The Kentucky Derby may have been postponed, and the Kentucky Derby Museum is closed to live visitors, but you can now experience a virtual tour of the museum exhibits from the comfort of your living room as part of a nationwide #museumfromhome experience.
The online museum is updated daily by curatorial experts who bring visitors featured artifacts, fun facts, Oral History videos, Educational Lessons, and activities they can do at home.
Featured Exhibit: The Greatest Race
The Museum’s epic 18-minute film puts you at the center of the Kentucky Derby experience. It is projected larger-than-life in one of the world’s only 360° theatres using the highest quality laser projection available today.
Well, we may not be able to experience the sensaround effects, but here are some excerpts.
Featured Photo
This quiet moment took place between an unidentified horse and a handler at the 1940 Kentucky Derby. It’s a good reminder to take care of each other and we’ll get through this together. Photo credit Churchill Downs Racetrack
Featured Video: First Kentucky Derby Winner
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This video features Ansel Williamson, who trained Aristides, the winner of the inaugural Kentucky Derby in 1875. That same year, another Williamson-trained horse, Calvin won the Belmont. Williamson was born a slave in Virginia, sometime in the mid-1800s. In 1864 he was purchased by Robert Alexander, who owned Wooburn Stud where he was taught about the breeding and training of racehorses. After he was freed Williamson remained in Alexander’s employ. He conditioned a number of successful horses including the undefeated U.S. champion three-year-old male, Norfolk and the undefeated Asteroid. Interestingly, Aristedes’ jockey for the Derby, Oliver Lewis, was also an African-American. In fact, 13 of the 15 jockeys in that first Kentucky Derby were black.
