Derby Day
The Kentucky Derby is one of my favorite 2 minutes out of the year. You don’t have to be a horse racing fan to appreciate the Derby, but it certainly helps. Aside from the majesty of the horses themselves, and the excitement of the race, I just can’t help but love the traditions that go along with the Triple Crown events.
I was born in Pittsburgh and was moved to Kentucky to live the first few years of my life (I believe this is where my penchant for using “y’all” rather than “yinz” took root). I was too young to fully appreciate the magic of southern traditions, but they certainly made an impression on me. When I moved to Alabama I noticed similar traditions always lurking just under the surface of every day life, and when Derby day arrived, those traditions were always on display.
I think the fabulousness is what draws me to the Derby, too, and I’ve always wanted to go. There’s something about stepping in to a tradition in refined style that kindles my affection for the southern past. What’s not to love? Mint Juleps, big hats, seersucker suits, and fantastic hometown food! I’m not generally a hat person–I think I look rather silly–but I’ve always wanted to be able to walk around in big, beautiful hats! I even know what style of hat I would try and find:
I don’t know if I could pull this one off, and it’s kinda dark for the Derby, in my opinion, but it’s lovely and I wouldn’t hesitate to wear it! These kinds of hats (and the Derby in general) always remind me of Eliza Doolittle. And what girl didn’t love Eliza Doolittle? This one, though, I would just love, love, love to parade around in:
How can’t you love the feathers and the distinct floppiness? I should just start wearing these kinds of hats every day. So what if it would make me look eccentric? It screams fun!
But it’s not just the Derby that is exciting about the Triple Crown–it’s just the beginning! Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby today, and now everyone will wait to see if he can take the Preakness in two weeks, and if he can make history and take the Belmont Stakes in June as well. It’s about overcoming history and the odds, and any horse who wins the Derby starts out as the proverbial underdog to win the Triple Crown. Everyone loves a good underdog overcoming obstacles story! So I’ll be watching in the coming weeks. Will you?
