Kentucky Derby 2017: Curchill Downs welcomes big crowds for historic race
The Kentucky Derby, held at Churchill Downs, Louisville, welcomed 167,000 spectators in 2016, just 3,000 short of the previous year's record.
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The one and a quarter mile race is one of the highlights of the racing calendar, and has been referred to as "the most exciting two minutes in sports."
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This year sees the 143rd edition of the race, where jockeys will compete for a $2.4 million purse.
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The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of three thoroughbred races -- the Triple Crown -- and is run ahead of the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. In 2015, American Pharoah became just the12th horse to win that coveted Triple Crown.
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California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby in 2014 and came close to winning the Triple Crown but fell short at Belmont.
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The 2016 Kentucky Derby was won by pre-race favorite Nyquist (center), ridden by Mario Gutierrez.
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Nyquist, now retired from racing, gets a very public bath after last year's triumph.
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The Kentucky Derby is known to attract famous faces, such as world champion skier Lindsey Vonn.
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The event, like so many other horse races, has a reputation for attracting weird and wonderful head gear.
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One of the favorites for the 2017 race, Classic Empire, trains ahead of this year's race.
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Kentucky Derby entrant Patch, which lost its left eye last year, is bathed during morning workouts ahead of the 143rd Kentucky Derby.
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