Louisville, Kentucky (Churchill Downs)
The Biggest Hat at the Kentucky Derby Was Mine
A longshot came from the back to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby by a neck. I missed it. My hat was in the way.
At the 152nd Kentucky Derby, a longshot called Golden Tempo ran at the back for most of the race, then came around the outside to win by a neck. His trainer became the first woman to train a Derby winner. Big hats are a Derby tradition. I wore the biggest.
My Hat
- Width: about one horse. Not the long way.
- Features: a cup holder, a small umbrella and a flag with a horse on it, so I’d know which event I was at.
- Flowers: roses. The Derby winner gets a blanket of roses, so I wore mine early, to save time.
- Weight: a lot. A nice man helped me hold it up.
The Race
Nobody behind me saw the race, because of my hat. I didn’t see it either, because of my hat. Everyone says it was wonderful.
The nice man holding my hat told me the winner had come from the very back. “Like me,” I said. “I started at the back of the line, and now I’m in the front row.” He said I was in three rows. That’s the hat.
Next year I’ll wear a smaller one, with a window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did your hat win anything?
Best hat, in my opinion. It was the only opinion I asked for.
Who came second?
A horse called Renegade, by a neck, with Ocelli third. I heard it was very close. I heard it from under a hat.