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Kentucky was front and center Thursday at Churchill Downs for the third biggest day of racing of Kentucky Derby Week.
For the second consecutive year, Churchill Downs partnered with Frazier Kentucky History Museum to overlay the historic Louisville racetrack with interactive spotlights on state's history.
Racegoers might have spotted Kentucky icons such as Col. Harland Sanders or Muhammad Ali — and even a walking disco ball — roaming around the race track, with Actors Theatre of Louisville lending its talents to the day's festivities.
Leaning into the history theme, track goers were invited to wear their best vintage looks.
More Kentucky Derby Week news: 'Winsday' at Churchill Downs shines after a wet morning in Louisville
Lynette Davis, a lifelong Floridian from St. Petersburg, wore a floral jumpsuit and emerald fur coat, accessorized with silky white gloves and pearl jewelry.
She had such a memorable experience last year on Opening Night during her first visit to Churchill Downs that she decided the historic racetrack would be the backdrop for her 54th birthday.
“Wheels down an hour and a half ago, and I fly back out tonight,” she said April 30, overlooking the Paddock. "It's just a phenomenal experience. Unmatched. There's nothing else like it.”
The Thursday before the Kentucky Derby was officially dubbed Thurby in 2014, and has grown to be a more affordable, less crowded day for locals to enjoy the racetrack.
Jessica Carney and her friends, Louisville natives, have been coming to the race track for years, recalling memories of prom celebrations past.
More Kentucky Derby: Kentucky Derby 2026 odds, post positions for field at Churchill Downs
“It used to be Oaks,” Carney said of her friend group's traditional day to visit the track. “But when they started pushing locals out of Oaks, we decided Thurby was our day.”
And while Churchill Downs has worked to build out its Derby week offerings, adding more days earlier in the week for locals to enjoy, for longtime Kentucky Derby Week attendees and born and bred Louisvillians, Thurby still holds its local charm.
Jay Hogan and his wife, Jackie Hogan, have been coming to Derby for nearly 50 years. The Louisville natives have watched races from down in the infield to the balcony of Millionaires Row and have taken to the track on various days of Derby week, but now they’re loyal Thurbygoers.
More Kentucky Oaks news: Kentucky Oaks 2026 odds, post positions for field at Churchill Downs
“Our social director demands us to come on Thurby,” Jay Hogan said, gesturing to his wife.
The pair, along with friends Randy and Anne Ewing, have been Thurby attendees over the last few years and have noticed shifts in attendance over the decades, along with rising costs.
“You can just look around and see all the money they’ve spent to make it such an experience for people who’ve never had it before, but it’s just kind of priced some of us out,” Randy Ewing said.
Thurby has grown over the years, from drawing about 27,000 people in 2014 to seeing more than 53,000 attendees last year (about half of Oaks and a third of Derby day crowds).
Thurby’s relative lower attendance is a draw from some locals, including Meg Czerwonka, who was at Thurby and planned to be at Oaks on Friday with friends and family.
“I think that they’re the best days just because they’re a little bit less crowded,” Czerwonka said. “It’s cool to see everything, show people everything, and you still get the same great fashion.”
Although Czerwonka and her family are from Louisville, two of her friends, Kristen Miller and Nicolas Wackerbeck, flew from Berlin, Germany, to attend Thurby and Oaks. While they said Germany is no stranger to horse racing, the fashion is unique to the Kentucky Derby.
But the two were well prepared, thanks to Czerwonka, who handmade their hats for both days.
Guests on Thursday were met with sunny skies for an afternoon slate of 12 races. Davis, celebrating her birthday, said she was grateful for the beautiful day and an excuse to wear her finest.
“Louisville’s got great hospitality,” she said. "You see all kinds of people ages, and it's just so warm to be here."
Gates are set to open for the 152nd Kentucky Oaks on Friday at 11 a.m. Racing stretches from race one's 12:30 p.m. post time until the last race of the day, the now-in-primetime Kentucky Oaks race at 8:40 p.m. Mostly sunny skies are forecast with a high near 64.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Locals enjoy Thurby at Churchill Downs, mixing history, horse racing
Continue reading...
For the second consecutive year, Churchill Downs partnered with Frazier Kentucky History Museum to overlay the historic Louisville racetrack with interactive spotlights on state's history.
Racegoers might have spotted Kentucky icons such as Col. Harland Sanders or Muhammad Ali — and even a walking disco ball — roaming around the race track, with Actors Theatre of Louisville lending its talents to the day's festivities.
Leaning into the history theme, track goers were invited to wear their best vintage looks.
More Kentucky Derby Week news: 'Winsday' at Churchill Downs shines after a wet morning in Louisville
Lynette Davis, a lifelong Floridian from St. Petersburg, wore a floral jumpsuit and emerald fur coat, accessorized with silky white gloves and pearl jewelry.
She had such a memorable experience last year on Opening Night during her first visit to Churchill Downs that she decided the historic racetrack would be the backdrop for her 54th birthday.
“Wheels down an hour and a half ago, and I fly back out tonight,” she said April 30, overlooking the Paddock. "It's just a phenomenal experience. Unmatched. There's nothing else like it.”
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The Thursday before the Kentucky Derby was officially dubbed Thurby in 2014, and has grown to be a more affordable, less crowded day for locals to enjoy the racetrack.
Jessica Carney and her friends, Louisville natives, have been coming to the race track for years, recalling memories of prom celebrations past.
More Kentucky Derby: Kentucky Derby 2026 odds, post positions for field at Churchill Downs
“It used to be Oaks,” Carney said of her friend group's traditional day to visit the track. “But when they started pushing locals out of Oaks, we decided Thurby was our day.”
And while Churchill Downs has worked to build out its Derby week offerings, adding more days earlier in the week for locals to enjoy, for longtime Kentucky Derby Week attendees and born and bred Louisvillians, Thurby still holds its local charm.
Jay Hogan and his wife, Jackie Hogan, have been coming to Derby for nearly 50 years. The Louisville natives have watched races from down in the infield to the balcony of Millionaires Row and have taken to the track on various days of Derby week, but now they’re loyal Thurbygoers.
More Kentucky Oaks news: Kentucky Oaks 2026 odds, post positions for field at Churchill Downs
“Our social director demands us to come on Thurby,” Jay Hogan said, gesturing to his wife.
The pair, along with friends Randy and Anne Ewing, have been Thurby attendees over the last few years and have noticed shifts in attendance over the decades, along with rising costs.
“You can just look around and see all the money they’ve spent to make it such an experience for people who’ve never had it before, but it’s just kind of priced some of us out,” Randy Ewing said.
Thurby has grown over the years, from drawing about 27,000 people in 2014 to seeing more than 53,000 attendees last year (about half of Oaks and a third of Derby day crowds).
Thurby’s relative lower attendance is a draw from some locals, including Meg Czerwonka, who was at Thurby and planned to be at Oaks on Friday with friends and family.
“I think that they’re the best days just because they’re a little bit less crowded,” Czerwonka said. “It’s cool to see everything, show people everything, and you still get the same great fashion.”
Although Czerwonka and her family are from Louisville, two of her friends, Kristen Miller and Nicolas Wackerbeck, flew from Berlin, Germany, to attend Thurby and Oaks. While they said Germany is no stranger to horse racing, the fashion is unique to the Kentucky Derby.
But the two were well prepared, thanks to Czerwonka, who handmade their hats for both days.
Guests on Thursday were met with sunny skies for an afternoon slate of 12 races. Davis, celebrating her birthday, said she was grateful for the beautiful day and an excuse to wear her finest.
“Louisville’s got great hospitality,” she said. "You see all kinds of people ages, and it's just so warm to be here."
Gates are set to open for the 152nd Kentucky Oaks on Friday at 11 a.m. Racing stretches from race one's 12:30 p.m. post time until the last race of the day, the now-in-primetime Kentucky Oaks race at 8:40 p.m. Mostly sunny skies are forecast with a high near 64.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Locals enjoy Thurby at Churchill Downs, mixing history, horse racing
Continue reading...
