LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A record-breaking 50,958 people came out to Churchill Downs on Thursday for the annual Derby Week celebration of Thurby, organizers said.

It's a day meant to showcase all things Kentucky, including bourbon, Bluegrass and racing.

Fans were treated to the best weather conditions all week as they took in some of the races ahead of Saturday's Kentucky Derby. 

Dominique Hudspeth of Louisville said there was no place else he’d rather be than at the track on Thurby. 

"This is the best week of the year," he said, following the first race of the day. "Muhammad Ali said it best: Louisville’s the greatest. So you got to be out here ... This week of the year, where else would you rather be? Not a work, right?"

For the first race of the day, Ed Brinley had his eye on #8 – Freedom Machine, after flipping through the official program.

"This gives you the speed of the horse and the different races and you can read the stats on the races they’ve been in and I haven’t actually done much research yet," he said with a grin. "This is my first time at Thurby, so I’m a newbie." 

Freedom Machine ended up finishing last in the race, but it’s a safe bet Brinley still had a great Thurby.

"It’s beautiful here and I love all the hats and the outfits, the color, excitement," he said. "There’s so many great people here. We love the horses."

Joining him was Amy Woelke of California, who was visiting Kentucky for the first time. It had been a childhood dream to make the trip, she said. 

"I love horses and I’ve always wanted to come here," said Woelke. "I love it. It's a big party."