Colorful Plumed Hats Fills Churchill Downs as Fans Embrace the 151st Kentucky Derby
A race fan sits in the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. Source: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

May 3

Colorful Plumed Hats Fills Churchill Downs as Fans Embrace the 151st Kentucky Derby

READ TIME: 13 MIN.

Despite the chance of rain in the forecast, colorful plumed hats are again a fashion staple at Churchill Downs for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky.

A race fan walks though the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

The tradition of wearing hats to the Derby began with its first running in 1875. They began taking on a life of their own in the 1960s, growing larger and more ornate so the people wearing them could be spotted on television.

Tre Moser wears patriotic clothing at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

The hats are just one of the features among the 150,000 fans jammed under the Twin Spires for a fashion show mixed with an all-day party that is heavy on traditions like mint juleps, singing "My Old Kentucky Home" while they wait for the 2-minute drama to see the winning horse get a garland of red roses draped on its back.

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

A photo gallery of the event, curated by AP photo editors. For more AP horse racing coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing

A jockey walks past flowers at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Jon Cherry
Race fans walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Jon Cherry
Hailey Burton stands in a hallway at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky
Source: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
A person wears a horse costume at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Jon Cherry
A fan looks out at the paddock at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky
Source: AP Photo/Jon Cherry
A race fan smiles at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
A race fan walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky.
Source: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

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