Kentucky Derby Hat ~ Run for the Roses ~ Red Roses

I love designing my hats with roses and I embrace every color of rose!  

www.eastangelharbor.com 

However, since the garland of roses that drapes beautifully across the winning horse at the Kentucky Derby is Red  I’m going to talk about my hats and red roses.

In 1904 the red rose became the official flower of the Kentucky Derby

The tradition was strengthened when, in 1925, New York sports columnist Bill Corum, later the president of Churchill Downs, dubbed the Kentucky Derby the “Run for the Roses.”

The garland as it exists today was first introduced in 1932 for the 58th running won by Burgoo King. 

Each year, a garland of more than 400 red roses is sewn into a green satin backing with the seal of the Commonwealth on one end and the Twin Spires and number of the race’s current renewal on the other. Each garland is also adorned with a “crown” of roses, green fern and ribbon. The “crown,” a single rose pointing upward in the center of the garland, symbolizes the struggle and heart necessary to reach the Derby Winner’s Circle. 

For more info on the Kentucky Derby & other races:

 http://blog.eastangelharbor.com/category/kentucky-derby