LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The most exciting two minutes in sports takes hours to clean up. 


What You Need To Know

  • Churchill Downs paid high school sport teams to clean up the infield after the 150th Kentucky Derby

  • Atherton High School girls' soccer team members said they would use the money for uniforms

  • Around 150 students have cleaned Churchill Downs since Thursday

  • Organizers said they used between 2,000 and 3,000 industrial trash bags

With the historic 150th Kentucky Derby in the books, volunteers helped pick up trash Sunday all over the infield at Churchill Downs, including high school student-athletes. Some were from Atherton High School, including sophomore India Barker.

“This is probably the worst day because there's the most people here," Barker said. "There's a lot of food ... we find a lot of alcohol and stuff."

About 150 students have helped clean up Churchill Downs since Thursday. Barker said Sunday morning was the messiest. 

"It's a lot worse than the other days," Barker said.

Churchill Downs paid the teams to clean up. Barker said it’s the school's girls' soccer team’s biggest fundraiser, and it helps to pay for uniforms. 

“I’ve definitely been close to throwing up," she said. "It's not fun, but I'll do it for the team and for my school because the team's done a lot for me, so it's worth it."

Among the mess were empty bottles of bourbon, big bundles of mint and, of course, trash bags.

Organizers said they've gone through about 2,000 to 3,000 of industrial bags between Thursday and Saturday this week.

Steve Cunningham, girls' assistant soccer coach, said the event is good for team-bonding.

“I think it's a great experience for these kids," Cunningham said. "It gives them an idea of maybe, when they're out and about, not to throw garbage on the ground (and) find a garbage can."

Barker said she will be back the next couple of years as long as she’s on the team.

“The more people there are, the faster it goes, so it's worth it,” she said.

More than 156,000 attended Derby 150, about a 4% increase from 2023.