Why care about the Derby?

Now, I know that this is a Chicago Sports Blog, but I felt compelled to write about our friends 300 miles south of here in Louisville, KY. Every year, these fine folks gather some of the best race horses in all the land for our gambling entertainment at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby. In recent years though, I have felt that many of the classic American sporting events, like horse racing and boxing, are being shoved aside newer, more violent sports like UFC and the X games. While I am not trashing on these newer events, I feel that we should not forget our sporting roots (The Derby has been around since 1875) and still try to uphold the elegant tradition of these steeds by watching the races. Thus, I give you my top 3 Derby traditions/reasons for watching the Kentucky Derby this year.

1. Mint Juleps- For those of you who don't know, a mint julep is bourbon, sugar, water, and mint. It is also incredibly delicious. This drink has long standing roots in the United States (it has been in Kentucky since just after the American Revolution when Senator Henry Clay made it popular) and has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1938. What other sporting event has an official drink that isn't beer?

2. Large Hats- Like good southern folk, the people who attend Churchill Downs on this day don the largest, most ornamental hats you've ever seen. The women wear gigantic floppy hats in almost every color and material imaginable. And of course, the more prestigious you want to look, the bigger and more colorful your hat is. Men, on the other hand, tend to wear construction helmets on which they have created a diorama of the horses racing, the Churchill Downs Clubhouse, or some other part of event. It is quite a spectacle.

3. The Blanket of Roses- Last, but not least, is the Blanket of Roses that is laid over the winner of the race. This has to be the coolest way to honor the winner. No, it's not climbing up a ladder to cut down a net or driving doughnuts in the infield at Talladega or giving someone a Gatorade shower. This is better than all of that. This about as close to truly crowning the horse and jockey with an actual crown as it gets.

Get ready for the most exciting 2 minutes in sports.