunglasses.
While it’s often the women who most wholeheartedly embrace the dress-up culture, some men got in on the fun, too, including one in a hot pink suit and matching hat and another whose pink floral hat was complimented by a fake white beard and custom bedazzled sunglasses.
One woman was seen wearing a large, feathered, hot pink headpiece on Thursday
Dressing up is not just for the ladies – one male fan in head-to-toe pink went all out
Hundreds of people flocked to Churchill Downs this week ahead of the highly acclaimed race, and they certainly dressed to impress
One woman was spotted donning a hat shaped like a giant, pink flower, as she attended a pre-event for the 148th Kentucky Derby
One woman wore a rose headpiece which had stunning vines coming off of it
Another opted for a giant, red, rose hat, while a third chose a black headband with peacock feathers on it
Others opted for headbands, and most came complete with ruffles galore
Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. – who originally established the horse race – and his wife thought the event would be more appealing if it they incorporated fashion into it
According to the event’s website, wearing a hat to the race is believed to bear good luck.
‘Wearing a hat is much like getting into costume, you might be pleasantly surprised to see what type of character you become,’ its website reads. ‘From the fantastic to the sublime, there are no rules or limits.’
Event organizers tell those lucky enough to attend the sports event that they should keep their dresses ‘simple, so it doesn’t take away from your hat.’
They said: ‘When selecting your dress for the Kentucky Derby, the recommended practice is to keep it simple, so it doesn’t take away from your hat.
‘You can also let the color and excitement of spring inspire you and select a dress full of color, or floral or equine patterns.
‘Since the hat is the focus of Derby fashion, there’s not much need for large, statement jewelry. Let your hat be the attention grabber as your primary accessory and keep the jewelry simple.’
One woman was seen wearing a navy blue hat, which had feathers poking out in every direction
Now, spectators enjoy dressing up for the event, often sporting flashy hats and decadent dresses
The Kentucky Derby was plagued with controversy last year, after the winning horse – Medina Spirit – later tested positive for a banned substance
But the unfortunate events didn’t seem to take away from the excitement for this year’s race
Messier, Taiba, Epicenter, and Zandon seem to be the favored horses for this year’s race, which will air live on NBC at at 6:57 p.m. ET and is set to last a mere two minutes
Approximately 150,000 fans and spectators gather every year on the first Saturday in May for the iconic race, which stretches across one and a quarter miles
Two attendees offer different takes on pink hats – both of which matched their outfits
Messier, Taiba, Epicenter, and Zandon seem to be the favored horses for this year’s race, which will air live on NBC at at 6:57 p.m. ET and is set to last a mere two minutes.
The Kentucky Derby was plagued with controversy last year, after the winning horse – Medina Spirit – later tested positive for a banned substance.
The horse’s trainer, Bob Baffert, was subsequently banned from participating in the race for two years, and runner-up Mandaloun was then crowned as the winner.
Baffert has since claimed that an ointment used to treat dermatitis caused the positive test.
This year will mark the 148th Kentucky Derby, which was first started in 1875 and is now the longest-running sports event in the U.S.
Approximately 150,000 fans and spectators gather every year on the first Saturday in May for the iconic race, which stretches across one and a quarter miles.
Many people tried to outdo each other with their stylish looks
According to the event’s website, wearing a hat to the race is believed to bear good luck
Event organizers tell those lucky enough to attend the sports event that they should keep their dresses ‘simple, so it doesn’t take away from your hat’
‘Wearing a hat is much like getting into costume, you might be pleasantly surprised to see what type of character you become,’ its website reads. ‘From the fantastic to the sublime, there are no rules or limits’
The Kentucky Derby was first started in 1875 and is now the longest-running sports event in the U.S.
It appears that many women opted to wear pink in honor of Churchill Downs’ partnership with Horses and Hope – a project designed to ‘increase breast cancer awareness, education, screening, and treatment’
Not everyone chose pink, however, with this spectator rocking a red and black hat
Made of such delicate fabric, it’s unlikely the hats did much for these women once the rain started
Despite it being an overcast day, many people paired their dramatic looks with sunglasses
Flowers, feathers, and head-turning hues are must have at Churchill Downs
From bold and bright colors to intricate and delicate designs, the hats worn to this year’s event did not disappoint
Some of the headpieces, like this tulle and pearl one, were more understated than others
The hats and headpieces are certainly all unique and give the women a chance to show off some style
While some men dress up a bit for the races, it’s usually the women who go all-in on outfits
There’s a full range of style on display, from fashionable dresses to loud, statement-making shirts
One especially creative woman appears to have had a pair of custom beaded earrings made
Given some of the embellishments, it’s possible that some women customize their hats at home ahead of the event
A man who really got into the spirit picked a perfectly on-theme tie and jacket for the event
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk