For 131 years, the Kentucky horse racing tradition has continued with style, grace and booze. It's hard to believe that within a few feet of each other the epitome of class and the epitome of trash can be enjoying the same event, but that's the Kentucky Derby -- located at the corner of horse racing and drunken madness. \nThe tradition, which brings the best horses and people from across the world together for the best two minutes in sports, is a sight to see, especially if you see one of the four-legged runners. \n"It's where spring break meets thoroughbred racing," said Tony Terry, director of publicity for Churchill Downs. "If you take your time and get there early you can actually see some horses before you start to party."\nAnd party is what everyone does at Churchill Downs, the legendary racetrack where the Derby is held. Whether old or young, Louisville native or out of towner, getting into the spirit of spring and horse racing is what the Derby's all about. For the people of Louisville, one day isn't enough to celebrate the Kentucky Derby; they need a two-week festival. \nA two-week party? Ok!\nOur border neighbors do things right when they celebrate the Derby. Not only do they throw one of the biggest parties in the Northern Hemisphere the first Saturday in May, but they get a warm-up the two weeks leading up to it. The two weeks are appropriately called the Kentucky Derby Festival and are jam-packed with everything from wild celebrity parties to family events to a steamboat race. There's something for everyone including students from IU.\n"A Pegasus Pin gets you into a lot of the events or many of the other events are free to attend," said Mark Shallcross, communications manager for the Kentucky Derby Festival. "(Louisville) is a short drive from Bloomington and students are going to want to blow off some steam after finals. The festival is a great time of year in Louisville; the town is a buzz of excitement with people in town."\nThe two-week buzz starts with the nation's largest annual fireworks event -- Thunder Over Louisville. This isn't just any fireworks show, but 60 tons of fireworks packed into a 28-minute show at the Kentucky waterfront. \nOnce the smoke clears, more than 50 festival events begin. A Pegasus Pin will get you into those events. The pins -- $3 this year -- are uniquely designed, featuring different festival events on different pins. The pins are an admission ticket and a memento. \nBut while many of the events cost money, Shallcross said the best events are free. The Pegasus Parade, Great Steamboat Race and Great Balloon Race are all events where all that is required is a good spot to watch the action and in some instances a blanket and picnic lunch. \n"The steamboat race is a free event and it's the only place you can see authentic steamboats," Shallcross said. "The parade Grande Marshall is Chubby Checker and there will be a whole rock 'n' roll theme. That will be very enjoyable."\nAlong with the traditional events there is also a wine tasting, numerous chow wagons with live music and cheap food and lots of concerts -- including Widespread Panic, Alkaline Trio, Seether and Crossface -- over the two-week period.
What to expect at Kentucky Derby 131\nOnce the first Saturday in May rolls around, this year May 7, the energy gets high in Louisville and the city begins to fill. Over the years, the Derby has become a hot spot for celebrities to come to watch the race and party alongside a few Kentucky commoners. Derby 130 boasted the likes of Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, Anna Nicole Smith, Kid Rock, Carson Daly, Brooks and Dunn, Taylor Dayne, Nicole Richie, Travis Tritt, Rob Thomas, Chuck Woolery, Jermaine Dupri, Boys II Men, Macy Gray, Dennis Hopper and George Strait. This year's race shouldn't be any different in the large star sightings including stars like Nelly and Cedric the Entertainer, who have already bought their tickets on Millionaire's Row. \nBut for those who can't afford a ticket on Millionaire's Row, a $40 infield ticket will do just fine. The 40 acres of Churchill Downs' infield transforms on Derby day to a college student's dream come true with beer and alcohol stands, live music and people around every corner. \n"It's not just about the two-minute horse race," Terry said. "It's about being with people your age, having fun, meeting people from around the world."\nTerry compared the Kentucky Derby to Mardi Gras in that the crowds of both events are from all over the country and world -- all seeking a good time. While the Derby might not be as well known as Mardi Gras, Terry said attending guarantees a memorable experience. \n"It's a bragging right," he said. "You want to be able to say that you've been there. They are two of the biggest parties in America."\nIU junior and Louisville native Taylor Wright can agree. Wright has attended the Derby three times, beginning when she was a junior in high school, and described the experience as unique, to say the least. \n"I would describe it as Mardi Gras with rednecks," she said. "You can definitely let loose with your inhibitions at Derby."\nIU final exams -- falling the week after Derby -- has prevented Wright from returning home the last few years to participate in infield festivities, but this year finals fall the week before, which the now 21 year-old said is perfect timing. \nWith school out for the summer Wright said Derby is a wonderful experience to share with her older brothers and also a great opportunity to share her hometown with friends from IU.\n"It's a way to share home and where I'm from with people from here," she said, "My friends from home bring their friends from different universities and people from all over come together. They get to see Louisville and the Derby; it's a great time to bring people to the city."\nBut Wright said you don't have to know a Louivillian to come to Derby. With the mix of live music, betting, drinking and celebrity sightings, Wright said anyone can get into the Derby spirit. \n"You can get into it so many ways," she said. "It's always really good weather and something that I look forward to in the spring time as a day people reserve to be with their friends and everyone to be together. I think everyone can look at it like that"
