Kentucky Derby Week begins with 502’sDay, a day for Louisville at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Kentucky Derby Week ends in a spectacle for an international crowd. But it starts Tuesday with a day just for Louisville.

502'sDay kicks off the week at Churchill Downs, a day at the track for locals to enjoy before the world comes to town. On Tuesday, the weather was beautiful, the horses were fast, and the drinks were cold. And it seems as if the local crowd is finally beginning to embrace this day as their own.

"It's amazing," said Kayla Holzknecht, a Louisville native. "It's high energy. ... It's Louisvillians having a good time. And you get to run into people you know."

And because the world turns its eyes to Louisville for this week of tradition, the local crowd has felt pushed aside in the days leading to "the most exciting two minutes in sports."

Many Louisville-area residents recall days when Oaks seemed like a day for locals before that crowd felt pushed toward Thurby. As Derby's popularity increased around the world, local fans eventually felt pushed away from Thurby, too.

"I know a lot of people complain about pushing it back," said Mark Sims, who dressed Tuesday in Crown Royal bags. "I think it's still important to keep the community involved as much as possible."

And Churchill Downs is doing its best to lean into that localized fever. This was the list of races Tuesday:

• Race 1: The Troubadour
• Race 2: The Jerry's Drive-in
• Race 3: The Leo's Hideaway
• Race 4: Louisville Independent Business Alliance
• Race 5: Louisville Originals
• Race 6: The Studebakers
• Race 7: The Toy Tiger
• Race 8: The Jim Porter's Good Times Emporium
• Race 9: Keep Louisville Weird

"It used to be Thursday, but I'm a big fan of the Tuesday (racing)," said Mark Fenton, a student at the University of Louisville. "We get everyone out here just enjoying the environment. Great day. Can't ask for better weather."

If you look close enough between the hats, suits and drinks, the size of the crowd reflects a day that's once again beginning to feel like it belongs to the locals.

"Thurby started out as a day for the locals, and then it just blew up and it's not for locals anymore.," said Cheryll Jackson, who took in 502'sDay for the first time this year. "So, they had to invent something else for us."

For a guide to all Derby week information, click here. And here's a schedule for the rest of the week at Churchill Downs:

• Winsday
  • Gates open at 11:30 a.m.
  • First race at 12:45 p.m.
• Thurby
  • Gates open at 10:30 a.m.
  • First race at 12:45 p.m.
• Kentucky Oaks
  • Gates open at 11 a.m.
  • First race at 12:30 p.m.
• Kentucky Derby
  • Gates open at 9 a.m.
  • First race at 11 a.m.

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