Design-Your-Own Oaks/Derby Hat Contest

Beautiful and legitimate homemade Derby hat made by RRP contractor Jennifer Crowl, and fake flowers pinned to a paper plate tied to the head of RRP communications manager Kristen Bentley.

Time to get creative: design yourself an Oaks or Derby hat fit for the track! Whether you’re a polished seamstress who can stitch up a masterpiece or are just really good at sticking random objects together, we want to see your loveliest, most creative and most random fancy hats and homemade fascinators. RRP staff will select their favorite homemade Derby hat and the winner will receive a gift card from our generous sponsor SmartPak!

Enter this contest by posting your hat photo on this Facebook thread. Entries are open now through Sunday.

Derby Weekend Flash Sale on Centerline Candles

Take 30% off Centerline Candles now through Sunday! Featuring evocative scents including Tack Shop, Run for the Roses and Mint Julep, these candles are the perfect gift for the Thoroughbred lover in your life (or as a little aromatherapy treat for yourself!). Shop now.

Industry-Wide Virtual Kentucky Derby Celebrations

Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Photo by Abbie Meyers, Creative Commons

We’ve compiled plenty of fun virtual celebrations taking place Friday through Saturday so you can still gather in spirit with your fellow racing enthusiasts.

• Take a virtual farm tour with Horse Country participating farms: There are plenty of recorded tours available to re-watch, and many tours from Derby Week had a special Kentucky Derby theme visiting past winners. Check out all of the virtual tour options here.
• Pick your winner in the first-ever Virtual Kentucky Derby and make a donation for COVID-19 relief: Churchill Downs is matching donations up to $1 million for the Team Kentucky Fund and Direct Relief. Make your donation at KentuckyDerby.com and pick who you think will win out of the 13 Triple Crown winners who will face off in a simulated virtual race to be broadcast on NBC starting at 3 PM ET on Saturday.
• Family-friendly Kentucky Derby activities all day long at KentuckyDerby.com! The Kentucky Derby website and social media will host various family-friendly activities all day long on Saturday.
• Share how YOU Kentucky Derby with Amplify: Whether you’re spending the day at home wearing your best Derby hat, or you’re riding your off-track Thoroughbred, Amplify is encouraging everyone affiliated with the Thoroughbred industry in any way to tag their Derby-day activities with #KYDerbyAtHome and #AmplifyHorseRacing.