LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The two most exciting minutes in sports are now less than two weeks away.

After Thunder Over Louisville on Saturday, the attention turns to the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

"It's really the first big celebration around the country since Super Bowl Sunday," Churchill Downs spokesperson Darren Rogers said.

The fashion, the fans, the parties and the horses are back for what could be the biggest Kentucky Derby ever.

"It's a little bit like throwing a wedding," Rogers said. "You have a bunch of boxes to check except it is a wedding for 150,000 people on Derby day.

The party won't just be on May 4. Before the 150th running for the roses, there will be more than a dozen galas and special events.

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"There's going to be people from all over the country and world here and people are just going to see what great hospitality we have, what great people we have in Louisville," Mayor Craig Greenberg said.

Churchill Downs will also debut the new $200 million paddock area. Just two years ago, the paddock was 5,000 square feet, a similar layout to what it'd been just inside the main gates for decades. Soon, it will be more than 12,000 square feet.

The paddock area is expected to be complete by Opening Day, which is April 27.

"It's incredibly fan friendly," Rogers said. "It's going to be a place people want to hang, not just Derby week but throughout the year."

Last year, Kentucky Derby brought in more than $400 million, a number that could be topped over the next two weeks.

"In terms of a true celebration where it is a slice of Americana, the Kentucky Derby brings that home," Rogers said. "There's a tremendous excitement. It is a landmark milestone. 150th Kentucky Derby, it's important to so many people. It's important to us. We can't wait to celebrate it."

The track said popular week-of races like 502sday, Champions Day and Thurby will return along with the 150th running of the Kentucky Oaks and Derby. Tickets are on sale now for Kentucky Oaks and Derby. Click here to see pricing.

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