With the big race only a couple of weeks away, we’re excited to share a few of our favorite Derby-inspired pieces and outfits this week. There’s just something so fabulous about all the tradition and style that revolves around these historic races! Not to mention, any excuse to get all dressed up and put on a cool hat is always a good thing.

GALS: 1.Lilly Pulitzer Aleesa Dress, 2. Lilly Pulitzer Ferra Dress, 3. Lilly Pulitzer Lottie Dress, 4. Lilly Pulitzer Picture Perfect Espadrille, 5. Echo Design Two Color Floppy Hat, 6. San Diego Hat Company Floppy Sun Hat

GUYS: 7. Vineyard Vines Sun Soaked Tucker Shirt, 8. Robert Graham Echoes Sport Coat, 9.Fred Perry Seersucker Stripe Shirt, 10. Vineyard Vines Kentucky Derby ® Churchill Polka Dot Bow Tie, 11. Vineyard Vines Kentucky Derby® Lucky Julep Bow Tie , 12. Vineyard Vines Kentucky Derby® Jockey Shirts Tie

*Stay tuned for our coverage of this year’s Oaks and Derby right here on the blog. To see even more Derby Style, check out our Shop By page!

Written by Sonnet T.

This is Randy.  Not only is he one of our Video Content Coordinators, but he also owns a rock climbing business.  To simultaneously raise money for charity and to promote his business, he gathered up a few of his coworkers to participate in the Battle of the Bounce this year.

You might ask yourself:  What is the Battle of the Bounce? The answer:  It’s only the coolest event in the Kentucky Derby Festival.

It’s a relay race that starts with a 21-foot rock wall (This is where having Randy on our team was a huge advantage).  This is followed by racing through an inflatable obstacle course, human hamster ball, and finally, the last team member reaches the finish line on a bouncing pony.

One of the most fun parts of the competition was the costumes.  Everyone was dressed up in really cool team themes.  Our group was the Waterfront Swim Team, which was hilarious.

Why?  Because due to flooding throughout the Midwest, Louisville’s waterfront is COMPLETELY under water.

As expected, Randy flew up the rock wall and earned our team a great head start, but the competition was fierce.  One team member actually got injured!

We didn’t win best time, most fund raising, or best costumes, but we had a LOT of fun!!!

A few of our coworkers also showed up.  I’m still trying to decide if they were there to make fun of us or support us.

Planning to attend the Derby this year?  There is one thing you will definitely want to do before the big race: place a bet!

Once you approach the betting window, be sure to follow these simple steps to ensure your bet is placed properly:

 1. State the name of the track where the race is being held.   Remember there are many tracks around the world that are operating on any given day, so clarifying which track you're referring to is important.  If you’re at the Kentucky Derby, then you’ll want to say, “Churchill”.

 2. Present the race number you're betting on.  Typically, there are anywhere between 9 and 12 races ran per day, so make sure you get the race number correct.

 3. Specify the dollar amount of your wager and the type of bet you’re placing.  Many tracks offer different types of wagers.  Some of the easiest for beginners are "win", "place", and "show" bets.  For one of these three bets the amount you wager is the amount you pay the teller.

 *Beware that the money you wager doesn’t always equal the total cost for the bet.  For instance, if you were to place a $2 bet on what is called a "trifecta wheel", with the winner over three “wheeled” second or third place picks, the total cost to you would be $12.  When you “wheel” your bet, your odds of winning are increased, hence the additional $10.  With this bet, you would only win what the official $2 trifecta payout was according to the final odds after the race is over.

Remember:  When mentioning the horses you want to bet on, be sure to refer to the numbers that are listed in the racing program, and not their actual names. 

 Once you’ve completed these steps, the teller will print out the ticket.  Double-check your ticket to make sure it’s what you wanted. Now you’re ready to sit back, sip your Mint Julep, and watch the race, hopefully finding a little horse-player luck.

 Helpful Hints:

- Remember to have fun with betting, do your research, and understand the risk involved before gambling.

- Always have your bet written down before you approach the betting window. This ensures you won’t forget, and you won’t hold up the line behind you.  A good place to write it down is your program.

- Be sure to bring cash.  Churchill is cash only betting, but if you forget, they do have ATM’s there for your convenience.

- If you're not able to make it out in person there is always the online betting option that may cost you a small fee to set up, but usually includes free live streaming video of every race.

With the 2011 Kentucky Derby only days away, we wanted to pay homage to one of the most iconic staples gracing Churchill Downs for decades, the Derby hat. The time-honored tradition of dressing up for the Kentucky Derby still lives on today. With all the Derby parties that surround this historic race, make sure you come fully prepared with the perfect Derby hat. So sip a glass of mint julep as you peruse through some fabulous hats worthy of a festive day at the racetrack.

 Left to Right:

1. Eugenia Kim Honey : The knotted rope trim on this posh hat just screams summer style.

2. Alejandra Sky Tula Stripe Beach Hat: the bold pink shade works for the beach and the racetrack...not to mention brunch with the girls!

3. Goorin Brothers Eden: There's something so charmingly Southern about this pretty straw hat. Wear it with your most fabulous floral dresses.

4. Jessica Simpson Multi Striped Floppy Hat: ring in the summer with fresh and breezy stripes.

5. Echo Design Bolg Stripe Floppy Hat: Go bold or go home! The striking black and white stripes on this large brimmed hat is decidedly retro and totally chic.

With Derby fever animate here in KY the Zappos Kentucky Family got in the spirit by creating jockey silks within each department. With a little creativity here and a little family spirit there the colorful silks came alive as they were displayed for all to see in the ZFC!

Did you know?

Silks or colors, worn by each jockey in a race to represent a horse’s owner, are among the oldest traditions in racing. 

Louisville, Kentucky is home to the Kentucky derby. Louisville also boasts a lot of great family staycation locations. If you live in or near the Bluegrass state, consider the following Louisville staycations for you and your family.

Bourbon Tasting

Did you know 1/3 of the world's bourbon is made in Kentucky? It's not called Kentucky Bourbon for nothing! If you are over 21 and want to have a great staycation with that special someone, consider going to a bourbon tasting at Maker's Lounge. It's a great night on the town that's 100% Kentucky. The dress code is upscale casual, so there's no better time than the present to slip on some 7 for all mankind jeans and a great shirt.

Louisville Slugger Museum

Nothing is quite as American as baseball. The Louisville Slugger is the Cadillac of all baseball bats. A great family Louisville Staycation attraction is the Louisville Slugger museum. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children over 5, and children under 5 are free. This is a great Louisville staycation attraction that is as fun as it is informative. Consider wearing a baseball tee and some all-American Levi's Jeans.

Speed Museum of Art

The Speed Museum of Art is an informative and entertaining Louisville staycation destination that is very affordable. In fact, admission to the museum is free, although a $4 donation is recommended. The exhibits are constantly changing, so this is a dynamic place to visit time and time again.

Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom

A great Louisville family staycation that's great for the young and the young at heart is Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. For $39.99 per person per year, you can get a season pass that allows you in to any Six Flags theme park in the United States and there are several parks. Chances are, wherever you decide to take a vacation or staycation, there will be a park nearby. What could be better than that? When you go to a theme park, you need to wear comfortable sandals or tennis shoes. Keeping your feet comfortable is key to ensuring that you have a very enjoyable day.