LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Master florists at a Louisville Kroger were hard at work Thursday, creating the garlands of lilies and roses that will be draped upon the winning horses of the 152nd Kentucky Oaks and Derby.
The Kroger in Louisville’s Middletown neighborhood at 12501 Shelbyville Road has made the winning garlands for nearly 40 years.
The garland of lilies, for Friday's Oaks winner, is made up of about 150 Starfighter lilies. It is 116 inches long and weighs more than 20 pounds.
Florists will soon transition to the garland of roses for the Derby winner. About 1,000 red roses are transported into Kroger, and 400 are selected for the finished garland.
The nearly 40-pound garland will go to the winning horse of Saturday's big race.
The Kentucky Derby streams the creation of the garlands live on YouTube. You can watch a replay of the Garland of Lilies creation in the video player below.
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
