2014 Kentucky Derby traditions: Mint Juleps, hats, roses and more

Today marks the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churhill Downs, and there are plenty of traditions that come along with the race that people will be looking forward to. When you tune into the race, there are always a few things that you will see on the screen but may not realize that they are such a common occurrence at the derby.

Below we have listed some of the top traditions that come from the Kentucky Derby, which you could also implement in to your home viewing party for the great race.

Hats

It doesn’t take much effort to notice the ridiculous hats that grace Churchill Downs during the derby. It seems that everyone attempts to have the craziest hats which lead to some pretty spectacular sights around the raceway. The more money you have, the more ridiculous your hat turns out to be and that is something that we can’t complain about.

Mint Juleps

The Mint Julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Here is the recipe that they mix up at Churchill Downs:

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Early Times Kentucky Whisky
• Silver Julep Cups

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 Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Rose Blanket

The Run for the Roses term was coined because of the blanket of red roses that the winning horse is draped with following their win. The red rose became the official flower of the race back in 1904. To make the rose blanket, it takes 554 red roses and the Governor of Kentucky gets the proud honor of draping the horse with the blanket.

Benedictine Spread

With the food being such an important part of the derby, one of the more interesting ingredients is the benedictine spread that mixes cucumbers and cream cheese to give your sandwich some extra flare. Below is the Benedictine Spread recipe from by Chef Mark Williams for Brown-Forman Corporation:

• 1 large cucumber
• 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons grated onion
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• Pinch of cayenne or tabasco dash
• Green food coloring (optional)

1. Pare, grate, and drain cucumber.
2. Combine with remaining ingredients in food processor.
3. Serve as is or as a sandwich or canapé spread.
4. Thin with sour cream to make a dip for vegetables.