Click below to view more coverage from the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com at the 150th Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
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With the Kentucky Derby celebrating its milestone 150th running Saturday, attendees stepped up their style in honor of the occasion.
There was an abundance of rich, bold colors like kelly green, royal blue, scarlet red and vivid violet.
Andrea Burns of Cincinnati drew her outfit inspiration from the garland of roses that will be draped across the Derby winner, wearing an ankle-length beaded red dress, paired with equally vibrant red heels, lipstick and hat from featured milliner, The Hat Girls.
Andrea Burns wears a red rose dress at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
The Hat Girls themselves — Rachel Carroll and Kate Smith — donned coordinated towering rainbow feather headpieces, one Roy G. and the other G. Biv. The duo spends so much time talking about color, they decided to embrace them all for their outfits this year.
In a given season, they make about 2,000 hats, which they can easily spot among the heads of their customers among the throngs of track-goers.
The Hat Girls, Rachel Carroll and Kate Smith, wear their creations at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
Katie LaGrasso wears a green dress at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
Sydney Ecker hand crafted the wire horse for her fascinator at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. She was wearing a gold jumpsuit with rose details that she created. “When you can’t find something to buy, you do it yourself,” she said. “I wanted to look like a walking Kentucky Derby Trophy.” Amy Wallot
Bright red fashion on display for Kentucky Derby 150 Saturday, May 04, 2024 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Lewis Gardner
Hats were on display as fashion took center stage before the running of the 150th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Lewis Gardner
Bright hats were on display as fashion took center stage before the tunning of the 150th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Churchill Dows in Louisville, Kentucky. Brian Woolston
Twins Lila Richardson and Lisa Koehlen celebrate their 50th birthday during Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
John Allen wears a bright red suit for Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. It’s the same suit he wore to Mardi Gras. Amy Wallot
Wearing bright red, Shea Leparoux watches an early race featuring her husband, jockey Julien Leparoux, during Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
Kevin Barrett with a handmade hat with hand stitching at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
A spectator wearing horse themed socks waits near the paddock before the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Alex Slitz
Genevieve Wilhelm wears royal blue heals with rhinestones by Gianni Bini at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
Michelle Grimmer wears a gold and red necklace that she handmade for Derby Day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. She used brooches and added them to a necklace to have the horse “running for the roses.” Amy Wallot
Karen Smith found her rose purse on Temu for Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. It went with her red and gold outfit. Her nails were done by Nail Envogue in Lexington. Amy Wallot
A bowtie made out of wood was not to hard to miss on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky, Saturday, May 4, 2024. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
Jasmine Aleem and Nick Gooding in coordinate in yellow for the Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
Beth Riley wears a brightly colored fascinator to Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
Thyra Treco with a bright orange and blue hat at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 4, 2024. Amy Wallot
This story was originally published May 4, 2024 at 3:40 PM.
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Tessa has been the Herald-Leader’s Politics and Public Affairs Editor since March 2024, after acting as Frankfort Bureau Chief since joining the paper in August 2022. A native of Bowling Green and a graduate of Western Kentucky University, Tessa has also reported in Texas, Florida and Louisville, where she covered education, criminal justice and policing.
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Click below to view more coverage from the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com at the 150th Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
