The first Saturday in May means one thing: the Kentucky Derby. Whether you are a lifelong horse racing devotee or simply showing up for the mint juleps and the hats, a little insider knowledge goes a long way. Here is your cheat sheet for the most iconic two minutes in sports, just in time for Salt Lake City's original Derby Day celebration at The Grand America Hotel.

1. It Is the Longest-Running Major Sporting Event in the United States

The Kentucky Derby has been held every year since 1875, making it older than the World Series, the Super Bowl, and just about every other major American sporting event you can name. It is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on a 1.25-mile track, and it has earned its nickname "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" honestly.

2. It Was Inspired by a British Race

The Derby owes its origins to Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the grandson of explorer William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame. After traveling to England and attending the prestigious Epsom Derby, Clark returned home determined to bring that same caliber of horse racing to Kentucky. He founded Churchill Downs and held the first Kentucky Derby in 1875 before a crowd of roughly 10,000 spectators.

3. American Pharoah Ended a 37-Year Drought

The Triple Crown had gone unclaimed for so long that many began to wonder if it would ever happen again. Then, in 2015, American Pharoah silenced the doubters. Competing against a field of the best three-year-old thoroughbreds in the country, which is the only age group eligible for the Derby, he swept the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The roar at Belmont Park when he crossed the finish line is still considered one of the most electric moments in modern horse racing history.

4. Secretariat Is Widely Considered the Greatest Racehorse of All Time

In 1973, Secretariat became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, sweeping the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. His Kentucky Derby time of 1:59 2/5 is a track record that has stood for more than 50 years. His Belmont Stakes victory was even more staggering, winning by 31 lengths in a world record time that also remains unbroken. Most horses slow in the final stretch. Secretariat ran his last quarter-mile faster than every quarter before it, a feat later attributed in part to a heart nearly three times the size of an average horse. He was, in every measurable sense, built differently.

5. The Triple Crown Is Extraordinarily Rare

Winning the Kentucky Derby is an enormous achievement on its own. Winning the Triple Crown, which also requires victories at the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, all within a grueling five-week span, is something else entirely. In the race's 150-year history, only 13 horses have ever accomplished it. Secretariat, American Pharoah, and Justify are among the rare few forever etched in that list.

6. The Mint Julep Has Been the Official Drink Since 1938

Bourbon, fresh mint, sugar, and crushed ice. Simple as it sounds, the mint julep has been the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby since 1938, and Churchill Downs serves roughly 120,000 of them on race day alone. It is less a drink and more a ritual, and one worth honoring properly.

7. The Winning Horse Is Draped in 400 Roses

The Kentucky Derby is known as "The Run for the Roses" for good reason. The winner is draped in a garland of 400 red roses, hand-sewn into a 2.5-yard-long, 40-pound masterpiece. The rose became the official flower of the race in the 1880s after the Derby's founder was inspired by the gesture of a guest presenting roses to ladies at a post-Derby party.

8. The Hat Is Not Optional

Churchill Downs has hosted elaborate hat traditions since its earliest days, when attending the Derby was as much a social occasion as a sporting one. Today, the fashion stakes are nearly as high as the racing ones. Wide brims, bold florals, and sculptural toppers are all fair game. Dressing the part is not just encouraged; it is part of the experience, and one of the most competitive arenas at the event.

9. The Biggest Upset in Derby History Was a 91-to-1 Long Shot

For those who love an underdog story, consider Donerail, who won the 1913 Kentucky Derby at odds of 91 to 1, the longest shot ever to win the race. More recently, Mine That Bird pulled off a stunning upset in 2009 at 50-to-1 odds, charging from the back of the pack to win in one of the most dramatic finishes in modern Derby history. The race has a long history of rewarding believers in the impossible.

10. The Derby Has Never Been Canceled

Rain, heat, and even world wars have not stopped the Derby. The race has been rescheduled on only two occasions in its entire history: once in 1945 due to World War II, and once in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both times, it was held later in the same year. In 1918, over two inches of rain fell on race day, and the Derby ran anyway. That kind of resolve is part of what makes it legendary.

Celebrate the Derby the Right Way at Salt Lake City's Original Party

Now that you are equipped with the facts, put them to good use at The Grand America Hotel's Fourth Annual Derby Day celebration, Salt Lake City's original Derby Day party. Join us at Laurel Brasserie and Bar, where all proceeds benefit Utah Food Bank. Sip handcrafted Mint Juleps and Peach and Bourbon Smashes, enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres and an exclusive small bites menu, and cheer on the race with fellow enthusiasts on Laurel's patio. Special guest host Deena Marie Manzanares of Good Things Utah will kick off the festivities, live music will set the scene, and a special pony guest will be on hand for a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity.

Don your best Churchill Downs attire and compete for the best hat and outfit, because at The Grand America, we do the Derby right.