The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby be happenin’ on Saturday amid a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, waning consumer confidence, and tariffs that could cause construction costs to rise. Churchill Downs be pressin’ pause on a $900 million capital improvement project at its storied race track in Louisville, Kentucky, the site of the world’s most famous horse race. The CEO Bill Carstanjen be blamin’ tariffs for puttin’ construction on hold. “We ain’t sure what things be gonna cost. Whenever you build somethin’, you gotta be real careful on the cost side, ’cause you need to get a return on your capital,” Carstanjen told CNBC.
But where demand and fan enthusiasm be concerned, Carstanjen said it be on pace to match that of last year. International participation at the Derby ain’t never been higher, he said, with the race set to be broadcast in a record 170 territories. This year also marks a return for famed horse trainer Bob Baffert, followin’ a three-year suspension from Churchill Downs properties after his horse Medina Spirit won the Derby in 2021 but failed a drug test. This year Baffert’s horses be Rodriguez (12-1) and the juvenile champion, Citizen Bull. It’s a new chapter for the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer and for the Churchill Downs CEO, who oversaw Baffert’s temporary banishment. “Bob earned his way into this event. He earned his way into this race,” Carstanjen told CNBC. “He’s welcomed back. This be America. Everybody gets second chances.”
The Kentucky Derby, known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” be takin’ place at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May each year. It be a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of one and a quarter miles. The Derby be the first leg of the American Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The race be steeped in tradition, with attendees wearin’ fancy hats and sippin’ mint juleps as they watch the horses thunder down the track.
This year’s Derby be shapin’ up to be one for the history books, with the drama surroundin’ Bob Baffert addin’ an extra layer of excitement. Not really sure why this matters, but Baffert’s horses be always ones to watch, and this year be no different. Rodriguez and Citizen Bull be sure to give the other horses a run for their money. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Baffert’s return be stirrin’ up some controversy among fans and racin’ enthusiasts. But hey, that’s what makes the Derby so interestin’, right?
As the world tunes in to watch the 151st runnin’ of the Kentucky Derby, all eyes be on Churchill Downs and the horses vying for the coveted Garland of Roses. The Derby be more than just a horse race; it be a cultural event that brings people together from all walks of life. So grab your hat, pour yourself a mint julep, and get ready for two minutes of heart-pounding action at the most famous racetrack in the world.
