If you can't go to Louisville for the actual Kentucky Derby — you know, the hats, fancy cocktails, old money, roses, etc. — there's a way to replicate the experience. So how can you throw your own Kentucky Derby party?
It's not too involved, but there are several different areas to cover, including food, drinks, dress and, of course, betting. So let's get to it.
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What to eat at your Kentucky Derby party
We put together a list of best Super Bowl foods through a discussion in the office, and it quickly strayed from Super Bowl foods and became a discussion just about good foods to serve to large amounts of people, then to just good foods in general. So first and foremost, make sure you're serving good food.
But of course, there are traditions to make your Kentucky Derby party feel a little more authentic. So here are some essential dishes to serve.
— Kentucky Hot Browns consist of a turkey breast cushioned by bread and topped with a delicious Mornay sauce, tomato and bacon. The sauce is a little involved, but it makes the dish.
— Garlic cheese grits can be used as a side for your hot browns or for a Kentucky Derby Day brunch.
— Black-eyed pea salad to go along with Friday's Black Eyed Susan, the Kentucky Derby's 3-year-old female counterpart.
— Bourbon Balls. This dessert is a great compliment to the rest of your meal. Anything bourbon-inspired isn't a bad idea for this party.
What to drink
This is a bit easier, and if you really want to authenticate your Derby party, your guests will want to do plenty of drinking.
— Mint juleps of all kinds. Classic. Blackberry. Frozen. You'll need 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, sprigs of fresh mint, crushed ice, and Kentucky bourbon for the classic. Don't complain about being overwhelmed, either — Churchill Downs sells more than 120,000 mint juleps on Derby weekend, which requires 10,000 bottles of Bourbon, 1,000 pounds of mint and 60,000 pounds of ice.
— Anything bourbon; shots, mixed drinks, etc. Trying to fashion an event after Kentucky requires bourbon.
— Sweet iced tea for your non-boozing guests.
— Wine and beer. These have nothing to do with the Kentucky Derby, but get them anyway.
How to bet
There are a few different ways you can get your guests involved in the Derby action.
— Setup an account at TwinSpires.com, deposit some money and give your guests a few bucks each to bet how they want. Unlike other sports, it's actually legal to bet on horse racing online in the United States. How about that?
— Put each horse's name in a hat and have guests draw one each. This is inherently unfair, but for anyone not particularly interested in the race itself, it's perfect.
— Have everyone put in $5, select a horse on their own and give the money to the winner. If multiple people pick the same horse (they will), they can split the pot.
What to wear
The Derby is famous for its seersucker suits, cocktails and sun dresses and fancy hats. Have your guests dress the part.
How to decorate
I'm not really one for decorations — I'm spending 99 percent of the party budget on food, booze and betting. But if you must, decorate your tables with roses and the like. Do not buy horrible Kentucky Derby plates and cups. Instead, opt for glasses that mint juleps are served in.
Miscellaneous
These go for most parties, but ...
— Tell your neighbors. They'll be confused as to why you're screaming for two minutes at around 6:30.
— Check that pesky weather. You'll want to spend some prerace time outside, so if the weather will allow it, have a bar and tables setup outdoors.
— Get your food and booze in advance. Just to be safe.
— Have the TV ready. Make sure there's space for everyone to see (seating isn't essential, since it's only two minutes if you'll only be watching the Kentucky Derby itself).