Kentucky Derby 151: The Greatest 2 Minutes in Sports, by the numbers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Kentucky Derby may last only two minutes on the track, but it takes months of planning, thousands of workers, and staggering amounts of food, drink, and money to make the event happen.

It's an immense undertaking, and with more premium seating being added all the time — along with the new wrinkle of all-inclusive seating — the logistics along take more work than ever.

Here’s a look at Derby Week by the numbers, compiled from information provided by the track:

Building the Derby

Before the first horses arrive, Churchill Downs undergoes a massive transformation.

125+ temporary structures are built across the grounds.
28,842 feet of fencing are installed — enough to stretch over five miles.
362 temporary restrooms are added for the crowds.
2,500 bike racks and 93 ATMs are placed around the facility.
1,068 deliveries are processed in just eight days leading up to Derby Week.

It takes 38 days to build out the temporary infrastructure — and 20 days to tear it all down once the last mint julep is poured.

Kentucky Derby 151 | Derby Prep Races | Derby Festival Events

Feeding the Masses

Churchill Downs becomes one of the busiest kitchens in the country during Derby Week.

400+ banquet event orders are handled.
3,000 front-line staff and 250 managers are brought in from across the nation.
Managers walk more than 150,000 steps and work 145-150 hours during Derby Week.

On Oaks and Derby mornings, kitchens begin firing food as early as 2 a.m..

These numbers tell the story:

300,000+ mint juleps are served.
1,000 pounds of fresh mint (28,730 bunches) are used.
50,000 liters of bourbon are poured.
3,000 pounds of shrimp, 3,120 pounds of Brussels sprouts, and 25,000 pounds of lettuce are prepped.

Supplies start arriving in March to meet the enormous demand — and to avoid disrupting the national food supply chain.

Wagering and Wealth

Betting is a huge part of the Derby experience — and the numbers illustrate it.

750 mutuel tellers are on hand Derby Day, serving a 248-to-1 ratio of guests to tellers.
Each teller handles about 930 transactions on average.
The average betting handle per Derby horse: $2,002,000.
More than 1.26 million mutuel tickets are printed during Derby Week.
On Derby Day 2024, total handle hit a record $320.5 million.

Churchill Downs even brings in 9,082 pounds of coins — 21,800 rolls worth — to keep the cash flowing.

Racing Facts and Figures

The Derby itself carries 150 years of history — and some interesting stats.

2,015 horses have started in the Kentucky Derby since 1875.
116 Derby winners have been bred in Kentucky.
Horses whose names start with "S" have won 19 times — the most of any letter.
Post 5 is the winningest starting gate, producing 10 Derby winners.
No horse has ever won from Post 17.

And of course, Secretariat’s 1973 record time of 1:59.40 for 1¼ miles still stands today.

The Roses and the Traditions

The Derby’s floral tradition is no small effort either.

400+ "Freedom" roses are stitched into the Garland of Roses for the winning horse.
The garland measures 122 inches long and weighs about 40 pounds.

The Churchill Downs greenhouse grows more than 20,000 annuals each year, while 2,100 extra roses decorate the Winner’s Circle and celebrity entrances.

On Derby Day, the garland and jockey’s bouquet are delivered to the track under a police escort.

For more Derby fun facts read here, and for full coverage of all the Kentucky Derby and Oaks spectacles, stay with WDRB News.

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