The Kentucky Derby Museum is proud to kick off Derby week with our 4th annual Fan Fest, a celebration of the past, present and future of the Thoroughbred racing industry that includes tons of the fun and activities for the whole family.
This year’s theme is the Triple Crown. We’ll be honoring our 13th and most recent Triple Crown champion, Justify, with a panel discussion featuring jockey Mike Smith, trainer Bob Baffert, WinStar Farm, and others.
A Life After the Triple Crown panel discussion with Coolmore America and representatives of American Pharoah, Justify, and Seattle Slew, will also be a highlight.
Justify will also be the focus of a new Derby Museum exhibit, opening just in time for Fan Fest, celebrating his Triple Crown win. In addition to Justify, we’ll be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1st Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton, during a discussion with Jennifer Kelly, author of “Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown."
Bourbon lovers won’t be left out, either. The limited-edition “Cheers to 100 Years” Kentucky Derby Museum Maker’s Mark Private Selection bottle, celebrating 100 years of the Triple Crown, will be available for purchase in the Museum's gift shop.
For kids, our Junior Jockey Zone will be back this year from 10AM – 2PM and even better than ever! We’ll have horse-themed painting stations, horseshoe decorating, face painting, a caricature artist, kid-friendly education on Thoroughbred care, a reading of “Milly the Filly” by author Nancy Pruitt, and so much more!
A special buffet lunch will be available in the Derby Cafe Express with selections to please the whole family.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS**
7:00 A.M. • Doors open
7:30 A.M. - 8:10 A.M. • View trackside morning workouts & discussion with retired Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, meet in lobby at 7:30
9:00 A.M. - 9:20 A.M. • Winston Memorial Dedication, Oaks Terrace Garden
9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. • Get your picture with the Triple Crown trophy, outside 2nd Floor Matt Winn Gallery
10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. • Junior Jockey Zone, Oaks Terrace Garden
10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. • Paint by Number with Easy 123 Art, Decorate a Lucky Horseshoe with the Official Milliner of the Kentucky Derby Museum, Jenny Pfanenstiel of Formé Millinery, Musical experimenting with Heartland Music Together
10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. • Premier Face Painting
11:00 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. • Thoroughbred Care presented by the Museum’s Education Department
12:00 P.M. - 12:30 P.M. • Reading of “Milly the Filly” by author Nancy Pruitt; book-signing in the Gift Shop immediately following
12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. • Caricatures by artist Vickie Richardson
10:05 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. • Discussion with Jennifer Kelly, author of “Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown,” The Great Hall
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. • Life After the Triple Crown panel discussion with American Pharoah, Seattle Slew, and Justify representatives, led by Caton Bredar, The Great Hall
1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. • Justify Triple Crown panel discussion with trainer Bob Baffert, jockey Mike Smith, and Winstar Farm's Elliott Walden, led by Caton Bredar, The Great Hall
2:00 P.M. • "Justify and the Century of the Crown" exhibit opens, 2nd Floor Matt Winn Gallery
2:00 P.M. • Maker’s Mark Triple Crown “Cheers to 100 Years” bottle signing, 2nd Floor Event Gallery
3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. • Tribute to the late John Asher, The Great Hall
5:00 P.M. • Museum closes
**“The Greatest Race” in The Great Hall will show at 8:10 A.M., 9:10 A.M., 12:10 P.M., 2:10 P.M. & 4:20 P.M.
**Historic Walking Tours of Churchill Downs Racetrack depart from the lobby at 8:30 A.M., 9:30 A.M., 12:30 P.M., 2:30 P.M. & 4:30 P.M.
