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ner is made of real gold.

There is an official flower of the Derby and would be easy for any Derby aficionado to disclose what it is—the red rose. There are 554 roses in the winner’s garland, dating back to 1896. Each rose represents the renewal of life and endurance required to finish first in the demanding 1 ¼ mile race. The rose garland weighs more than 40 pounds.

The Derby has an official cocktail—the mint julep.

The official drink came about in 1939. Interestingly, in 1938 officials of the Derby discovered that race fans were taking the decorated water glasses home as souvenirs.

More than 120,000 of the cocktails are served each year at the Derby which means that more than 1,000 pounds of fresh mint is needed to meet the demand.

With the 14 races scheduled for Derby Day, racing begins at 10:30 a.m. but post-time for the Derby is 6:57 p.m. Whether at Churchill Downs or sitting in your easy chair before the television set, the hair on your neck will tingle with excitement when the horses come onto the track and you hear the Derby anthem, “My Old Kentucky Home.”

That Stephen Foster classic rivals the greatest two minutes in sports.