19 Vintage Kentucky Derby Photos to Get You Excited for the Big Day

By Erika Owen ,  Erika Owen and Mariah Tyler and Mariah Tyler
May 06, 2016
Bettmann Archive
The Kentucky Derby has been a summertime staple since the first race in 1875. Over the decades, the Derby has become an international event, where themed drinks, the finest summer attire, and ridiculous hats have become just as iconic as the race itself.

(Speaking of those hats: the accessory was longtime thought to bring good luck to the wearer's horse of choice. The requirements for such a topper? The official Kentucky Derby website shares a long list of guidelines for participating in the scene: wide-brimmed hats are expected, humor is encouraged, and all shapes are welcomed. You can check out the Kentucky Derby website for more specifics on the hats you'll see lining the racetrack.) 

Related: Seven Secrets of Churchill Downs

In honor of the Kentucky Derby's long history, it seemed fitting to take a trip down memory lane. This collection of images provides a quick visual timeline of the annual race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Spanning from 1933 to 1973 (the infamous year of Secretariat), the photographs capture each aspect of the event: the horses, jockeys, the fashion, spectators, owners, and the coveted winner's circle. The Kentucky Derby may be a very short race—it's popularly known as the "Greatest Two Minutes in Sports"—but millions of people (more than 16 million the past couple of years, to be precise) tune into see the results.

If you're staying home this Kentucky Derby, you can certainly still partake in the fun. Grab a Mint Julep—the unofficial drink of the race—and peruse our collection of photos from Derbies past.
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Jockeys Riding Hard for a Win, 1933

Credit: Bettmann Archive
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Anxious Spectators Wait for the Finish, 1936

Credit: NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

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Kentucky Derby jockeys at Churchill Downs, 1937

Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt / The LIFE Picture Collection
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Stewards of the Kentucky Derby, 1937

Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

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Mint Juleps at Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby, 1937

Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt / The LIFE Picture Collection

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Derby Day Cars, 1940

Credit: FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images
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Eddie Arcaro Riding Whirlaway in Kentucky Derby, 1941

Credit: Bettmann Archive

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Triple Crown Winner, Whirlaway, 1947

Credit: John Dominis/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

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Roses For The Derby at Churchill Downs, 1945

Credit: Ed Clark / The LIFE Picture Collection
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President of Churchill Downs, 1945

Credit: Ed Clark / The LIFE Picture Collection

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Kentucky Derby Spectators Watching Race

Credit: Bettmann Archive

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Churchill Downs Waiter Carrying Mint Juleps, 1955

Credit: John Dominis / The LIFE Picture Collection
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Winner's Circle at Kentucky Derby,1955

Credit: John Dominis/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

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Infield Spectators at Churchill Downs, 1955

Credit: John Dominis/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

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Starting Gate of the Kentucky Derby, 1956

Credit: Bettmann Archive
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Horse Owners Watch The Race, 1956

Credit: Hank Walker/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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Derby Box Lunch Sign, 1955

Credit: John Dominis / The LIFE Picture Collection

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Winner Bobby Ussery on Lord Tudor, 1968

Credit: Dan Farrell/NY Daily News via Getty Images
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Secretariat in His Stable, 1973

Credit: Bettmann Archive
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By Erika Owen ,  Erika Owen and Mariah Tyler and Mariah Tyler