It’s that time of year again…time to get ready for the most exciting 2 minutes in sports – The Kentucky Derby.
Some locals celebrate at Churchill Downs, while many others host or go to Derby parties.
Typically we are the ones that host so I am here to help you throw a fantastic party.
There are 3 main things that make a Derby party special: 1. The Food, 2. The Scene and most importantly 3. The Entertainment. Read on for how we always put on a party to remember!
Kentucky Derby Party Food
Serve traditional Derby food and drinks! No Derby is complete without classic southern fare like The Kentucky Hot Brown, this twist on the favorite is always a hit – check out my Hot Brown Bites recipe. Other favorites include Derby Pie, Mint Julips, or my person favorite, the Lily – visit my Derby drink recipe page for these and other favorite Derby themed drinks. Other non-alcoholic favorites include Lemonade and Sweet Tea! Don’t forget to provide plenty of water to keep your guests hydrated.
Kentucky Derby Party Decorations
Set the scene with Kentucky Derby decorations. Some like to decorate with jockey silks, horse shoes, and my personal favorite – Roses. I like to do subtle decorations around the house, I found these very classic looking horse figurines, photos and home decor on Amazon and they look really high-end. Another favorite I have is this beautiful pottery vase from Stoneware Co. with the Louisville Fluer De Lis pattern on it. I purchased the large gold trophy from a garage sale and put roses in it. It was a beautiful centerpiece! I added small touches in other areas around the house like this cool horse soap in the bathroom and coasters on tables from Mamili and coffee table book from Amazon.
The Kentucky Derby Race
The most important part of hosting a Derby party is the entertainment. You must make sure you have a TV or some kind of screen/projector to watch the races. We typically have two TV’s going, we have the large screen TV inside for people hanging out, and we typically have one going outside in case it’s a nice day – that way no matter where people are gathered, they can stay tuned in. Races start at 10:30 so the TV’s all day – we personally have other activities going on as well. We put out cornhole boards, Hillbilly golf, badminton, music going and more. It’s always just a great day full of betting and just fun. Setting up a betting pool is also a favorite – guests can either bet on their favorites, or do a pool.
How do you do a betting pool?
- Write out all names of the horses on strips of paper, each strip of paper has one horse listed
- Put those strips in a hat, bowl, etc.
- Anyone that wants to enter the pool, throws in your “buy-in” amount. In this case we will say $1. If someone put’s in $2, they get 2 horses and so on
- Once the “buy-in” is collected, they pull the names out of the hat/bowl at RANDOM.
- Ideally you’ll have all the horses taken for each race.
- Note: If a horse scratches, typically you’d give that person their money back or they draw a different one.
Pool’s are fun because it evens the playing field and is truly up to luck and chance for anyone that is betting for fun.
For the real betters, you can easily place bets from home on the Twinspire App. It’s super easy to sign up, usually they offer a bonus and you can get free money. It’s really easy to place bet’s from anywhere!
Hosting a Kentucky Derby party is a great way to bring your friends and family together for a fun and festive event. Follow these tips and get ready for a day of southern charm and excitement!
