Mario Bautista
Courtesy of the Kentucky Derby Museum
Guests at the 1930 Kentucky Derby.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Kentucky Derby, and we would be remiss not to begin by exploring the history and tradition surrounding the gardens.
Churchill Downs was founded in 1875 by Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., the grandson of famous explorer William Clark. From the beginning, he prioritized green spaces, ensuring the presence of old-growth trees and shrubs along with beds of perennials. In 1883, he even transformed the surrounding land into a driving park and garden promenade for visitors.
While Clark started the landscaping initiative, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that it became more formalized, and the first greenhouse was erected. From there the floral traditions we see today were created.
In addition to the tradition of betting on the Kentucky Derby, another renowned tradition is the blanket of roses draped over the winning horse. This custom can be traced back to at least 1932. Another well-known tradition is planting red geraniums in the winner’s circle. This flower has been chosen for around 40 years; before that, it was red begonias.
Tulips are another cherished flower at Churchill Downs. A few decades ago, visitors could expect to see 14,000 to 15,000 tulips spread out amongst a variety of beds, but that number has decreased over the years.
Until recently, Bizzell has carried on this tradition by planting 5,000 to 6,000 burgundy lace tulips in a large bed surrounding a statue of Aristides, the first Derby winner. Due to construction, that bed no longer exists. Between this and the mild winter, guests should not anticipate seeing many, if any, tulips this year. However, Bizzell hopes to create a new bed of tulips in the near future.
