♪ ♪ SNOT ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE TO THIS SPECIAL DERBY EDITION OF "INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

I'M YOUR HOST KELSEY STARKS ALONG WITH MY FRIEND CHIP POLSTON COMING TO YOU FROM UNDER THE TWIN SPIRES AT CHMP HILL DOWNS.

>> WE ARE THRILLED TO BRING YOU AN INSIDER LOOK AT THE MOST FAMOUS TWO MINUTES IN SPORTS, THE KENTUCKY DERBY THIS YEAR CELEBRATING A MILESTONE 150 YEARS.

>> IT IS HISTORIC IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

THIS YEAR CHURCHILL DOWNS UNVEILS ITS MULTIYEAR RENOVATION PROJECT AND YOU CAN SEE THE NEW PADDOCK AREA THAT COMPLETELY TRANSFORMS THE LOOK OF THIS FAMOUS RACETRACK.

>> THERE IS A LOT TO CHECK OUT.

A LOT HAS CHANGED AT CHURCHILL DOWNS OVER THE LAST 150 YEARS BUT A FEW THINGS REMAIN THE SAME AND WE'LL EXPLORE THE RICH TRADITIONS THAT MAKE THIS SO MUCH MORE THAN A HORSE RACE, FROM THE EXTRAVAGANT FASHION STATEMENTS TO THE MAKING OF MINT JULEPS.

>> ON THE BACKSIDE OF CHURCHILL DOWNS, I'LL SHOW YOU THE HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND COMMUNITY IT TAKES TO GET A HORSE BACK HERE INTO THE WINNER CIRCLE.

>> AND YOU WILL MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE FAMOUS CALL TO POST, CELEBRATING 29 YEARS AS THE OFFICIAL BUGLER AT CHURCHILL DOWNS.

>> IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE KENTUCKY DERBY RAN A CENTURY AND A HALF AGO, 150 YEARS AGO, IN THIS VERY SAME SPOT, ALTHOUGH BACK THEN IT WAS CALLED THE LOUISVILLE JACKSON CLUB.

>> MANY OF THOSE TRADITIONS WE HAVE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE, THE HATS, THE ROSES, THE MINT JULEPS, ALL TRADITIONS THAT DATE BACK TO THOSE VERY FIRST DERBY RACES A CENTURY AND A HALF AGO.

I HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO CHRIS GOODLETT WHO GIVE US THE MTV OF 150 YEARS OF THE KENTUCKY DESERVE AGREE THE KENTUCKY DERBY CAME TO BE IN 1875.

THAT WAS THE YEAR OF VERY FIRST KENTUCKY DERBY WHEN THE LOUISVILLE JOCKEY CLUB WERE FOUNDED.

ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WAS COMING OUT OF THE CIVIL WAR, BREEDING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DEVASTATED HERE IN KENTUCKY IS.

SO THOSE WHO WERE IN THAT INDUSTRY, WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED TO INVEST IN HORSE BREEDING.

>> A LOT OF HISTORIANS WILL POINT TO THREE PIVOTAL YEARS IN THE EARLY 19th CENTURY, 1915 TO BECAUSE NEW YORK, NEW YORK WAS THE EPICENTER OF RACING AT THAT TIME.

WITH ANTIGAMBLING MOVEMENTS, THERE WAS NO RACING FROM 1911 TO 1913 IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

THAT HELPS THE DERBY INCREASE ITS VISIBILTY.

WE HAD THREE BIG RACES THAT GOT A LOT OF NATIONAL COVERAGE FROM THE NEWS 1913 THE BIGGEST LONG SHOT EVER, WINS IT 91-1.

A HORSE NAMED OLD ROSE BUD WON IN 1914 AND 1915, REGRET, THE FIRST OF THREE FEMALE HORSES THAT WON THE DERBY.

THREE IN A ROW THAT GOT IT GOING ON THE UPWARD TRAJECTORY STARTING TO SEE IT AS A MAJOR SPORTING EVENT AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.

EARLY 20th CENTURY, THE GROUP THAT TAKES OVER IN 1902 IS LED BY MATTED WYNNE, A LOUISVILLE BUSINESSMAN FROM 1902-1949.

SOME OF THE TRADITIONS WE SEE START CONSISTENTLY UNDER WYNNE.

THE GARLAND OF ROSES START CONSISTENTLY UNDER WYNNE IN 1932, THE KENTUCKY DERBY TROPHY, GOLD CUP FIRST CREATED IN 1924 ENDURES TODAY.

AND THE OFFICIAL MINT JULEP GLASS IS ANOTHER TRADITION THAT STARTS UNDER WYNNE.

HE WAS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RELATED TO DURING HIS TENURE AT THE TRACK.

>> GIVING IT AUTOPSY AWAY!

SECRETARIAT... >> THE KENTUCKY DERBY 150 NO DOUBTED IS A SPECIAL KENTUCKY DERBY.

FOR JUST THE RACE ITSELF, FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS, FOR THE HISTORY OF THE RACE TO REACH 150 RUNNINGS OF AN EVENT AND ITS UNINTERRUPTED.

TO ME, THAT'S JUST PHENOMENAL, THAT SINCE 1875, 2024 WITH TWO WARLD WARS, A DEPRESSION, A PANDEMIC, WE'VE HAD A DERBY EVERY YEAR THAT SPEAKS TO THE DEDICATION OF THE FOLKS HERE TO CONTINUE THE DERBY.

IT SPEAKS TO THE FANS NEED TO HAVE THE DERBY AND WANTING TO HAVE SOMETHING, A TOUCH POINT, EVEN IN TOUGH TYPES TIMES THAT MIGHT PROVIDE AS A RESPITE FROM THOSE TOUGH TIMES WHEN THEY COME.

THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN UNINTERRUPTED IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND SAYS A LOT ABOUT ITS IMPORTANCE TO US, CHURCHILL DOWNS, AS A CITY AND THE FANS ACROSS THE WORLD THAT LOVE THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

TO ME IT'S JUST-- THAT'S WHAT HAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED ME GOING TO 20 KENTUCKY DERBIES NOW.

THE COMBINATION OF SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE WHO COME HERE TO EXPERIENCE THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

EVERYONE WHO IS HERE FOR THE PARTY IN THE INFIELD OR THEY'RE LOCAL AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THEY DO BECAUSE IT'S LOUISVILLE'S EVENT.

TO THE HORSE RACING FANS AND FOLKS IN THE INDUSTRY THAT ARE HERE BECAUSE IT'S THE LANDMARK THING FOR THE SPORT IN THE INDUSTRY.

SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, SO MANY DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, AND IT'S JUST A CELEBRATION AND IT'S A SPECIAL THING TO SEE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELL, CHURCHILL DOWNS WILL LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR AFTER TWO YEARS OF RENOVATIONS, THE MUCH ANTICIPATED NEW PADDOCK AREA WILL BE REVEALED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

>> A $200 MILLION PROJECT THAT MORE THAN DOUBLES THE SPACE THERE.

CHRISTIE DUTTON GIVES US A FIRST LOOK AND A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE.

>> THE PADDOCK IS THE HEART BEAT OF ANY RACETRACK ACROSS THE WORLD.

>> STAYING TRUE TO THE HEART OF CHURCHILL DOWNS CAN BE TRICKY WITH A BIG RENOVATION THAT HOPES TO TRANSFORM BUT ALSO PRESERVE.

>> IT'S A FINE LINE BECAUSE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, HISTORICAL LAND MARK THAT IS BUILT ON OF OF HISTORY AND TRADITION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU WANT TO BRING IT UP TO MODERN, YOU KNOW, DAY AMENITIES.

>> AMEN ADVERTISE LIKE TWO NEW CLUBS OFFERING EXCLUSIVE DINING AND UNIQUE PADDOCK VIEWS.

>> YOU CAN LITERALLY SIT AT A TABLE AND WATCH A HORSE BEING SADDLED WHILE YOU ARE EATING YOUR LUNCH.

>> THE NEW PADDOCK BRINGS NEW EXPERIENCES AND CHURCHILL DOWNS HISTORIC ICON BACK INTO FOLK US.

>> WHEN YOU WALK IN THE GATE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE HORSE UNDERSTAND SITUATED RIGHT BENEATH THE TWIN SPIRES, OUR ICONIC SYMBOL, THE NIKE SWOOSH, THE BIG McDONALD'S M. THE TWIN SPIRES IS WHAT WE ARE KNOWN FOR AND YOU SEE THEM FRONT AND CENTER AGAIN.

>> THE NEW PADDOCK IS THE BIGGEST CONSTRUCTION IN RECENT MEMORY BUT IN THE 150 YEAR DERBY HISTORY, THE PADDOCK HAS EVOLVED QUITE A BIT FROM ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.

THE EARLIEST PADDOCKS WERE LOCATED JUST NEAR THE END OF THE GRAND STAND AND THEN THAT SHIFTED BEHIND AS A WOODEN PADDOCK IN THE 19 TEENS BUT THE PADDOCK WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

THERE WAS A FENCE AROUND THE POD DAK FOR A LONG TIME.

>> BUT AS HORSE RACING GREW, THE PADDOCK BECAME AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DAY AT THE RACES.

>> IT CHANGES WHEN SPECTATORS STARTED COMING TO CHURCHILL DOWNS, WHEN THE AUDIENCES GOT BIGGER, MORE EXCITED AND PEOPLE WERE REALLY COMING TO SEE SUPER STAR HORSES.

>> AS THE AUDIENCE GREW DURING THE ROARING 1920s, SO DID CHURCHILL DOWNS WITH MAJOR GRAND STAND EXTENSIONS AND REIMAGINED PADDOCK.

>> THE 1923 PADDOCK WAS A STEEL FRAMED PADDOCK.

THE EARLIER ONES WERE MADE OF WOOD.

THE PADDOCK WAS RELOCATED INTO THE AREA WHERE IT STOOD BASICALLY UNTIL THE 1980s.

>> THE PADDOCK BUILT IN 1985 WAS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE AN ELECTRONIC TOTE BOARD, AN IMPRESSIVE UPGRADE AT THE TIME.

BUT THE NEW PADDOCK UNVEILED THIS DERBY SEASON TAKES IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> WE NOW HAVE 20 STALLS AND THEY'RE IN A CIRCULAR FASHION.

WE HAVE A VIDEO BOARD ABOVE EACH OF THE STALLS THAT WILL TELL THE HORSE'S NAMES, ITS ODDS, THE JOCKEY, THE THAN TRAINER.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT AT ALL TIMES.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK DOWN AT THE PROGRAM.

>> WITH ALL THE PADDOCK CHANGES IN THE LAST 150 YEARS, THERE ARE A FEW PIECES OF THE PAST THAT REMAIN LIKE THE ORIGINAL BRICK FROM THE 1985 GRAND STAND.

AND A PART OF HISTORY THAT HAS BEEN REPEATED SINCE THE VERY FIRST KENTUCKY DERBY.

>> ONE COMMON EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THE PADDOCKS, IS THE PADDOCK RUNWAY, THE TUNNEL LEADING TO THE TRACK.

EVERY DERBY WINNER HAS STEPPED THROUGH THAT TUNNEL.

>> STEPPING THROUGH THAT TUNNEL ALSO HOPING TO MAKE HISTORY.

FROM CHURCHILL DOWNS, I'M CHRISTIE DUTTON.

>> ONE THING THAT WILL BE THE SAME THIS YEAR IS THAT ICONIC CALL TO THE POST.

IT'S BEEN PLAYED BY THE SAME MAN FOR THE LAST 29 YEARS.

MEET THE OFFICIAL BUGLER OF CHURCHILL DOWNS, STEVE BUTTLEMAN.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> MY TITLE IS THE OFFICIAL BUGLER OF CHURCHILL DOWNS IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

I ALWAYS GET NERVOUS BEFORE THE DERBY BECAUSE I MEAN YOU CAN'T HELP BUT REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE WHOLE YEAR.

SO WHAT I USUALLY DO IS TAKE A WALK DOWN THE TURF AND THEN WHEN I TURN AROUND AND SEE ALL OF THIS AND THE TWIN SPIRES AND EVERYBODY HAVING A GREAT TIME, I JUST THINK GOD, WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE TO BE THE GUY?

ASHED I JUST SAY THANK YOU, GOD AND PLEASE HELP ME NOT SCREW UP.

AND THAT USUALLY HELPS WITH THE NERVES.

(MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME PLAYING).

>> MY FAVORITE IS AFTER I PLAY THE CALL TO THE POST, THAT WHEN THEY PLAY "MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME" AND 160,000 PEOPLE SING "MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME" IT GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS EVERY TIME.

JUST LOVE IT.

IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.

I HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED TO BE HERE.

I LOVE GETTING TO SHARE THE DERBY PEOPLE, AND IT'S SO MUCH FUN TO SEE EVERYBODY HAVING A GREAT TIME AND TO BE PART OF THIS TRADITION IS A GREAT HONOR.

(BUGLE PLAYING) CHEERK CHEERK CHEERING >> STILL EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

WELL, ANYONE FROM AROUND HERE KNOWS THAT DERBY SEASON STARTS LONG BEFORE THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY.

THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL IS THE ANNUAL LOUISVILLE TRADITION THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 70 EVENTS LEADING UP TO RACE DAY.

IT KICKS OFF TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE DERBY WITH NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST ANNUAL FIREWORKS SHOW, THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE AND CONTINUES WITH MORE THAN 70 EVENTS LEADING UP TO DERBY WEEKEND.

THE PEGASUS PARADE, THE BALLOON RACE, THE GREAT STEAM BOAT RACE AND MORE.

I SAT DOWN WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL WHO EXPLAINED HOW IT REALLY BRINGS TOGETHER THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT END OF TOWN YOU GO IN, YOU MIGHT GO IN A GROCERY STORE OR DOCTOR'S OFFICE, YOU WILL SEE SOME IMAGERY, THE POST YEAR PROGRAM OR A MURAL OF BALLOONS OR SOMEBODY HAS A STORY OF BEING IN THE PARADE WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER, OR WHAT PEGASUS MEANS TO THEM.

JUST ON AND ON.

AND WHEN IT REALLY IS ABOUT PROGRAMMING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, IT'S HARD TO MISS IT.

IT'S HARD NOT TO RUN INTO SOMEONE THAT JUST DOESN'T FALL IN LOVE WITH IT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> THE REAL BEHIND THE SCENES HAPPENS ON THE BACKSIDE.

THAT'S WHAT WE CALL THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACK WHERE FEW PEOPLE, BUT REAL INSIDERS, GET TO GO.

>> THE JOCKEYS, TRAINERS, HORSES AND HUNDREDS OF WORKERS LIVE BACK THERE ON THE BACKSIDE AND THEY REALLY ALL DO MAKE UP A THRIVING COMMUNITY THAT'S LIKE A CITY OF ITS OWN.

OUR CHRISTIE DUTTON TAKES US THERE.

>> THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THE BACKSIDE THAT'S DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN.

IT FEELS RELAXING AND CALM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A FEVER PITCH OF EXCITEMENT AND LONG DAYS OF HARD WORK.

THOROUGHBREDS TRAIN, GET BATHED AND FED IN THE MORNING'S FIRST LIGHT, ALL WITH METICULOUS PREPARATION FOR THEIR TIME ON THE TRACK.

TRAINER NORM CASSE SAYS THAT'S THE BEST PART.

>> I LOVE WATCHING HORSES TRAIN.

I LOVE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES HORSES TICK, AND AS A TRAINER, THAT'S MY JOB.

AND JUST THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF BEING BACK HERE AND WORKING WITH THE HORSES AND WORKING WITH MY STAFF IS MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE BACKSIDE.

EVERYTHING ABOUT BACK HERE IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HORSE RACING.

>> HORSES ARE THE MAIN ATTRACTION, BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE BEHIND THE TRACK THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

TUCKED BETWEEN ROWS OF GREEN ROOFED STABLES, YOU WILL FIND DORMS THAT HOUSE HUNDREDS OF BACKSIDE WORKERS.

THE TRACK KITCHEN KNOWN AS WAGNER'S PHARMACY WITH THE SMELL OF BREAKFAST LINGERING OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

EVEN A CHAPEL WHERE BACKSIDE WORKERS CAN WORSHIP.

YOU WILL FIND THE LEARNING CENTER, A HOME AWAY FROM HOME WHERE WORKERS AND THEIR CHILDREN CAN GROW ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE BEHIND THE TRACK CONSIDER THE BACKSIDE LEARNING CENTER AS THE HEART OF THE BACKSIDE.

SUPPORT, COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WINNING A RACE.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHERRY STANLEY TAKES APPLY-- TAKES PRIDE IN ALL THE WAYS THE BACKSIDE CENTER HELPS ONE ANOTHER.

>> NOTHING MAKES US FEEL BETTER THAN THE RESULTS OF PARTICIPATION AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR MOTIVATION AND LEARNING AND GROW 3-G AND GROWING, WE CONSIDER OURSELVES LIKE A FAMILY, REALLY, TO SO MANY PEOPLE BACK HERE ON THE TRACK BECAUSE WE ARE WITH THEM FOR YEARS AND KNOW THEM VERY INTIMATELY.

WE ARE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF OUR FAMILY.

>> THE BACKSIDE IS ONE SHINING EXAMPLE THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RACE A HORSE.

FROM THE BACKSIDE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS, I'M CHRISTIE DUTTON.

>> FROM THE BACKSIDE TO THE BEDDING WINDOW.

A LOT OF FOLKS FANCY THEMSELVES HANDICAPPERS THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT MOST JUST WANT TO PLACE A SIMPLE BET AT THE TRACK OR ONLINE AND HONESTLY THAT ITSELF CAN BE OVERWHELMING.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS TALK A BIG GAME THIS TIME OF YEAR.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ARE THREE SIMPLE THINGS.

WIN, PLACE AND SHOW.

HEROES HOW THEY SHAKE OUT.

A WIN BET MEANS YOU ARE BETTING ON THE HORSE TO WIN.

A PLACE BET PAY IF YOUR HORSE FINISHES FIRST OR SECOND AND SHOW BET PAYS IF YOUR HORSE COMES IN ONE OF THE TOP THREE SPOTS.

>> AND OF COURSE HIGH RISK MEANS HIGH REWARD.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS YOU CAN PLACE A BET.

AN EXACTA.

YOU ARE CHOOSING THE HORSES THAT WILL FINISH FIRST AND SECOND IN THE RACE.

>> OR IF YOU THINK YOU CAN PREDICT THE HORSES THAT WILL FINISH FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD, THE APPROPRIATELY NAMED TRIFECTA >> SUPERFECTA WAGES WHEN YOU CHOOSE THE HORSES IN FINISHING ORDER FIRST THROUGH FOURTH PLACES.

>> AND IF YOU WANT TO GET SUPER FANCY, CHURCHILL OFFERS THE HIGH RISK HIGH REWARD SUPER HIGH 5 WAGER REFERRED TO AS THE PENT AFFECTA BET OFFERED IN THE 2022 BET AND LAST YEAR A $1 BET WOULD HAVE WON YOU CLOSE TO $200,000.

NOW KEEP IN MIND YOU CAN BOX ANY OF THESE BETH.

THAT MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO PICK THE CORRECT ORDER, JUST THE CORRECT HORSES IN THOSE SPOTS.

>> OR IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU CAN BE SCIENTIFIC ABOUT THE BET AND BET ON THE COLOR OF THE HORSE OR JOCKEY SILKS OR THE COLOR YOU LIKE.

>> SOMETIMES YOU JUST GET LUCKY.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE THOROUGHBREDS AFTER THE RACE?

IN THE PAST, LIFE AFTER RACING AND BREEDING WAS OFTEN PRETTY BLEAK UNTIL ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO WHEN ONE MAN DECIDED THESE INCREDIBLE ATHLETES REALLY DID DESERVE BETTER.

>> KET'S KENTUCKY EDITION TOOK A TRIP TO EXPLORE OLD FRIENDS RETIREMENT FARM IN GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> OLD FRIENDS IS A PLACE WHERE THOROUGHBRED RACE HORSE CAN GO AFTER THEIR RACING AND BREEDING AND SECONDARY CAREERS ARE OVER.

SO TOTAL RETIREMENT.

WE DON'T ADOPT THEM.

WE DON'T RETRAIN THEM.

WHEN THEY COME HERE, THEY COME HERE TOTALLY TO RETIRE.

WE STARTED WITH ONE HORSE WHO IS ONE OF THE HORSES THAT PLAYED SEA BISCUIT IN THE MOVIE NAMED RICH IN DALLAS.

NOW WE HAVE 161 HERE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER 42 DOWN THE ROAD AT WINDING OAKS, WHICH IS A SUBDIVISION, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER 18 UP HERE AT ASHTON GROVE, A SENIOR CITIZEN FACILITY.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING.

I WENT TO SEE THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY AND WHEN I GOT DOWN EXPLAINING WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

HE SAID YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE HORSES, BRING SOME OF THEM HOME FROM JAPAN BUT NOT SELL THEM AND NOT BREED THEM?

NO.

AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO RACE THEM?

NO.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THEM.

I SAID WELL I'M GOING TO PUT THEM IN MY YARD AND HOPE PEOPLE COME VISIT.

THE BIGGEST DAY THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED WAS DECEMBER 1, 2015 WHEN SILVER CHARM CAME HOME FROM JAPAN AND WE STILL HAVE HIM AND HE IS A SUPER STAR.

AND WE JUST GOT LAVA MAN.

HE IS A SUPER STAR BUT THEY'RE THE MAGNETS THAT ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COME HERE.

BUT FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE HORSES, WE TRY TO GET A HORSE WHO JUST NEEDS A HOME.

I HAVE A HORSE THAT I CLAIMED FOR $3500 IN 1999 IN FINGER LAKES UPSTATE NEW YORK AND HE IS STILL WITH ME HERE.

I FIGURED IF I COULD DO THAT WITH A $3500 HORSE, WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB AT TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THESE OTHER ONES THAT ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS WHOLE CENTRAL KENTUCKY AREA.

ALL THEIR LIVES THEY HAVE TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO.

SO WHEN THEY'RE BREEDING THEY'RE TOLD WHAT TO DO, RACING TOLD WHAT TO DO, GO IN THE STALL, GO OUT OF THE STALL, GO TO WORK OUT, GET BACK, IT'S HUMANS DICTATING EVERYTHING THEY DO AND IT'S LITERALLY TRUE WHEN CHE COME HERE, THEY'RE THE BOSS.

AND ALL OUR JOB IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND WHEN THEY WANT TO DO IT AND COMPLY BECAUSE NOBODY IS COMING HERE TO SEE ME.

THEY'RE COMING HERE TO SEE THESE GREAT ATHLETES.

I NEVER DREAMT THIS PLACE WOULD BE THIS WAY BECAUSE MY DREAMS ARE NOT THAT GOOD.

IT EVOLVED AND AS I SAY, IT TOOK ME ALONG WITH IT.

SO THE FARM DESERVES CRET IT HUF HIVE CREDIT FOR CREATING ITSELF.

WHEN I LOOK AHEAD 20 YEARS, I HOPE THERE WILL BE PLACES FOR THESE HORSES TO GO WHEN THEIR BREEDING AND RACING CAREERS ARE OVER AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.

>> HI, I'M CHRIS MORRIS, MASTER EMERITUS AT THE DISTILLERY.

LET'S MAKE A MINT JULEP.

YOU START WITH MIBT AND TO THAT WE ARE GOING TO ADD SOME POWDERED SUGAR, MAYBE A BAR SPOON FULL.

A LITTLE SPLASH OF WATER, MUDDLE THE MINT AND SUGAR IN WATER TOGETHER TO MAKE A MINTY PASTE AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CUP.

THEN WE ADD CRUSHED ICE, ALWAYS USED CRUSHED ICE WHEN MAKING A MINT JULEP AND BECAUSE THE ICE IS GOING TO BE PACKED DOWN DURING THE COURSE OF MAKING THE DRINK, ADD YOUR SIPPING STRAW.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE YOU SIP A MINT JULEP THROUGH A STRAW.

THEN OF COURSE BOURBON.

HERE WE HAVE WOODFORD RESERVE, THE OFFICIAL BOURBON OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY, TWO OUNCES OF BOURBON, MORE CRUSHED ICE.

THE TOP OFF OUR MINT JULEP.

LET IT GO EVERYWHERE.

AND THEN NEXT TO THAT CUP AND STRAW YOU GARNISH WITH FRESH MINT AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.

IT'S THAT EASY.

CHEERS.

>> FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IT'S NOT DERBY WITHOUT THE GOOD MINT JULEP.

CHURCHILL DOWNS USES ABOUT A THOUSAND POUNDS OF MINT FOR THE FAMOUS DRINK EVERY DERBY WEEKEND.

NOW IT'S NO SECRET, OF COURSE, THAT THE BOURBON COMES FROM RIGHT HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT DID YOU KNOW THE MINTED IS ALSO IS ALSO FROM THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> IN FACT, ALL OF THE MINT FOR EVERY MINT JULEP SERVED AT CHURCHILL DOWNS ON DERBY WEEK IS MADE AT ONE FARM IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

KENTUCKY EDITION BRINGS US THIS STORY FROM NELL SON COUNTY.

♪ ♪ >> HERE AT NELLSON FAMILY AGRICULTURE, WE GROW ABOUT ONE OR TWO ACRES OF SPEAR MINUTE SPEERMT IT'S A VERSATILE CROP.

IT'S COLD HEARTY AND IT DOESN'T LIKE THE HEAT.

DOESN'T LIKE OUR HOT SUMMERS WHICH WORKS OUT PERFECT FOR THE DERBY BECAUSE THIS IS ITS TIME TO SHINE.

>> I FILL UP MY HAND WITH RUBBER BANDS AND GET MY KNIFE SHARPENED AND GO OUT TO THE FIELD AND START CUTTING IT.

IT HAS TO BE CUT TO LIKE SIX TO EIGHT INCHES TO FIT IN OUR BOXES AND THERE IS NO MACHINE THAT WOULD DO THAT.

ONCE IT FITS IN YOUR HAND ABOUT PERFECT SIZE WHERE YOUR FINGERS CAN TOUCH, WRAP IT WITH A RUBBER BAND TWICE AND PUT IT INTO A TRAY.

>> WE BRING IT IN AND WE ARE PUTTING A NEWSPAPER AROUND IT THAT WE HAVE FOLDED AND THAT NEWSPAPER IS GOING TO WRAP AROUND A DOZEN BUNCHES AND THAT'S BASICALLY GOING TO ACT AS A MOISTURE HOLDER FOR, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER LONG THAT STUFF IS GOING TO BE COLD OR BE KEPT ONCE WE WRAP IT AND TIE IT AND PACKAGE IT INTO WAX CARDBOARD BOXES AND WE ARE DIPPING IT, GETTING IT HYDRO COLD AS THE TERM I GUESS.

THEN WE ARE GO INTO THE COOLER FROM THERE.

AS LONG AS YOU KEEP IT COOL AND WET, LIT KEEP FOR WEEKS BUT WE DON'T LIKE TO HOLD ON TO IT THAT LONG.

WE LIKE TO GET IT CUT AND SHIPPED OUT WITHIN A FEW DAYS IF POSSIBLE.

I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER GUYS WHO GROW ON A VERY SMALL SCALE, BUT NO, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY IS DOING IT TO OUR CAPACITY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE GROWING IT, YOU KNOW, BIGGER GROWERS IN MEXICO, CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA, BUT ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS WOULD MUCH PREFER TO GET IT HERE IF THEY CAN.

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD OUR VARIETY IS MORE AROMATIC, HAS A BETTER FLAVOR TO IT.

MINT JULEP IS EQUAL PARTS BOURBON AND SIMPLE SYRUP AND SPEARMINT OBVIOUSLY.

GENERALLY THEY MUDDLE UP A LITTLE BIT OF IT AND PUT A SPRIG IN IT.

YOU BREAK IT UP AND IT LETS THE FLAVOR OUT.

BUT MY LITTLE BROTHER IS BETTER AT IT THAN I AM.

HE MAKES A PRETTY GOOD ONE.

IT'S PRETTY COOL.

IT'S SATISFYING TO KNOW THAT WE ARE THE SOLE PROVIDER OF IT IF IT IS BEING USE THERE HAD, IT CAME FROM US.

>> SO LET'S RECAP.

BETTING TIPS, MINT JULEP, WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?

>> WELL, THE HAT, OF COURSE!

YOU CAN'T TALK DERBY WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE EXTRAVAGANT HATS.

AND LIKE MOST OF THOSE OTHER DERBY TRADITIONS, THIS ONE GOES BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT A FASHIONABLE LADIES ENSEMBLE OR FASHIONABLE MAN'S ENSEMBLE, THE HAT WAS JUST AN UNDERSTOOD PART OF A FASHIONABLE ENSENL BELIEVE.

WHEN THE VERY FIRST KENTUCKY CONCERNY RAN IN 1875, WEARING A HAT TO THE RACES OR TO ANY EVENT WAS COMMON PLACE.

BUT THE TODAY TO MAKE THE KENTUCKY DERBY A HIGH FASHION EVENT WAS INTENTIONAL FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> LEWIS AND MARY CLARK VISITED EUROPE AHEAD OF THE GOING TO THE JACKSON CLUB AND THEY TRAVELED THROUGH ENGLAND TO SEE THE ESPECIALLY EPSOM DERBY AND FRANCE.

THOSE WERE PLACES WHERE NEW FASHIONS WERE LITERALLY BEING INTRODUCED AT RACETRACKS THERE IN EUROPE.

AND THEY WANTED TO CULTIVATE THAT ELEGANCE AND THAT BEAUTY AND THAT STYLE INTO THEIR RACETRACK.

>> IT WASN'T UNTIL THE 1960s AND 70s WHEN THE EVERYDAY HAT TBEL OUT OF FASHION AND THAT'S WHEN THE KENTUCKY DERBY TRADITION DOUBLED DOWN AND BECAME EVEN MORE ELABORATE.

>> ANOTHER BIG PART OF IT IS THE MEDIA.

SO AS MEDIA COVERAGE INCREASED AT CHURCHILL DOWNS ON DERBY DAY, YOU REALLY WANTED THE "COURIER JOURNAL" TO BE TAKING A PHOTO OF YOU SAYING I GOT TO GET THAT OR OOH, I WANT TO PUT OW TELEVISION.

AND SO YOU ARE STARTING TO COME TO THE RACETRACK IN THINGS THAT HELP YOU BE SEEN IN THIS SEA OF PEOPLE.

>> IT'S KENTUCKY DERBY, ALL ABOUT THE HATS, SO I LOVE ICONIC MOVIE HATS AND ROSE IS ONE I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY TO REPLICATE.

>> A PLACE TO SEE AND... >> 1, 2, 3.

>> BE SEEN AND SO IT REMAINS TO THIS DAY.

THE KENTUCKY DERBY WOULDN'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT A GOOD HAT.

WELL, NOW YOU ARE READY FOR THE GREATEST TWO MINUTES IN SPORTS AND THE BEST WEEK OF THE YEAR IN LOUISVILLE.

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE ANY TIME AT CLOMPG/INket.org/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

>> IT'S ALL FUN AND GAME UNTIL THE TWO OF US HAVE TO CALL A DERBY RACE.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FUN BEHIND THE SCENES INCLUDING TAKING A TEST OF OUR DERBY KNOWLEDGE.

>> YES, MAYBE WE SHOULD LEAVE THAT TO THE EXPERTS.

PLUS, YOU ARE GOING TO GET TO SEE SOME REALLY COOL ARTIFACTS THAT ARE NOT ON DISPLAY AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM.

YOU CAN FIND THAT ON INSTAGRAM OR AT KET-IN-LOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT "INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

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