[♪♪] >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE THE KENTUCKY DERBY".

ON KET I'M YOUR HOST.

>> WHAT AN OFFICE TODAY.

AM I RIGHT?

THIS IS AMAZING.

WE ARE THRILLED TO SHARE THE EXCITEMENT OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY WITH YOU HERE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THERE IS' NOTHING LIKE BEING HERE UNDER THE TWIN SPIRES.

WE TAKE YOU INSIDE THE KENTUCKY DERBY TO SEE THE MAKING OF THE MAGIC THAT HAPPENS EACH YEAR ON THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY.

>> AND YOU KNOWED PARTY STARTS WELL BEFORE THEN.

COMING UP, YOU WILL GET A TASTE OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW AND MANY OTHER EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE BIG DAY.

>> I'M KRISTY ON THE BACKSIDE OF CHURCHILL DOWNS.

I WILL SHOW YOU THE HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND COMMUNITY IT TAKES TO GET A HORSEBACK HERE INTO THE WINNER'S CIRCLE.

AND WE HAD HEAD TO THE LAP OF LUXURY FOR A PREVIEW OF THE MANSION THE MOST EXPENSIVE TICKET TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

>> THE HAT, THE DRESS THE SHOES THE CLUTCH, THE TICKETS THE HOTEL ROOM.

>> MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE HORSE?

OH, YEAH.

>> AND WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE HORSE?

THAT HAT, OF COURSE.

YOU WILL MEET THE CREATIVE MINDS BEHIND SOME OF THE DERBY'S MOST FASHIONABLE DESIGNS.

FIRST LET'S GO BACK TO WHEN IT STARTED IN 1875 HERE AT THIS SPOT.

>> BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS CALLED CHURCHILL DOWNS.

IT WAS KNOWN AS THE LOUISVILLE JOCKEY CLUB.

>> MANY OF THE TRADITIONS WE'VE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE, THE HATS THE ROSES THE MINT JULIPS ARE TRADITIONS THAT DAY BACK TO THE FIRST DERBY RACES MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO.

>> WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM TO GIVE US A BIT OF A HISTORY LESSON.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[♪♪] >> THE KENTUCKY DERBY IS THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING SPORTING EVENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT HAS NEVER NOT RUN SINCE 1875.

SO THERE IS A GENTLEMAN MERRIWEATHER LEWIS CLARK JUNIOR THE FOUNDER OF CHURCH AND THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

HIS NAME IF IT SOUNDS FAMILIAR HE WAS RELATED HIS GREAT UNCLE WAS GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

FOUNDER OF LOUISVILLE.

IN 1875, THE VERY FIRST KENTUCKY DERBY WE HAD JUST A FIELD OF 15 HORSES.

THERE WAS A CROWD OF 10,000 PEOPLE AND THE FIRST WINNER OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY IS A HORSE NAMED ARROWS AT THIS TIMEDY AND RUN BY OLIVER LEWIS.

AND IN 1902 THE TRACK WAS ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY AND A GROUP OF INVESTORS CAME IN, MATT WIN WAS A MARKETING GENIUS AND HE WANTED TO MAKE THIS RACE WORLD RENOWNED AND HE DID IT.

HE DID IT IN SEVERAL WAYS.

HE WOULD RECRUIT THE TOP HORSES AND CONVINCE PEOPLE YOU NEED TO RACE YOUR HORSE IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

AND 1913 WE HAD A HORSE NAMED DONNA RAIL WHO WON.

HE WAS THE LONGEST LONG SHOT TO WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY AND STILL IS TO THIS DAY.

THE NEXT YEAR WE HAD A HORSE BY THE NAME OF OLD ROSE BUD WIN.

OLD ROSE BUD SET A RECORD THAT WAS ANOTHER THRILL.

AND IN 1915, MATT WIN RECRUITED A HORSE A PHILLY NAMED REGRET.

SHE WHOOPED THE BOYS START TO FINISH THEE LED THE RACE AND WON BY TWO LINKS AND IT WAS AS MATT WIN PREDICTED CRAZY MEDIA COVERAGE THOSE THREE YEARS WERE PIVOTAL MOMENTS FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY AND THAT WIN TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER AND HE DEVELOPED TRADITIONS THAT WE KNOW TODAY.

THE GARLAND OF ROSES THAT IS BLANKETED UPON THE WINNER OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

HE ALSO STARTED THE TRADITION OF THE MINT JULIP COLLECTIBLE GLASSES AND HE STARTED THE TRADITION OF THE GOLD CUP.

AND IT IS A SOLID GOLD TROPHY THAT IS AWARDED TO THE WINNER EACH YEAR.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE KENTUCKY DERBY HAS SURVIVED THROUGH IT IS INCREDIBLE.

IT HAS NEVER NOT RUN.

ALWAYS HAD IT.

IT SURVIVED A WORLD WAR.

IT RAN IN JUNE THAT YEAR.

DIDN'T RUN THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY BUT IT RAN IN JUNE.

IT'S SURVIVED THE GREAT DEPRESSION, PROHIBITION WE HAD PEOPLE SNEAKING IN BOOZE WE KNOW THAT.

IT SURVIVED A PANDEMIC WHICH WE ALL SAW WE HAD THAT SEPTEMBER DERBY AND WE WERE BOUND AND DETERMINED TO HAVE THAT DERBY WE WEREN'T GOING TO RUIN THAT TRADITION AND IN 2022 IT WAS RICH STRIKE WAS THE HORSE AND THE VICTORY THAT EVERYONE NEEDED.

HE WAS THE HORSE THAT DIDN'T BELONG IN THE DERBY.

THERE WAS A LAST-MINUTE SCRATCH.

HE CAME INTO THE FIELD.

WOW.

WHAT A THRILLING VICTORY TO WATCH HIM WIN AND IT WAS A STORY THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT.

YOU THINK ABOUT OVER 100 YEARS OF STORIES WHETHER IT'S THE HORSE'S STORY, THE TRAINER, THE JOCKEY HAS A UNIQUE STORY AND THEN EVERYBODY WHO IS ATTENDING OR WATCHING HAS A STORY ABOUT THE BET THEY MADE OR THE BET THEY LOST OR THAT THEY LIKED A HORSE BECAUSE OF THE NAME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A REALLY SPECIFIC OR SPECIAL MEMORY TIED TO A KENTUCKY DERBY THAT THEY'VE WATCHED OR ONE THAT SOUNDS OUT TO THEM.

>> EVERYONE HAS THOSE SPECIAL DERBY MEMORIES THAT STAND OUT YOU YOU WILL BE HEARING SOME OF THOSE THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM.

>> AND THE HISTORY REALLY IS FASCINATING BEHIND THIS.

BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS EVENT AND WHAT IT DOES FOR THE STATE, THE EVENT GENERATES ABOUT $160 MILLION IN LOUISVILLE EVERY DERBY WEEKEND AND THAT IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE CITY BUT GREAT FOR THE STATE.

>> AND RACHEL MENTIONED YOU KNOW HOW CITIES WHO HOST THE SUPER BOWL SAY THEY PLAN FOR A YEAR AND THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON THE CITY THAT HOSTS.

WE HOST THE SUPER BOWL OF HORSERACING EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

>> EVERY YEAR AND IT ISN'T ONLY THE DERBY THAT MAKES AN IMPACT, THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL IS A MONTH LONG CELEBRATION THAT LEADS UP TO THE DERBY AND IT HAS AN ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NEARLY $128 MILLION.

ONLY IN KENTUCKY COULD WE TAKE A TWO-MINUTE HORSERACE AND TURN IT INTO A MONTH LONG PARTY.

4,000 VOLUNTEERS HOST 70 EVENTS ACROSS THE LOUISVILLE AREA TO CELEBRATE THE DERBY SEASON.

I HAD THE CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH MATT SIMPSON ABOUT WHAT GOES INTO THE FESTIVAL, ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT AND WHAT HE FEELS IT MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> ONE OF THE FUNNIEST QUESTIONS WE GET EVERY YEAR IS WELL, WHAT DO YOU DO THE REST OF THE YEAR?

THE 51 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR?

I THINK WHAT A LOT OF COMMUNITY MAY THAT REALIZE, WHICH MEANS WE'RE GOING SOMETHING RIGHT IS THERE IS AN ENTIRE MECHANISM THAT STARTS REALLY BEFORE THIS FESTIVAL IS OVER TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT YEAR, HOW WE CAN IMPROVE.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND TO PUT THE FESTIVAL ON AS A WHOLE IT GENERATES $22 FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AND THAT'S NOT TAX DOLLARS THAT'S NOT -- THAT'S THINGS YOU ARE DOING TO COME ATTEND EVENTS AND TRADITIONALLY WE'LL GET 1.4 MILLION FOLKS THAT IS A LOT OF GUESTS, HOTELS, PEOPLE PUTTING ICE IN THE COOLER IT GENERATES A LOT OF SPENDING AND IT GOES BACK INTO THE TOWN.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M IN INVESTMENT MEETING, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM IN A MEETING WITH A BIG SPONSOR OR GOING TO KROGER OR ATTENDING OUR EVENTS THERE IS A STORY THAT EVERYBODY TELLS THAT THEY EITHER SAT ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE WHEN THEY WERE A LITTLE KID, THEY WERE IN IT PART OF THE RACES THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMORIES PART OF THE BALLOON RACE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO WE BELIEVE THIS FESTIVAL BELONGS TO EVERYBODY.

I GET PRETTY BRU AT THE END OF THE FESTIVAL WE ARE TIRED WE'VE GONE 60 DAYS WITHOUT A DAY OFF OR HAVEN'T SLEPT IN DAYS WHEN IT COMES TO THE CLOSE AND IT WILL BE ANOTHER YEAR AS LONG AS PEOPLE HAD A GREAT TIME THEY ENJOYED IT THAT IS WHAT MEANS THE MOST TO US.

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

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

THE JOCKEYS THE TRAINERS, THE HORSES AND HUNDREDS OF WORKERS LIVING ON THE BACKSIDE ALL MAKEUP A THRIVING COMMUNITY THAT IS LIKE A CITY OF ITS OWN.

KRISTY DUTTON TAKES US THERE.

>> THERE'S 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 AND GET BATHED IN THE MORNING'S FIRST LIGHT WITH METICULOUS PREPARATION FOR THEIR TIME ON THE TRACK.

NORM CASSY SAYS THAT IS THE BEST PART.

>> I LOVE WATCHING HORSES TRAIN I LOVE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES HORSES TICK AS A TRAINER THAT IS 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 OF THE BACKSIDE.

EVERYTHING ABOUT BACK HERE IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HORSERACING.

>> HORSES ARE THE MAIN ATTRACTION BUT THERE'S 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.

A CHAPEL WHERE BACKSIDE WORKERS CAN WORSHIP.

YOU WILL FIND THE LEARNING CENTER A HOME AWAY FROM HOME WHERE WORKERS AND 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.

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

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHERRY STANLEY TAKES PRIDE IN ALL THE WAYS THE CENTER HELPS BACKSIDE WORKERS LEARN AND CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER.

>> NOTHING MAKES US HAPPIER TO SEE THE RESULTS JUST PARTICIPATION AND YOU KNOW, THEIR MOTIVATION AND LEARNING AND GROWING AND SO WE'RE KIND OF CONSIDER OURSELVES LIKE A FAMILY REALLY TO SO MANY PEOPLE HERE ON THE TRACK.

BECAUSE WE ARE WITH THEM FOR YEARS AND KNOW THEM INTIMATELY.

WE ARE PROUD OF THAT FAMILY.

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

FROM THE BACKSIDE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS I'M KRISTY DUTTON.

>> IF BEING A PART OF RACING APPEALS TO YOU, THERE ARE WAYS NOW TO GET IN THE GAME THROUGH WHAT IS KNOWN AS FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP.

THIS MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE SULTAN TO BE AT THE TABLE ANYMORE.

I ASKED JEFF HOW DO YOU BUY A RACE HORSE?

>> JEFF DOES IT TAKE A MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY A RACE HORSE?

>> THANKS GOD, NO.

IT TAKES SOME MEANS.

BUT THERE'S SUCH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF OWNING RACE HORSES NOW.

WHERE WE STAND VERSUS 10, 20, 30 YEARS AGO THAT'S CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

>> THE MAIN CHANGE IS FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP WHERE YOU JOIN WITH OTHERS PUT TOGETHER BY A FIRM LIKE WEST POINT TO BUY A HORSE.

IN SOME CASES YOU CAN BE IN WITH LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE FOR AS LITTLE AS $50.

ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE WEST POINT SAYS THEY DO DEALS FOR A 5% INVESTMENT IN A HORSE CAN BE PURCHASED FROM 7,000 TO 20,000 DOLLARS.

THEN THERE ARE ONGOING COSTS.

WEST POINT DOESN'T START PASSING ALONG THE ADDITIONAL FEES UNTIL A HORSE TURNS THREE YEARS OLD BUT YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT COUGHING UP MORE FUNDS SUCH AS $100 A DAY FOR A TRAINER.

$1,000 A MONTH FOR VET BILLS.

$150 AA MONTH FOR THE BLACKSMITH TO SHOE THE HORSE AND DENTAL BILLS.

YOU PAY THE FEES BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF THE HORSE YOU BUY THAT BEGS THE QUESTION: DOES ANYBODY REALLY MAKE MONEY ON THIS?

OR IS THIS A PASSION PROJECT?

SOMETHING YOU DO BECAUSE YOU LOVE HORSES?

>> MOST OF THE TIME NO, YOU DON'T MAKE MONEY.

YOU HOPE TO BREAK EVEN YOU KNOW GOING INTO IT IF YOU HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH AND YOU REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT IT, THAT THIS IS AN ENTERTAINMENT DOLLAR THAT YOU'RE SPENDING.

IT'S VERY RARE THAT SOMEBODY COMES TO THIS AND SAYS YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT I HAVE MY MONEY IN GOLD AND LIKE TO PUT MY MONEY IN HORSES?

I TELL THEM TO RUN AS FAR AND FAST AWAY FROM ME AS POSSIBLE.

>> LOUISVILLE BAR OWNER DEBBIE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAUGHT LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE.

A HORSE SHE OWNS PART OF THROUGH WEST POINT NAMED VA JACE'S ROAD IS A 2023 DERBY CON TEPIDER.

>> IT'S EXCITING.

YOU GOT TO REALIZE WE'RE PROBABLY 30,000 AND MAKE IT 20.

AND TO HAVE ONE OF THAT MANY 30,000 I MEAN, TO ME IT'S AWESOME.

>> IF YOUR HORSE ACTUALLY WINS BOTH THEY SAY THAT FEELING IS UNMATCHED AND ONE THAT THEY BOTH CONTINUE TO CHASE.

>> I MEAN I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.

I JUMP UP AND DOWN AT THE TRACK I GO ON THE RAIL AND WATCH THE FINISH LINE AND I'M ECSTATIC.

>> THEY OWN A PERCENTAGE.

HORSE BUT I GUARANTEE YOU WHEN THEY'RE COMING DOWN THE STRETCH WITH A CHANCE TO WIN THEY DON'T SEE COME ON, 5% OF WHATEVER THE HORSE'S NAME IS OR THE JOCKEY.

THAT'S THEIR HORSE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT KNOWING YOU ARE GOING TO WIN AND HOW IT LIFTS YOU UP METAPHORICALLY SPEAKING YOU ARE FLOATING.

IT IS A CRAZY COOL FEELING.

[♪♪] >> WELL, EVEN IF YOU DON'T OWN A HORSE YOU CAN STILL BET ON ONE.

A LOT OF FOLKS FANCY THEMSELVES HANDICAPPERS THIS TIME OF YEAR AND OTHERS WANT TO PLACE A SIMPLE BET AT THE TRACK OR ON-LINE.

AND HONESTLY THAT CAN BE A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.

>> IT REALLY CAN BE.

HERE IS A SIMPLE RUNDOWN OF HOW YOU CAN GET IN ON THE ACTION.

WAGERS CAN BE AS SIMPLE OR EXOTIC AS YOU'D LIKE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THE MORE RISK YOU TAKE WITH TRYING TO PICK MORE HORSES AND SPECIFIC FINISHES AND THE LIKE THE GREATER THE REWARD AND THE LONGER THE ODDS ON A HORSE THE GREATER THE PAY OUT.

>> A WIN BET MEANS YOU'RE BETTING ON THAT HORSE TO WIN.

A PLACE BET, PAYS IF YOUR HORSE FINISHES, FIRST OR SECOND.

AND A SHOW BET PAYS IN YOUR HORSE COMES IN FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD.

>> NOW, GOING BACK TO THE RISK AND REWARD, A WIN BET PAYS MORE IF YOUR HORSE WINS THAN IF YOU HAVE A SHOW BET AND YOUR HORSE WINS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE 2021 DERBY WINNER WAS MEDINAH SPIRIT FOR A $2 WIN BET YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED $26.20 BACK.

A $2 SHOW TICKET FOR THE SAME HORSE IN THE SAME RACE ONLY RETURNED $7.60.

>> AND EXTRA WAGER YOU ARE CHOOSING THE HORSES THAT WILL FINISH FIRST AND SECOND.

IN THE 2021 DERBY THE EXACT TA PAID 503.

>> IF YOU WANT TO PREDICT THE HORSES THAT WILL FINISH FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD THAT IS THE APPROPRIATELY NAMED TRIFECTA, WINNING WAGERS FOR THE 2021 DERBY PAID ALMOST $1700.

>> A SUPER EFFECT TA WAGER IS WHEN YOU CHOOSE THE HORSES FIRST THROUGH FOURTH AND THAT PAID $9456.40 IN THE 2021 DERBY.

>> AND IF YOU THINK YOU CAN CHOOSE THE HORSES THAT FINISH FIRST THROUGH FIFTH PLACE, THEN CHURCHILL OFFERS THE HIGH-RISK, HIGH REWARD SUPER HIGH 5 WAGER.

THIS WAGER WAS FIRST OFFERED IN THE 2022 DERBY.

>> NOW YOU MAY NOTE WE USE THE 2021 DERBY IN THESE EXAMPLES AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE HORSE THAT WON IN 2022 RICH STRIKE WON THE DERBY WITH 80-1 ODDS THOSE ARE THE LONGEST ODDS EVER ON A HORSE TO WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY A SUCCESSFUL $2 BET ON THAT HORSE WOULD HAVE NETTED YOU $163.60.

AND THAT SUPER HIGH 5 WAGER ON LAST YEAR'S DERBY A SINGLE DOLLAR WAGERED WHERE YOU PICKED THE FIVE TOP FINISHERS IN ORDER WOULD HAVE LANDED YOU MORE THAN $740,000.

>> AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS INTERESTING.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO BET TWO DOLLARS TO WIN ON EVERY HORSE IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY SO THEY CAN TAKE THAT SELFIE AND SHOW THEIR FRIENDS AND BRAG THEY WON.

IN MOST INSTANCES THAT IS A LOSING PROPOSITION BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH IT COSTS IF YOU HAD $2 TO WIN ON EVERY HORSE IN THE 2022 DERBY IT WOULD HAVE COST $40.

YOU HAD A WINNER WITH 80-1 ODDS IF YOU BET $20 WIN ON EVERY HORSE IN THAT RACE YOU STILL WOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY WITH MORE THAN $120 IN PROFIT, VERY, VERY RARE.

>> AND SOMETHING I'VE NEVER DONE.

IF YOU HIT IT BIG, YOU MIGHT BE SITTING IN THE MANSION AT CHURCHILL DOWNS FOR THE NEXT DERBY DAY.

>> KRISTY DUTTON IS ON THE COVETED SIXTH FLOOR AS THE AREA KNOWN AS THE MANSION THE MOST EXPENSIVE TICKET YOU CAN GET TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY AND IT IS A SECRET THAT IS SO WELL KEPT EVEN THE MEDIA IS NOT ALLOWED INSIDE.

WE HAVE A PREVIEW OF THE MANSION OR ABOUT AS CLOSE AS THEY WOULD LET US GET.

KRISTY?

>> IF YOU ARE TOO RICH FOR MILLIONAIRE'S ROW A TICKET TO THE MANSION MAYBE WHAT YOU NEED FOR DERBY DAY.

I'M HERE WITH KEVIN FROM CHURCHILL DOWNS PUBLICITY.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET INTO THE MANSION?

>> THE MANSION IS THE MOST LURKS YOUROUS SEAT IN ALL OF SPORTS AND WE BROUGHT CHURCHILL DOWNS TO HAVE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE FOR ALL PRICE LEVELS.

INFIELD FOR LESS THAN 100.

AND YOU CAN GO IN THE MANSION FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

BUT YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE AROUND CHURCHILL DOWNS AND THE MANSION IS THE MOST PREMIUM SPOT WE HAVE HERE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS.

>> THE MOST LUX YUR ROUSE WHAT IS SO LUXURIOUS THERE.

>> YOU HAVE EVERYTHING TAKEN CARE OF FOR THE DAY EXCEPT WHO TO PICK TO WIN.

A PERSONAL CONS AARON THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE RACETRACK.

CELEBRITY CHEFS.

CAN CAN GO TO GET AND WATCH THE RACE AND HAVE A PRIVATE EXPERIENCE YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY HERE IN THE MANSION.

>> THE MANSION IS MYSTERIOUS.

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO INSIDE TO LOOK AROUND.

SO IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 10 YEARS, MAYBE THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF CHURCHILL DOWNS.

WHO ALL GETS A TICKET IN THERE?

>> THERE'S TICKETS YOU CAN PURCHASE AND RESERVE.

KENTUCKY DERBY.COM AND LOOK AT THE PREMIUM SEATING AREA AND PEOPLE RESERVE THEIR TICKETS YEARS IN ADVANCE THEY WANT TO COME BACK FOR THE MANSION THE MOST PREMIUM SPOT.

I'VE ONLY BEEN IN THERE ONE TIME AND IT IS GORGEOUS PLACE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE PHOTOS ON KENTUCKY DERBY.COM WE LIKE TO KEEP THE MYSTERY BEHIND THE DOORS OF THE MANSION.

>> WE WILL KEEP THE MYSTERY FOR TODAY.

I WILL THROW IT BACK TO YOU AND MAYBE YOU CAN TALK YOUR WAY INTO THIS PLACE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TRY OUR BEST.

THIS PLACE IS SO EXCLUSIVE KEVIN THAT YOU SAW THERE WHO WORKS HERE, WAS TELLING US EARLIER TODAY HE'S BEEN IN THERE ONE TIME.

THAT IS ALL HE WAS EVER ALLOWED TO GO IN.

>> I HEARD TOO, IN THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM THEY HAVE A CHANEL COUNTER WHERE YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR MAKEUP AND THEY HAVE A MAKEUP ARTIST FOR TOUCH-UPS.

>> A REMARKABLE PLACE FOR HIGH PROFILE GUESTS.

>> AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN INVITED YET.

>> NO.

[♪♪] >> HI I'M CHRIS MORRIS, AT THE RESERVE DISTILLERY LET'S MAKE A CLASSIC MINT JULIP.

YOU START WITH MINT AND TO THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADD POWDERED SUGAR.

A BAR SPOONFUL.

A SPLASH OF WATER.

MUDDLE THE MINT AND SUGAR AND WATER TOGETHER TO MAKE A NICE PASTE ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CUP.

THEN WE ADD CRUSHED ICE ALWAYS USE CRUSHED ADD WHEN MAKING A MINT JULIP.

AND BECAUSE THE ICE IS GOING TO BE PACKED DOWN DURING THE COURSE OF MAKING THE DRINK ADD YOUR SIPPING STRAW.

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE YOU SIP A MINT JULIP THROUGH A STRAW.

AND BOURBON WE HAVE WOODFORD RESERVE THE OFFICIAL BOURBON OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

TWO OUNCES OF BOURBON.

MORE CRUSHED ICE TO TOP OFF OUR JULY LIP JULIP.

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!

>> WELL, NOW YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE A MINT JULIP ALL YOU NEED NOW ARE SOME ACCESSORIES.

>> AND THE KENTUCKY DERBY ACCESSORY IT'S THE HAT AND A TRADITION GOING BACK TO THE FIRST KENTUCKY DERBY.

>> THE TRADITION CAME FROM THE EPSON DERBY IN ENGLAND AND WITH IT CAME THE ENGLISH HATS.

>> YOU CAN FIND THE HATS ANYWHERE BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE ONES THAT YOU WILL FIND MADE RIGHT HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> I THE CHANCE TO VISIT WITH THE HAT GIRLS BEST FRIENDS WHO ARE BIG THAMES AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

>> I'M RACHEL.

>> I'M INDICATE AND WE'RE THE HAT GIRLS.

>> THEY ARE TWO BEST FRIENDS, TURNED BUSINESS PARTNERS AND NOW FEATURED MILLNERS FOR THE CHURCHILL DOWNS.

>> .

>> I THINK WE MADE 30 HATS THE FIRST YEAR.

AND WE WERE LIKE OH, THIS IS NICE AND FUN TO DO.

>> VERY ORGANIC THE WAY IT HAPPENED AND WE GOT LUCKY BUT OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF HARD WORK WENT INTO THAT.

>> IT STARTED OUT AS A FUN SUPPLEMENT TO THEIR BARTENDER INCOME AFTER COLLEGE.

THEY WERE INSPIRED BY SOME SHOWGIRL HATS ON A VENTURE TO LAS VEGAS BUT WHEN THEY STARTED SPORTING THEIR OWN DESIGNS AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY, PEOPLE STARTED TO TAKE NOTICE.

>> WE HAD LIKE SOME OF THE CELEBRITIES THAT WERE ASKING TO GET THEIR PICTURE WITH US BECAUSE THEY WERE SO DIFFERENT AND THAT IS LIKE WE'RE TON TO SOMETHING.

>> KATE STUDIED FASHION DESIGN IN COLLEGE AND RACHEL INTERNED IN NEW YORK MOST OF WHAT THEY LEARNED WAS ON THE INTERNET OR BY JUST GETTING CREATIVE.

>> I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT SETS US APART IS THAT NEITHER OF US WERE REALLY FORMALLY TRAINED.

AND SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO WE ARE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX WITH THE MATERIALS AND DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY WHICH GIVES US OUR OWN LOOK.

>> AFTER FOUR YEARS OF DESIGNING HATS OUT OF RACHEL'S DAD'S BASEMENT THEY MOVED TO A STOREFRONT IN NORMAN COMMONS NOW THEY ARE OPENING THEIR THIRD ON CLOVER LANE IN ST. MATTHEWS WHERE THEIR GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO MAKE 1600 HATS.

>> EVEN NOW WE SAY HOW ARE WE 11 YEARS IN IN THIS BUSINESS IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE SOMETIMESES.

EVERYDAY IS AN OBSTACLE.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING AND IT'S JUST YOU PUSH THROUGH IT.

>> I THINK WHAT'S MADE IT WORK FOR US IS THAT WE'RE BEST FRIENDS WORKING TOGETHER.

SO IT'S LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF FUN WITH THE HARD STUFF.

>> AMAZING TO LOOK UP IN THE STORE AND SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE.

I NEVER DREAMED THAT WE'D BE HERE.

>> NOW, YOU CAN SEE CELEBRITIES SPORTING THE HAT GIRLS ON DERBY DAY.

THE EXTRAVAGANT HATS ARE A TRADITION THAT IS AS OLD AS THE DERBY ITSELF.

AND TO MANY, EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT.

>> IT'S PROBABLY LIKE SELLING WEDDING DRESSES YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE EVENT, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CLIENTELE WE ALWAYS SAY EVERY WOMAN COMING THINKS THAT THEY ARE GETTING MARRIED ON THE SAME DAY AND WE'RE MAKING THEIR WEDDING DRESS.

IT IS AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE EXCITING FOR THEM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IT IS A ONE-TIME EVENT, A BUCKET LIST.

SO WORK WITH THAT.

>> AND FOR THE FEMALES HAT IS THE DRESS.

>> IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE HORSE.

>> YEAH, FOR SURE.

>> NOW, THE HAT GIRLS HAVE CHECKED SOMETHING OFF THEIR BUCKET LIST.

BEING NAMED FEATURED MILLNERS OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

>> IT'S LIKE A STAMP OF VALIDITY FOR US.

WE ARE AMONG TWO OTHER WORLD RENOWNED MILLNERS ONE LOCALLY AND ONE IN NEW YORK THAT ALONE FEELS LIKE HOW DID WE GET HERE?

WE WORKED HARD AND I FEEL LIKE WE EARNED OUR WAY HERE.

THAT'S IT FEELS LIKE WE EARNED SOMETHING JUST OUT OF THIS WORLD.

>> YEP.

>> OUT OF THIS WORLD IS RIGHT.

WHAT A GREAT STORY.

I'VE LOVED FOLLOWING THEIR JOURNEY.

>> IT IS A GREAT STORY.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES REVOLVING AROUND THE RACE IT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

THE PEOPLE MAKE THE KENTUCKY DERBY THE TRADITION THAT WE KNOW AND CELEBRATE TODAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S CALLED THE GREATEST TWO MINUTES IN SPORTS BUT IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

WE HOPE YOU ARE LEAVING KNOWING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS DEEP KENTUCKY TRADITION THAN YOU DID BEFORE.

>> YOU CAN CATCH UP ON ALL THINGS KENTUCKY DERBY ON OUR WEBSITE, KET.ORG PAST EPISODES OF KENTUCKY LIFE INCLUDE STORIES AND THOROUGHBREDS AND THE DERBY AND MORE.

>> AND WE HAVE INTERVIEWS WITH RACING EXPERTS AND EDUCATION RESOURCES LIKE VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS AND SOCIAL STUDIES SHORTS.

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK "INSIDE THE KENTUCKY DERBY".

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.