On Monday, June 14th the connections from WinStar farm and Todd Pletcher’s Churchill Downs training team came to see the updates made to the Derby Museum in celebration of Super Saver’s historic win.

The Super Saver team is celebrated in the front lobby of the Museum with larger-than-life wall graphics and a video presentation. This year’s race has been added to the Museum’s time machine exhibit and the horse in the winner’s circle now represents Super Saver, complete with a jockey dressed in WinStar farm silks. The Museum’s feature film, “The Greatest Race”, has also been updated with Super Saver’s stretch run.

The reception opened with Bluegrass band “Shades of Grass” providing entertainment. Bugler Steve Buttleman played the Call to the Post to call our guests into the Great Hall. Executive Director, Lynn Ashton welcomed Doug Cauthen from WinStar Farms to present items from their historic win for display in the Museum. The items on loan include Calvin Borel’s jockey boots, his whip, a shoe from the race, Sarah Casner’s bejeweled WinStar jacket worn in the winner’s circle and a hat worn by the wife of owner Kenny Trout. This year’s newly engraved Gold Cup Trophy was also on display at the event.

This was an exclusive event for Museum members. Click here to learn more about becoming a member of the Museum.

According to the Thoroughbred Times, Mine That Bird is on his way from New Mexico to train at Churchill Downs. Owners Mark Allen and Leonard Blach are hoping the gelding will race in the Breeders’ Cup Classic this fall.

Join us for a tour and you might see Mine That Bird during workouts.

Read more about it here thoroughbredtimes.com

Check out this article at USATODAY.com featuring the Museum’s new renovations…

Kentucky Derby Museum reopens just in time for race day

Join us Wednesday, April 28th at 10 am to meet 2009 Derby Winning Trainer Chip Woolley. Chip will be at the Museum signing autographs near his hat and crutches that he donated to the Museum earlier this month. Both items are shown in the new “Countdown to Victory” exhibit on the main floor. Woolley’s silver trainer’s cup is also on display in the second floor exhibition space.

“With all the media attention about my crutches, they became a part of our Derby story. If the museum can use them to share some of the memories we made that day, then that’s where they belong,” says Woolley. “I’m really excited about museum’s renovation- the Derby museum is the only way many people ever get to experience the Kentucky Derby. Celebrating racing in a way that’s meaningful and bringing more fans to the sport has always been important to me.”

Derby Museum’s Executive Director, Lynn Ashton says, “Items like these from this year’s team are what keep us celebrating even the most current history. Fans love to see things they recognize in the museum. The Mine That Bird team has been so supportive of the Derby Museum and with their help, we can continue to celebrate their greatest victory with fans from all over the world.”

Autographs will be available. Open to the public, daily admission applies.

Even though the Museum will be closed on Oaks & Derby day, we’re offering special events at the Churchill Downs Store located in the paddock (the Churchill Downs Store is operated by the Kentucky Derby Museum).

Churchill Downs Store Oaks Day Events
8am - close Darren K.Moore Jewelry Trunk Show
8am - close Dorfman Hat Fitting
8am - close Vault book signing by Author Andy Plattner
11am - 1pm Randy Romero Book Signing
11am - 4pm Ron Turcotte Signing
1pm - 4pm Laffit Pincay Signing

Churchill Downs Store Derby Day Events
8am - close Darren K.Moore Jewelry Trunk Show
8am - close Dorfman Hat Fitting & Trunk Show
8am - close Vault book signing by Author Andy Plattner
11am - 4pm Ron Turcotte Signing

Drop in and pick up your Kentucky Oaks 136 and Kentucky Derby 136 collectibles!

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to the Grand Opening on Sunday! If you couldn’t make it, check out the links below for a run-down of the day’s events.

WHAS11 - Thousands attend as Kentucky Derby Museum shows off new makeover

FOX41 - Finally, Derby Museum re-opens

FOX41 - SLIDESHOW: Derby Museum Re-opens

WLKY - Kentucky Derby Museum Reopens After Repairs

WAVE3 - KY Derby Museum grand re-opening draws thousands

Courier-Journal.com - Kentucky Derby Museum reopens with pomp, stars

Kentucky.com - Overhauled Derby Museum reopens Sunday

On Sunday, April 18th, following re-opening of the Kentucky Derby Museum, a ceremony to unveil the Eight Belles Gallopalooza horse will be held in her honor in the museum’s back garden. The ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. and begin with the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home” by bugler, Steve Buttleman.

Eight Belles, the runner-up in Kentucky Derby 134 was euthanized after suffering a catastrophic injury moments after the race in 2008. Her remains were interred in September of 2008 at the Kentucky Derby Museum and she was honored during the dedication of a magnolia tree planted in her honor on the museum grounds. The donation of the Gallopalooza horse to the Kentucky Derby Museum was made by Louisville Eight Belle’s fan, Janet Penick in conjunction with the filly’s owners, Rick and Betsy Porter of Fox Hill Farm.
Read more »

In celebration of the Kentucky Derby Museum’s 5.5 million dollar renovation project Louisville native, Larry Birkhead, will loan two of Anna Nicole Smith’s outfits worn at Kentucky Derby festivities to the museum.

Birkhead heard of the serious flood damage the museum incurred in August 2009 and reached out to the Louisville attraction to offer the celebrity dresses for the museum’s new fashion exhibit. The dresses include a pale pink, sequined v-neck Derby dress complete with matching pink hat, jeweled Christian Dior heels and peony blossom purse. The dress was worn by Smith to the Kentucky Derby in 2004. Smith’s Derby outfit will be on display in the very first exhibit visitors see when they enter through the museum’s starting gates. Read more »

(Louisville, KY: March 26, 2010) Trainer Chip Woolley has given the Kentucky Derby Museum the infamous crutches and cowboy hat worn during his 2009 Kentucky Derby victory. The crutches and western hat made national coverage during Woolley’s “walk over” from the backside of the track before the start of the race. Woolley’s pre-Derby interviews were dominated by questions about his earlier motorcycle accident rather than the chance of his 50-1 long shot contender to win. Both items will be shown in the new “Countdown to Victory” exhibit on the main floor.

The Kentucky Derby Museum’s 5.5 million dollar renovation project will include an exhibition of the 2009 Derby winning team of Mine That Bird on the second floor. The team has loaned a horseshoe from Bird’s Derby win, the Derby blanket and the horse’s halter to the museum. Owners Dr. Leonard Blach and Mark Allen have loaned their Kentucky Derby Gold Cup Read more »

Kentucky Derby Museum’s New Logo was unveiled through our social media channels today 10 a.m.. The re-branding effort helps impart the museum’s mission to “Share the fun of the Kentucky Derby experience”. This mission will be exemplified in all of the new exhibits with expanded themes focusing on the fan’s experience on Derby day. Become a fan on facebook to see the news as soon as it’s posted or follow us on twitter. Links below:

www.twitter.com/derbymuseum

www.facebook.com/derbymuseum

For those of you active in social media- Please share the logo news with your friends!!

Download a hi-res image here.