Thursday has become mix of the old and the new for Derby Week.
Downtown, the winds kept the Pegasus from flying high over its own parade in front of an estimated 235,000 spectators.
Handlers held the Derby Week symbol close to the ground.
They kept Louie the Lightning Bug to a crawl instead of flight, and they let an inflatable Secretariat float up just briefly.
But the crowd didn't seem to mind.
A sunny afternoon brightened the spectacle of the Derby Festival's oldest -- and one of its most accessible events -- the Pegasus Parade.
Marching bands were most attractive to several spectators.
Grand marshal and actress Diane Lane squinted and smiled in the sun.
She rode atop a Corvette convertible next to the other grand marshal, Secretariat owner Penny Chenery. Chenery also rode in a Corvette.
Horses big and small dotted the parade lineup, too.
Tammy Smallwood bounced back and forth for her grandson's first parade.
"He's been clapping and smiling and laughing," Smallwood said.
Away from the parade, Taste of Derby at Mellwood Arts Center offered food from renowned chefs around the country.
A minimum of $250 a ticket helped Dare to Care food bank and bought Paul O'Leary a luxury smorgasbord of sorts.
"It's kind of like tapas (with the) small plates (of food), you couldn't beat it, the quality of the chefs here is amazing and they're really trying to show a great time here," O'Leary said.
A minimum of $100 a ticket bought red carpet pictures and a rooftop view at Ferdinand's Ball at the Frazier International History Museum.
The first-time event raised money for what's called Old Friends, a Kentucky program that rescues retired race horses from slaughter.
Co-organizer Kim Boyle of Fort Mitchell, Ky., said she and friends were inspired by the story of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand. Japanese owners sent him to slaughter several years ago.
Organizers of both parties said they wanted to take advantage of a light night on the Derby Week calendar, since other parties compete for attendees on Friday and Saturday nights.
