2016 Kentucky Derby facts:

When: Saturday, May 7, 2016

Post time: 6:34 p.m. (Eastern)

TV:

Kentucky Derby undercard: 12-4 p.m, NBC

Kentucky Derby coverage: 4-7 p.m., NBC

Livestream: NBC Sports Live Extra

In 1872, Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, visited the Derby in England, a famous race that had been running annually since 1780. From there, Clark went on to Paris and visited the French Jockey Club, which had organized the Grand Prix de Paris, which was the greatest race in France at the time.

Enthused by what he saw in Europe, when he returned to Kentucky Colonel Clark organized the Louisville Jockey Club, the main purpose of which was to raise money to build racing facilities near the city of Louisville. The track was called the Louisville Jockey Club Driving Park. It would later become known as Churchill Downs, named for John and Henry Churchill, the uncles of Colonel Meriwether, who leased/gifted the land for the racetrack to the Jockey Club.

The Kentucky Derby is the longest running sporting event in the United States, dating back to 1875.  It has never been interrupted, even during the first and second World Wars.

On May 17th, 1875, the racetrack opened its gates and the Louisville Jockey Club sponsored the very first Kentucky Derby. A total of fifteen three-year-old Thoroughbred horses raced one and a half miles in front of a cheering crowd of 10,000. Aristides was the first winner of the Kentucky Derby, under jockey Oliver Lewis. Aristides took second place later that year in the Belmont Stakes.

The distance was changed in 1896 to its current 1 ¹⁄₄ miles (2.0 kilometres) to better accommodate the ability of 3-year-old thoroughbreds.  The presentation of roses to the winner was added sometime in the 1890’s, and the red rose became the official flower of the Kentucky Derby in 1904.

There are many traditions associated with the Derby, one of which is the HATS! The founder, Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr, wanted his race to resemble what he saw in Europe; men and women in morning finery (think Ascot). The race soon became a sort of fashion show, but the outrageous hats really took off in the 1960’s (I wonder if the Movie My Fair Lady had anything to do with it?)

Another tradition is the Mint Julep, served in silver Julep cups. The official drink of the Kentucky Derby is the Old Forester Mint Julep:

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Old Forester Kentucky Bourbon (substitute your favorite)
• Silver Julep Cups

Preparation

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Old Forester Kentucky Bourbon. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

NOW for what’s really important – the race. First, the lineup. The 20-horse field for the 142nd Kentucky Derby is set. Teams had until 9 a.m. on Friday to make the decision whether to scratch, but none did.

If all 20 horses begin the Derby, the purse will be $2,391,600, with $1,631,000 going to the champ. Guaranteed minimum gross is $2 million. Unbeaten Nyquist is the Derby top pick.  The foal is named for Detroit Red Wings player Gustav Nyquist.

To watch live stream:

http://www.nbcsports.com/live-extra