LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With the commonwealth's largest day of road racing getting closer, the Kentucky Derby Festival is sharing a first look at medals runners will receive after completing the 2025 miniMarathon and Marathon, set for Saturday, April 26. 


What You Need To Know

  • The Kentucky Derby Festival unveiled its 2025 race medals runners will receive after the miniMarathon and Marathon 

  • This year's medal is rose gold and features the Derby Festival's pegasus symbol surrounded by a starburst design

  • The medal features signature colors from the race (blue) and festival (pink) and says "Happy Derby"

  • 2025 marks the 52nd miniMarathon and 24th Marathon; they will start simultaneously Saturday, April 26 at 7 a.m. 

This year's medal, which is rose gold, features the Derby Festival's pegasus symbol surrounded by a starburst design.

"Each year, the finisher's medal is a unique design to commemorate the hard work of our participants as they cross the finish line," said Chris Martini, Kentucky Derby Festival race director. "This year's medal celebrates the excitement of the Derby Festival season and the accomplishment of running Kentucky's largest road race."

The medal features signature colors from the race (blue) and festival (pink) and says "Happy Derby," aligning with the festival's "Happy" marketing campaign fans can expect to see as Derby season gets closer. 

Runners race in the Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon events at Iroquois Park in Louisville April 27, 2024. This year marked the 23rd and 51st runnings of the races, respectively. (Spectrum News 1/Jonathon Gregg)

The Derby Festival first introduced finisher medals in the late '90s. Over the years, they have featured the likes of the race logo and colors, Louisville landmarks and the city skyline, the outline of the state of Kentucky and a rose in celebration of the 150th running of the Derby in 2024. 

2025 marks the 52nd miniMarathon and the 24th Marathon, which will start simultaneously Saturday, April 26 at 7 a.m. on Main Street near Slugger Field. The finish line will return to Preston and Witherspoon streets, near the Waterfront. Participants can still register at DerbyFestivalMarathon.com.

The 2025 Derby Festival kicks off Saturday, April 12, with Thunder Over Louisville. 2025 marks the 70th year of the Derby Festival, which will feature more than 70 events leading up to Kentucky Derby 151, set for Saturday, May 3. 

Connor Smith - Digital Producer

Connor Smith is a digital producer for Spectrum News 1 in Louisville, Kentucky. He joined the team in November 2023 and hails from the Chicago area. In summer 2023, he received his Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern's Medill School in Chicago, where he covered Super Bowl LVII, the Chicago Marathon and other stories around the city.