A Derby Celebration
It’s almost May, which means it’s nearly time for the Kentucky Derby, the most famous horse race in the world. On television, millions will watch what’s known as the most exciting two minutes in sports, while as many as 170,000 will pour into Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, to view the action in person. Derby Day is festive and celebratory, a time for bright outfits, sweet Mint Juleps made with Kentucky Bourbon and great cigars. We can’t wait.
Any Derby Day is one worth celebrating, but the one being held on May 4 is especially important as it will be the 150th consecutive running of the event. The World Series once skipped a year due to a strike. The Masters was not played for three years during World War II and several Olympic games were cancelled due to world conflicts. But the Kentucky Derby always ran. Since May 17, 1875, nothing has stopped the show.
To commemorate this special occasion and get you in the proper Derby spirit, we created a comprehensive package that covers the event from top to bottom. We sent senior features editor Jack Bettridge, who has worked for Cigar Aficionado for 27 years, to Churchill Downs to bring you several stories in this package, including an appreciation of the event, a story on the Derby’s signature Mint Julep cocktail and an in-depth profile on Brown-Forman, the venerable spirits company that makes Woodford Reserve, the official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby.
Mitch Frank, a senior editor for Wine Spectator magazine (which, like Cigar Aficionado, is published by M. Shanken Communications Inc.) spent time with remarkable horse expert Barbara Banke, the owner of Stonestreet Farm, a breeder of champions. The one race her horses haven’t won is the Derby. She’s hoping this will be her year.
We also bring you a Q&A with horse-race expert (and cigar lover) Michael Joyce, who has been working in the horse racing industry nearly his entire life and now covers the sport for FanDuel. We also tell you all about Churchill Downs, including the best (and worst) places to watch the race; where you can go around Louisville to enjoy a cigar; the stories of the biggest underdogs to ever win the Derby; and the remarkable tale of Secretariat, the greatest Derby champion of them all.
In addition, we take you out to Las Vegas to go inside the stunning Sphere, the $2.3 billion orb that’s the talk of the town. We also show you how much young Charlie Woods has grown up, and how he’s sometimes hitting the ball as far as his famous father, Tiger. We sit down with Michael Imperioli, who you probably know best as Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos.” And we analyze a year’s worth of cigar reviews to show you trends and give buying advice.
So, when Derby Day approaches, grab a fine cigar and make sure you have enough Bourbon on hand. Get ready to enjoy the most exciting two minutes in sports.
