Fan Fest Day 2018 - For the FilliesJoin us to celebrate famous fillies; open new Winning Colors exhibit, release commemorative Woodford Reserve Bottle and much more!
Sunday, April 29th 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Now in its third year, Fan Fest Day offers the public a way kick-off Derby week with a full day of family fun that celebrates the Thoroughbred industry, past and present. This year is all about celebrating the Kentucky Derby’s famous fillies!
The Museum will open a brand-new exhibit in its Matt Winn Gallery focusing on Winning Colors, the last filly to win the Kentucky Derby in 1988. This year marks the 30th anniversary of her win. Winning Colors: A Celebration of Famous Fillies will feature history, artifacts and more about the only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby, Regret, Genuine Risk and Winning Colors.
The exhibit will feature the gold cup presented to the Klein Family, the owners of Winning Colors, for her Derby win. The trophy was recently acquired by the Museum from the San Diego Hall of Champions and has now been fully restored to its original condition.
Winning Colors was the first Kentucky Derby win for Hall of Fame Jockey Gary Stevens and Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Both men will be a featured part of the day, sharing stories of their decade’s long collaboration, including two Kentucky Derby wins together, and participating in a special question and answer session in the Museum’s Great Hall.
As a special component of Fan Fest Day, the Museum will also launch a new Thoroughbred bourbon bottle release, the second in a five bottle series release highlighting past Kentucky Derby winners. To tie in with the filly theme of this year’s Fan Fest, the 2018 exclusive Woodford Reserve bottle will feature Winning Colors.
The bottle is now available for presale** online only here. Bottle pick up will begin at 1:00 PM EST on Sunday, April 29th at the Kentucky Derby Museum. The first 50 bottles signed by both Gary Stevens and D. Wayne Lukas are now sold out. Remaining bottle signed by Gary Stevens only are still available. Bottles will also be available for purchase on Fan Fest Day starting at 1:00 p.m.. Bottles from 2017 can be purchased here.
The Museum will also make a special announcement in the with the help of Kate Tweedy, daughter of the late Penny Chenery, owner of Kentucky Derby winners Riva Ridge and Secretariat. Tweedy will also be on hand following the announcement to interact with fans and sign autographs of her book Secretariat's Meadow.
Bill Hartack Charitable Foundation will hold its annual ceremony to present last year’s winning jockey with the Hartack Memorial Award, which is a championship ring recognizing the achievement. This year the foundation will honor John Velazquez. The ring will be presented by Gary Stevens. Todd Pletcher will also be awarded the Prestigious Neiman award as the winning trainer, presented by D. Wayne Lukas. The ceremony will be open to fans attending Fan Fest Day.
*Guests can experience everything Fan Fest Day has to offer for the cost of a regular general admission ticket which can be purchased here.
SCHEDULE
7:15 a.m. - Exclusive Walking Tour to see Kentucky Derby contenders train on the track followed by a rail-side talk with jockey Patti Cooksey, who was the leading female jockey in wins in North America three times (1980, '81, '83) and the second woman ever to ride in the Kentucky Derby
8:10 a.m. – The Greatest Race
8:30 a.m. – Historic Walking Tour
9:00 a.m. – Lucky Shoes (kids horseshoe decorating)
9:00 a.m. – Winning Colors exhibit educational program
9:00 a.m. – The Greatest Race
9:30 a.m. – Wantha Davis exhibit educational program
9:30 a.m. – Historic Walking Tour
10:00 a.m. – Analyzing this year’s field of Kentucky Derby horses with Horse Racing Communications Specialist Jennie Rees and TVG commentator Caton Bredar
10:40 a.m. – The Greatest Race
11:00 a.m. – Historic Walking Tour
11:00 a.m. – Lucky Shoes (kids horseshoe decorating)
11:00 a.m. – Winning Colors exhibit Educational program
11:30 a.m. – Wantha Davis exhibit Educational program
12:00 p.m. - Special announcement with the help of Kate Tweedy, daughter of the late Penny Chenery, owner of Kentucky Derby winners Riva Ridge and Secretariat. Tweedy will be available following the announcement to interact with fans and sign autographs.
12:00 p.m. – Autograph signing with photographer Linda Doane and her book, Kentucky: A Photographic Journey
12:20 p.m. – The Greatest Race
1:00 p.m. – Question and answer session with Hall of Fame Jockey Gary Stevens and Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Hear stories of their decades-long collaborations, including two Kentucky Derby wins together
1:00 p.m. - Launch of new Thoroughbred bourbon bottle release, the second in a five bottle series release highlighting past Kentucky Derby winners. To tie in with the filly theme of this year’s Fan Fest, the 2018 exclusive Woodford Reserve bottle will feature Winning Colors.
The bottle is now available for presale** online only here. Bottle pick up will begin at 1:00 PM EST on Sunday, April 29th at the Kentucky Derby Museum. The first 50 bottles sold during the online presale will be signed by both Gary Stevens and D. Wayne Lukas.
The first bottle of the series is available for purchase now online with pick-up at the Museum here.
The Woodford Reserve® 2018 Kentucky Derby® Bottle can be purchased here.
2:00 p.m. – Autograph signings – Chris Morris, Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve, Keith Anderson, artist of Woodford Reserve® 2018 Kentucky Derby® Bottle, Gary Stevens, and D. Wayne Lukas.
2:00 p.m. – Winning Colors exhibit Educational program
2:00 p.m. – The Greatest Race
2:30 p.m. – Lucky Shoes (kids horseshoe decorating)
3:00 p.m. – Bill Hartack Charitable Foundation’s Hartack Memorial Award Ceremony to honor John Velazquez, presented by Gary Stevens. Todd Pletcher will also be awarded the Prestigious Neiman Award as the winning trainer, presented by D. Wayne Lukas
3:30 p.m. – The Greatest Race
4:00 p.m. – Historic Walking Tour
4:30 p.m. – The Greatest Race
*Brunch buffet served in the Derby Café from 10 a.m. - noon.