Kentucky Derby Museum completes Derby 150 updates to Winner's Circle exhibit
Mystik Dan's victory now showing as part of 360° movie, "The Greatest Race"
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 4, 2024) – Guests can relive the unforgettable victory of Mystik Dan in the 150th Kentucky Derby® by visiting the newly updated Winner's Circle exhibit at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Visitors can plan their Kentucky Derby Museum experience by visiting derbymuseum.org.
Every year, the Museum updates the Winner's Circle to commemorate the latest Derby champion, and this year is no exception. With odds of 18-1, Mystik Dan's win was the closest three-horse photo finish since 1947.
Mike Prather, a local artist who was first commissioned by the Museum to airbrush a replica Derby horse in 1999, captured all of Mystik Dan's unique markings and details to match how he looked crossing the finish line on May 4, 2024. The replica jockey was also given a makeover with the team's silks. After taking selfies with the Derby winners, visitors can dive into the story of their journey to victory by learning about the winning connections through a series of self-guided panels in the exhibit.
New this year, the Museum is thrilled to showcase the following items on loan in the exhibit, highlighting the historic double win with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and trainer Kenny McPeek clinching both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby: a halter and a horseshoe worn by Mystik Dan and a halter and a horseshoe worn by Thorpedo Anna.
As part of the annual updates, the Museum's front lobby banner and its signature 18-minute 360° movie, "The Greatest Race," now include Mystik Dan's stunning photo finish.
"The Kentucky Derby Museum is excited to bring Mystik Dan’s inspiring victory to life,” said Patrick Armstrong, Derby Museum President and CEO. “Congratulations to all the Mystik Dan connections on such a monumental win! The updates to the Winner's Circle and the inclusion of Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna's story make this exhibit a must-see."
Kentucky Derby Museum set record attendance last year with more than 251,000 visitors, and the Museum exceeded attendance expectations during Derby week. From Opening Night through the Sunday after Derby, 12,133 guests visited the Museum, which surpassed the 10,000 visitors anticipated and surpassed the 2023 attendance total for the same timeframe by 24.6%.
"The entire Kentucky Derby Museum Team did an incredible job executing all our Derby 150 projects, resulting in jaw-dropping results for 2024," said Katie Fussenegger, Kentucky Derby Museum Executive Vice President. "This gives the Museum spectacular momentum as we have already started working on big projects leading into our 40th anniversary next year."
The updates to the Winner's Circle, along with the new exhibits created for the 150th celebration, are expected to attract even more visitors through the busy summer travel season.
KDM continues to celebrate 150 years of Derby history!
Derby Fashion Exhibit -- Kentucky Derby Museum will open a new fashion exhibit, "See & Be Seen: 150 Years of Fashion," on Wednesday, July 10. Coming to the racetrack dressed to impress has been a part of the Kentucky Derby experience since the very beginning. Experience the color, glamour, and humor of the railbird runway with historic and contemporary ensembles, headwear, and accessories that epitomize Derby Day.
The exhibit will be on the second floor of the Museum in the Winn Theatre and will be included in the price of General Admission.
Derby 150 Book -- Kentucky Derby Museum published its first collections guide to celebrate the 150th Derby anniversary titled: The History of the Kentucky Derby in 75 Objects. Curator of Collections, Jessica Whitehead, spent four years researching and writing the book, which explores well-known and lesser-known narratives surrounding the history of America’s longest continuously held sporting event. A nod to the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, readers are given a personal tour of 75 objects from the Museum's Vault that spotlight key moments in Derby history.
A signed copy of the book can be purchased online and in person at the Kentucky Derby Museum Store.
"The Greatest Race" -- Kentucky Derby Museum is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $1 million James Graham Brown Foundation Grant, which will support the Museum's ambitious strategic plan to remaster its iconic 360° feature film, "The Greatest Race," in celebration of the Museum's 40th anniversary in 2025. The grant will allow the Museum to not only reshoot and edit the film itself but also significantly update the technology and lighting in the theater.
The new version of "The Greatest Race" will debut in April 2025, ahead of Derby 151.
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