2012 Kentucky Derby Date
The 2012 Kentucky Derby will be the 138th running of one of the best known stakes races in the United States. This annual event is held every first Saturday of May in Louisville, Kentucky to cap off the two-week long Kentucky Derby Festival.
This year’s 2012 Kentucky Derby date is May 5th, 2012.
This race of three-year-old thoroughbreds has a distance of one and a quarter mile and is held in Churchill Downs, named after the John and Henry Churchill, the land donors of the race track being used today. It’s also known as “The Run for the Roses” referring to the the blanket of roses awarded to the winner.
The 2012 Kentucky Derby is first part of the US Triple Crown, coming before the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, respectively. It’s the most watched stakes horse racing event in the US Triple Crown and even more than the Breeder’s Cup.
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Kentucky Derby History & Traditions
Colonel Merriwether Clark Jr, grandson of William Clark from the Lewis and Clark expedition, started this race in May 1875 after his trip to Europe. He came up with the idea after seeing the Epsom Derby in England and the Grand Prix de Paris.
Since then, several Kentucky Derby traditions have been kept alive for the race. An example is having the iced drink Mint Julep, which consists of mint, bourbon and sugar syrup, served in an ice-frosted silver cup. There’s also burgoo, a popular Kentucky thick stew made up of chicken, beef, pork and vegetables, which is being served at the Derby.
Women traditionally wear large, stylized and usually floral hats and the well-off and famous people are seated at the box seats. Since 1924, the marching band of the University of Louisville plays My Old Kentucky Home by Stephen Foster while the horses parade around the grandstands.
2012 Kentucky Derby Horses
Get The Latest On 2012 Kentucky Derby Hopefuls Here
There are a total of 20 Kentucky Derby 2012 horses allowed to participate on Derby day. As of now, there are 41 2012 Kentucky Derby contenders. Take a look at the latest 2012 Kentucky Derby hopefulls here:
Hansen Trainer: Michael Maker
Union Rags Trainer: Michael Matz
Sabercat Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Wrote (IRE) Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Creative Cause Trainer: Mike Harrington
Liaison Trainer: Bob Baffert
Dullahan Trainer: Dale Romans
Excaper Trainer: Ian Black
Basmati Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Drill Trainer: Bob Baffert
Finale Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Currency Swap Trainer: Teresa Pompay
Crusade Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Rousing Sermon Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Brother Francis Trainer: James Cassidy
Animal Spirts Trainer: Al Stall Jr.
Mr. Bowling Trainer: Larry Jones
Prospective Trainer: Mark Casse
Faraaj (IRE) Trainer: Roger Varian
Jack’s In The Deck Trainer: Robin Graham
Gemologist Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Longview Drive Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Take Charge Indy Trainer: Patrick Byrne
Daddy Long Legs Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Vexor Trainer: John Kimmel
State of Play Trainer: Graham Motion
Trinniberg Trainer: Bisnath Parboo
Motor City Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Optimizer Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Lucky Chappy (IRE) Trainer: Graham Motion
Shared Property Trainer: Thomas Amoss
Exfactor Trainer: Michael Maker
She Digs Me Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Seven Lively Sins Trainer: Al Stall Jr.
Power World Trainer: Neil Howard
Stoney Fleece Trainer: John Sadler
Sky Kingdom Trainer: Bob Baffert
So Brilliant Trainer: Bob Baffert
Shkspeare Shaliyah Trainer: Doodnauth Shivmangal
Out of Bounds Trainer: Eoin Harty
Alpha Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Which of these 2012 Kentucky Derby hopefuls will make it to the Derby? We will soon find out – stay tuned!
Kentucky Derby Tickets 2012
If you are planning your trip to see the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, you will want to plan in advance to secure your 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets. There are several ways that you can get tickets to the 2012 Kentucky Derby, and there are multiple types of Kentucky Derby tickets available depending on your budget and where you wish to sit.
For a wide selection of Kentucky Derby tickets 2012, we recommend the following ticket providers:
- TicketNetwork – Good selection of Kentucky Derby 2012 tickets
- RazorGator – $20 Off Kentucky Derby Tickets of $200 or more with code ORDR20RG at Razorgator.com!
If you are visiting from out of state, you may wish to consider a Kentucky Derby package that includes hotel accommodations. Various travel agencies offer special package deals especially for folks attending the 2012 Kentucky Derby. It is important to plan in advance if you would like to stay close to all of the action since space is limited and hotels are booked many months prior to the 2012 Kentucky Derby.
Some Kentucky Derby packages include Kentucky Derby tickets 2012, while others do not. Shop around to see what all is available and to compare all of your options for tickets and accommodations for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.