Race to Hickory Hollow This Weekend

The Kentucky Derby is more than a horse race – it’s a long-standing tradition – kind of like camping is for many of you at Hickory Hollow Campground – and it’s a great reason for a party.  Campers are invited to join us on Saturday, May 6th at 6 pm under the pavilion for some racing fun.  The most important tip, of course, is to have fun with your “derby attire”.  Kentucky Derby style is all about expressing your personality and individuality with a splash of spring.  You can’t go to the Derby without a hat or fascinator. Well you can, but where’s the fun in that? So, get ready to don your Derby hat- which is a sign of good luck, bring a covered dish to share, and experience one of our famous Mint Juleps, another tradition on race day.  We will watch the race, play some games, win some prizes and have some historic fun.

Hickory Hollow may not have the fastest horses – or any horses for that matter, but occasionally you’ll see a cow or two in the field. It’s likely you will never see any of the world’s richest people here either- but our campers are rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can’t put a dollar sign on.  But there is one thing we do have, the ability to celebrate “the greatest two minutes of racing” with the best of them.  Like the old Kentucky proverb says, “keep your friends close and your bourbon closer.”

If you have never been to a Kentucky Derby party before, here are ten things to take note of to help get you through race day.

1.  Mint Julep is the drink of the day – a simple recipe consisting of bourbon, simple syrup, mint leaves, muddled, strained, and mint slapped into a julep cup filled with crushed ice.
2. Creativity is key when it comes to your hat.  The more colorful, flashy, and outrageous the better. 
3. The race is nicknamed “The Run for the Roses.” This name dates back to 1883 when a socialite presented roses to the women at a party, and then in 1896 the tradition of draping a blanket of 554 red roses on the winner began.
4. A popular derby day food is the “Hot Brown” an open faced turkey sandwich topped with bacon and Mornay sauce.  Kentucky Fried chicken works too. 
5. The “Winner’s Circle” is reserved only for winners of the Derby but has ashes of prominent horse racing and breeding industry workers spread on the ground.
6. The tradition of singing the Kentucky state song “My Old Kentucky Home” dates back to 1920 so learn the lyrics before race day. 
7. Impress others by naming the three Triple Crown winners which include: Secretariat in 1973, American Pharoah in 2015, and Justify in 2018.
8. The Kentucky Derby has been held on the first Saturday in May since 1875 at Church Hill Downs in Louisville.
9. The Twin Spires, are two steeples that give the grandstand a striking appearance and remain an everlasting monument to Joseph Baldez who constructed them in 1895.
10. Never confuse the Derby with the Oaks – The Derby is 1.25 miles and allows for any eligible colt, gelding, or filly to participate with the winner taking home $2 million. The Oaks is exclusively for fillies and spectators always wear pink to this race.  It’s held on Friday before the Derby and is 1.125 miles in length. Because female horses tend to be slower the winner takes home a mere $800,000.

Remember a race horse is the only animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time.  See you Saturday in your derby best.