LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Derby Museum received a $1 million grant from the James Graham Brown Foundation to support the museum’s plan to remaster its iconic 360-degree film, “The Greatest Race,” in celebration of its 40th anniversary in 2025.
The museum was selected as one of the Brown Foundation’s Quality of Life grant recipients for 2024, which it said is awarded to those who contribute to a “positive image of the community.” The foundation said “The Greatest Race” is the “crown jewel of the museum experience, immersing visitors from all over the world in the magic and thrill of Derby Day.”
Updates to the end of the 18-minute film are made every year to reflect the most recent Kentucky Derby winner, but the museum noted the current exhibit has not undergone a major upgrade in nearly a decade. The grant will allow the museum to not only remaster the film but also update the technology and lighting to create a “state-of-the-art experience.”
Patrick Armstrong, president and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Museum, expressed his gratitude for the grant, stating, “We are immensely grateful to the James Graham Brown Foundation for their generous support. This prestigious grant will enable us to create a more visually stunning and immersive experience for our visitors, ensuring that ‘The Greatest Race’ continues to captivate and inspire audiences from across the globe. As we prepare to celebrate the Museum’s 40-year history, this upgrade shows our commitment to preserving and enhancing the rich heritage of the Kentucky Derby.”
Previously, the Kentucky Derby Museum received a James Graham Brown Foundation grant in 2015, which supported an overhaul of “The Greatest Race” to make it a true 360-degree movie experience. The updates will not only continue the 360-degree views, but will also show how Churchill Downs has expanded and how the Derby experience has changed over the last decade.
Local production company Donna Lawrence Productions has been secured to complete the current overhaul. The company has overseen previous revisions of the movie and gathered fresh video during this year’s Derby week. Their team will spend the next several months editing the new movie.
The Kentucky Derby Museum has seen record-setting growth, including a record for attendance with over 251,000 visitors this fiscal year.
The project will cost $2.3 million and is scheduled for an April 2025 premiere. The current schedule of “The Greatest Race,” which runs every hour, will not be interrupted for guests during the production process.
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