LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Crowds are back at Churchill Downs and so is the flashy fashion.
What You Need To Know
- Crowds grew during Oaks Day
- Sunny skies makes Derby fashion shin bright
- Fans happy to be back at Churchill
A day at the races felt and even looked like a day at races from years past. On Friday, thousands of racing fans filed into Churchill Downs.
Spirits were high among first-time visitors and Oaks regulars.
"Oh, my goodness. I came in from Tulsa, Oklahoma and this is my first time here," Patty McCall said. "I'm in awe. When I crossed the street and saw the buildings."
And even though it's her first time at Churchill, she had a fool-proof betting strategy.
"Because of the name! I just like to pick them because of the name," McCall said.
Derby Fashion was on full display Friday. The hats and fascinators, the plaid and the shoes — all as flashy Friday as the horses were fast.
"I'm feeling fabulous, so excited to be back and out and since the pandemic is, we can't say over, we're fully vaccinated and we feel just magnificent!" Anissia Crayton said.
It was a beautiful day with near-perfect weather, save a few strong gusts of hat-toppling wind.
"It's great, great. It's good to see [everybody] back again and hopefully we can get back to next and have everybody here and have full capacity and have it just like it used to be," one spectator said.
Friday was the closest to "used to be" Churchill has seen since Derby Week 2019.
It was a perfect day for racing which made a great 60th birthday present for Rebecca Furlong, treated to a day at the races by her wife.
"We are having a wonderful time with these mint juleps," Rebecca Furlong said.
The 147th running of the Kentucky Derby is Saturday evening and while the crowds were robust on Friday, they will likely be greater on Saturday. Weather is expected to be fine and dandy for the Run for the Roses.