LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — 11:20 a.m.
For his first Derby, Rob Levit had to go with The Vest.
The 59-year-old from Amherst, Ohio, relies on it when he wants to make a statement. It’s emblazoned with orange, green and pink patterns and includes a dash of flowers similar to roses. It was a gift from his mother 20 years ago.
“It’s a little bit out of character in what I normally wear, but it blends in beautifully here,” he said from the infield of Churchill Downs.
He was feeling pretty good about himself until he was upstaged by a man wearing cutoff overalls and nothing else, his tie-dyed goatee waving in the wind as he breezed past him.
“I can’t beat that guy. He’s very natural,” Levit said.
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10:46 a.m.
Kentucky Derby Day has started in earnest with the first of 13 races going to post at 10:30 a.m., leading up to the 141st Run for the Roses at 6:24 p.m.
Gates opened at 8 a.m., and the grandstands, infield and paddock areas are already busy with racing fans milling and mingling. The forecast couldn’t be better: mostly sunny with temperatures in the low 70s. More than 160,000 are expected for the Derby, a day after a record 123,763 turned out for the Kentucky Oaks.
The morning has had some news with the last-minute scratch of International Star with a cracked hoof, reducing the field to 18 horses. The first race also produced the first upset, as 12-1 choice Paganol won going away and paid $30.20, $19.40 and $10.60.
That should make some bettors happy as a long day begins.
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